Landlords in the West Midlands are the first to face a new requirement to register properties on the national Private Rented Sector database, introduced under the Renters’ Rights Act. Registration opens on December 15, with landlords in the region required to complete the process by March 14, 2027. The scheme will extend across England by November 2027.

Under the new rules, landlords must obtain their own registration number before registering each individual property. Registration carries a fee of £65 per property, with annual renewal fees also applicable. Failure to register can result in penalties of up to £7,000 and may restrict landlords from ending tenancies through the court system except in limited circumstances.

The database aims to increase transparency and enforcement of rental property standards. Once fully implemented, online rental listings will be required to display landlord and property registration numbers. Local authorities will use the information to focus compliance efforts, and tenants will eventually be able to verify whether a property meets required standards. Some landlords have expressed concern about the potential public disclosure of personal information, including their names and home addresses, although specific details to be made publicly available have yet to be finalized.

Property management agents will assist landlords in maintaining up-to-date records on the database. The system requires updates, such as new safety certificates or rent changes, to be recorded within 28 days. However, agents are not responsible for signing landlords up to the register; this remains the landlord’s obligation.

Separately, agents often charge landlords a separate compliance fee, distinct from the full property management fee, which can be misleading. Although ensuring regulatory compliance is generally considered part of standard management services, these compliance fees have proliferated since tenant fees were banned, often described in vague terms like “legislative horizon scanning.” The practice varies widely, with some agents bundling compliance-related tasks into upfront service charges, while others treat them as optional extras.

The disappearance of fixed-term tenancy agreements has also removed a regular point at which agents traditionally charged renewal fees, prompting the introduction of additional charges to maintain revenue streams in an increasingly demanding industry. Despite criticism, agents operate in a low-margin business with rising workloads, which some observers say drives the trend towards unbundling services and charging separately for elements previously included.

Landlords facing these developments should prepare to engage directly with the new registration system and anticipate ongoing costs and administrative responsibilities as part of renting out property under the updated regulatory framework.