Guide
Penalties for not registering a rental property
Not registering can cost you up to £7,000 for a first breach, up to £40,000 or prosecution if it continues, and your right to regain possession of the property.
Last checked 5 October 2026 against the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and GOV.UK.
What counts as a breach
- Advertising or marketing a home to let without active landlord and property entries
- Leaving the registration numbers out of a written advert
- Letting a property without active entries, or without keeping them up to date as the Regulations require
A breach doesn't make the tenancy itself invalid. Your tenants' rights and your contract with them stay in place.
Fines
| Situation | Maximum |
|---|---|
| A breach of the rules above | £7,000 |
| Carrying on more than 28 days after being fined | £40,000 |
| A different breach within 5 years of a previous fine or conviction | £40,000 |
| Knowingly or recklessly giving false or misleading information to the database | £40,000 |
The council decides the amount, up to these limits. The last three situations are also criminal offences: instead of fining you, the council can prosecute, and a court can impose an unlimited fine.
You can't regain possession
While you're in breach, a court can't make an order for possession of the property. For many landlords this matters more than any fine. The only exceptions are the possession grounds for tenant anti-social behaviour (grounds 7A and 14). If you let jointly, this applies when any of the joint landlords is in breach.
Rent repayment orders
Tenants and councils can apply for a rent repayment order against landlords who give false information to the database, or who keep failing to register after being fined. The Renters' Rights Act doubles the maximum repayment from 12 to 24 months' rent.
How councils check
- Councils can see the database and can require landlords and others to provide information.
- If they suspect a property isn't registered, a specially authorised officer can enter it after giving 24 hours' notice, or get a warrant.
- Councils record banning orders, certain offences and fines against a landlord's entry. The government plans to let tenants see some of these details.