F&F LLP UKRE Team Newsflash – New National Landlord Database coming in 2026

A major change is on the horizon for the private rented sector in England.

As part of the government’s ongoing reforms, a new national Private Rented Sector Database will be introduced, with rollout expected to begin in late 2026.

This database will require all landlords and all rental properties in England to be registered. The aim is to increase transparency, improve standards, and give tenants clearer visibility of who is responsible for their homes.

For landlords and agents, this represents a significant new compliance obligation, and early preparation will be key. We will continue to monitor developments closely and provide updates as further guidance is released.

Registration is mandatory for every private landlord in England who lets a residential property under a private tenancy.

This covers:

• Individual landlords – whether you have one property or a large portfolio
• Company landlords – limited companies, partnerships and other corporate structures that own and let residential property
• New landlords – must register before advertising or letting a property once the database is live
• Existing landlords – will have a transition period to register once the database is operational, exact window to be confirmed in regulations

Letting agents are not required to register as landlords, but the legislation places a duty on agents to check that their landlord clients are registered on the database before accepting an instruction to market or manage a property. An agent who acts for an unregistered landlord may themselves be liable for a penalty.

If you require further information or legal advice, including conveyancing services in England, please contact our dedicated UKRE team: Anna Douglass, Alastair Hargreaves, Caren Vidamour and Hannah Damant, who will be pleased to assist.