The registration service will make it easier for tenants to check their landlord’s credentials
A landlord registration scheme will be progressively introduced across regions of England from December, the Government has announced. The register is set to launch on December 15, beginning in the West Midlands before expanding to additional areas throughout a 12-month period.
The initiative forms part of wider reforms designed to protect private renters. Thanks to the scheme, tenants will be able to verify whether their current or potential landlord has registered, providing greater assurance that a landlord is legitimate and following regulations, the Government stated.
London landlords will be able to register from July 2027, with a deadline to register by the following October.
The new registration scheme will provide councils with access to data to help them identify rogue landlords and intervene more swiftly, the Government added. At first, requirements will only apply to landlords with properties currently let, or which become tenanted during the rollout phase.
As future legislation comes into force, landlords will also be obliged to register any vacant properties before advertising them for rent, the Government confirmed. Letting agents and landlords will also be required to display registration numbers on property advertisements.
HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC’s) Valuation Office will also assume responsibility for adjudicating challenges to rent increases in England, which the Government said will enable people to settle rent disputes more efficiently.
While the reforms are being developed, renters wishing to contest a rent increase must continue to apply to the First-tier Tribunal.
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said: “By transferring responsibility for making initial rent determinations to HMRC’s Valuation Office, we will ensure that challenges to proposed rent increases are determined faster and pressure on the tribunal system is reduced, giving tenants and landlords confidence that rent disputes will continue to be resolved efficiently and effectively.”
He added: “Rollout of a national landlord registration service is an important first step toward establishing our new innovative database of private rented sector properties which will empower tenants, support responsible landlords and help councils enforce our transformative Renters’ Rights Act.”
Minister for Courts and Legal Services Sarah Sackman said: “By ensuring rental disputes can be resolved through a new dedicated service, this will provide quicker decisions for renters and landlords while relieving future pressure on tribunals.”
The legislation to begin implementing the landlord registration service has been presented to Parliament and, subject to Parliamentary approval, will take effect on December 15, 2026.
Mairi MacRae, director of policy and campaigns at Shelter, remarked: “The Government’s new private rental sector database has the potential to increase safety and security in private renting by helping to expose the dodgy ‘fly-by-night’ landlords who swerve their responsibilities and charge over the odds for shoddy homes.”
She continued: “If properly implemented, the database could be a gamechanger. But for it to be truly successful, the database must be made publicly available to renters as soon as possible, with details of previous rents charged at each property, so renters have the information they need to challenge unfair rent hikes.”
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), commented: “Rather than just a list of local landlords, the database should be a genuine compliance tool that helps tenants and councils check that homes meet required standards, while enabling responsible landlords to demonstrate that they are meeting their obligations.”
He added: “There is also a real risk of duplication. In many parts of the country, landlords already pay for local licensing schemes which collect much of the same information.”
Addressing the Government’s approach to future rent dispute handling, Mr Beadle stated: “We strongly welcome the decision for HM Revenue and Customs’ Valuation Office (VO) to take responsibility for determining challenges to rent increases.”
He added: “A quicker, specialist rent determination service should benefit both tenants and landlords while easing pressure on an already stretched tribunal system.”
Below are the rollout dates, showing when the registration window opens followed by the deadline to register, according to the Government:
- West Midlands, December 15 2026, March 14 2027
- East of England, January 15 2027, April 14 2027
- East Midlands, February 15 2027, May 14 2027
- South East, March 15 2027, June 14 2027
- Yorkshire and the Humber, April 15 2027, July 14 2027
- North West, May 15 2027, August 14 2027
- North East, June 15 2027, September 14 2027
- London, July 15 2027, October 14 2027
- South West, August 15 2027, November 14 2027
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