Register your rental property: government confirms every region’s sign-up dates and £65 fee

The government has published full guidance for landlords on the new Register your rental property service (the PRS Database created by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025). Published on 29 October 2026, it confirms the start and end date of the registration window for every region of England, the £65 annual fee per property, and the penalties for not registering.

15 Dec 2026

First region (West Midlands) opens

£65

Annual fee per property (no VAT)

15 Nov 2027

Date from which all landlords must be registered

When your region opens

Registration opens region by region, with each region given a three-month window. During the rollout, only properties that are let, or become let, must be registered.

1. 1West Midlands: 15 Dec 2026 – 14 Mar 2027
2. 2East of England: 15 Jan 2027 – 14 Apr 2027
3. 3East Midlands: 15 Feb 2027 – 14 May 2027
4. 4South East: 15 Mar 2027 – 14 Jun 2027
5. 5Yorkshire and Humberside: 15 Apr 2027 – 14 Jul 2027
6. 6North West: 15 May 2027 – 14 Aug 2027
7. 7North East: 15 Jun 2027 – 14 Sep 2027
8. 8London: 15 Jul 2027 – 14 Oct 2027
9. 9South West: 15 Aug 2027 – 14 Nov 2027

What it costs

The annual service fee is £65 per property and is not subject to VAT. Registering yourself as a landlord, and updating your records, is free. During the rollout the first fee is pro-rated: the guidance gives examples of £5.34 for a property registered on 15 December 2026 and £39.60 for one registered on 25 June 2027.

What it means for landlords

• Every joint landlord must register; one registers the property and invites the others.
• Outstanding property information, such as gas, electrical and EPC certificates, can be added within 28 days of registering, or the registration may be deactivated. Changes must also be updated within 28 days, even where an agent manages the record.
• Failing to register yourself and your property can lead to a penalty of up to £7,000. Knowingly or recklessly giving false or misleading information, or continuing or repeated breaches, can lead to up to £40,000.
• Once the registration period for your area has opened, tenants can apply for Rent Repayment Orders in those cases.
• Showing landlord and property numbers in adverts will be required in future, but that requirement is not yet in force.

Landlords in the West Midlands have about six weeks before their window opens. Everyone else should note their region’s dates and make sure their certificates and tenancy details are up to date before registering.

Sources

• GOV.UK: Register your rental property service – guidance for landlords
• GOV.UK: guidance for letting agents and property managers

This article is general information for UK landlords, not legal advice. Check the current position or take professional advice.