A new Landlord register is coming: What London landlords need to know

Another significant change is coming to the private rental sector.

The Government has confirmed further details of its new ‘Register your rental property’ service, the national Private Rented Sector (PRS) database being introduced as part of the Renters’ Rights reforms.

The service will begin rolling out across England from 15 December 2026, with different regions brought into the scheme throughout 2027.

For London landlords, the key date is 15 July 2027, when the capital’s registration window is due to open.

 

What is the new landlord register?

The ‘Register your rental property’ service will create a national database of landlords and privately rented properties in England.

Landlords of assured or regulated tenancies will be required to register themselves and each qualifying rental property.

The Government says the database is intended to improve transparency within the private rented sector, give local authorities better information to support enforcement and allow responsible landlords to demonstrate that they meet the required standards.

Registration will be a legal requirement, rather than an optional accreditation scheme.

 

When will London landlords need to register?

The register launches nationally on 15 December 2026, but the requirement is being introduced region by region.

For rental properties in London, registration is scheduled to:

Open: 15 July 2027
Deadline: 14 October 2027

Landlords will therefore have a three-month window in which to register their qualifying London rental properties.

Importantly, the deadline is determined by where the rental property is located, not where the landlord lives.

Landlords with properties across several regions will also be able to register them together from 15 December 2026 rather than waiting for each individual regional window.

 

How much will registration cost?

The Government has confirmed that registration will cost £65 per property, per year.

For example, a landlord with one qualifying rental property would pay £65 annually, while a landlord with five properties would pay £325.

Registration will need to be renewed each year, making this an ongoing requirement for landlords rather than a one-off process.

 

Which properties will need to be registered?

During the initial rollout, landlords will be required to register properties that are currently let or become let during the rollout period.

Unoccupied properties will not initially need to be registered.

However, the Government has confirmed that future legislation is expected to require landlords to register an unoccupied property before it can be marketed for let.

Landlords and letting agents will also eventually need to include the relevant unique landlord and property identifiers on property advertisements.

Further guidance on when these requirements will take effect is still expected.

 

What information will landlords need?

Landlords should be prepared to provide a range of information about themselves and their rental property.

This is expected to include details such as:

• Property address and type
• Ownership details
• Number of bedrooms
• Current letting status
• Number of occupants and households
• Rent and payment frequency
• Furnishing status
• Relevant property licensing information
• Gas safety information
• Electrical safety documentation
• EPC information
• Details of any relevant Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards exemptions

Keeping property and compliance records accurate and readily available will therefore become increasingly important.

 

Can James Anderson register on behalf of landlords?

The responsibility for registration will remain with the landlord.

Landlords will be responsible for starting and completing the registration process and ensuring the information supplied is correct.

However, the Government has confirmed that landlords will be able to agree for their letting agent or property manager to provide certain information on their behalf.

Further guidance is expected before the service launches to clarify exactly what letting agents will be able to do.

For landlords whose properties are managed by James Anderson, we will continue to monitor the guidance closely and help our clients understand what information they need and when action needs to be taken.

 

What should landlords do now?

There is no need for London landlords to register immediately, but it makes sense to start preparing.

Check that your property records are up to date, particularly your EPC, gas safety documentation, electrical safety records and any relevant property licences.

It is also worth making a note of the London registration window — 15 July to 14 October 2027 — so the deadline does not come as a surprise.

 

Another change for landlords but we're here to help

The new landlord register forms part of a much wider period of change for the private rented sector.

For landlords, staying on top of new legislation and compliance requirements is becoming an increasingly important part of successfully letting a property.

At James Anderson, our lettings and property management teams work closely with landlords across SW London, helping our clients navigate the changing rental market and understand their responsibilities.

As further guidance on the new register is published, we'll continue to keep our landlords updated.

 

Unsure how the upcoming changes could affect your rental property? Speak to our lettings team for advice and support.