Date Published 10 September 2026
The Government has confirmed that the new national landlord database will begin rolling out from 15 December 2026, with landlords required to pay £65 per property, per year to register. The system forms part of Phase 2 of the Renters' Rights Act and will be introduced region by region over 12 months. Landlords will have a three-month registration window once their area goes live. For landlords with properties in the South East, including Reading, registration will open on 15 March 2027, with a deadline of 14 June 2027.
Do you need to register?
Landlords of properties occupied under assured or regulated tenancies will need to register both themselves and their rental properties. Empty properties being marketed to let will not initially need to be registered, although this is expected to change in future.
Landlords must complete the initial registration themselves, although letting agents and property managers may be able to assist with certain property information. Failure to comply could result in civil penalties of up to £7,000, rising to £40,000 for serious or repeated breaches.
What information will be required?
Landlords should expect to provide details including:
• Property address and ownership type
• Property type and occupancy details
• Rent and payment frequency
• HMO and licensing information
• Gas safety, EICR and EPC details
Landlords will also be responsible for keeping their registration information up to date.
Rent increase disputes
The Government has also announced plans for the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to determine rent increase disputes instead of the First-tier Tribunal. This change is not yet in force, so rent increase challenges will continue to be dealt with by the tribunal for the time being.
What should landlords do now?
There is no need to register immediately, but landlords should ensure their EPC, EICR, Gas Safety Certificate, licensing and tenancy records are up to date and readily available.
Adams Estates will continue to monitor the rollout and will provide our landlords with further guidance as the registration portal, agent procedures and final operational requirements are confirmed.
