The Government has published official guidance on its new Register your rental property service, introducing an important requirement for private landlords across England under the Renters’ Rights Act.

The service will require landlords to register themselves and their eligible rental properties on a central government database, providing information about property ownership, tenancies and compliance with safety requirements.

Registration will be introduced gradually from December 2026, with different deadlines depending on the property’s location.

For landlords with rental properties in London, here is what you need to know.

What Is the Register Your Rental Property Service?

The Register your rental property service is a new government system designed to improve oversight of England’s private rented sector.

It will create a central record of landlords and their rental properties, helping local authorities identify properties, monitor compliance and take action where legal requirements are not being met.

Registration will be mandatory for private landlords renting properties under assured or regulated tenancies. This includes individual landlords, companies and other organisations acting as landlords.

Where a property has multiple landlords, each landlord must register individually, although only one needs to complete the property’s registration and invite the others.

Certain types of accommodation are exempt, so landlords should check whether the requirements apply to their properties.

When Will Landlords Need to Register?

The registration process will begin on 15 December 2026, starting in the West Midlands, before being introduced across the remaining regions of England throughout 2027.

Each region will have a three-month registration period.

For landlords with properties in London, the key dates are:

• Registration opens: 15 July 2027

• Registration deadline: 14 October 2027

Landlords with properties in multiple regions can register them together ahead of their respective regional deadlines.

During the initial rollout, registration will be required for properties that are already let or become let during that period.

The Government also intends to introduce a future requirement for unoccupied rental properties to be registered before they are advertised or marketed.

How Much Will Registration Cost?

The annual registration fee will be £65 per rental property, with no VAT payable.

Landlords will pay when registering each property and annually thereafter to maintain an active registration.

However, the Government has confirmed that fees during the initial rollout will be adjusted on a pro-rata basis. This means the first payment may be lower than the standard £65 annual charge.

There will be no additional charge for registering as a landlord or updating existing landlord and property information.

The Government has also confirmed that the registration fee will be tax-deductible, subject to the relevant HMRC rules.

What Information Will Landlords Need to Provide?

Landlords will need to supply information about themselves, their rental properties and the relevant tenancy arrangements.

This will include:

• Landlord identification and contact information

• Property address, number of bedrooms and current rental status

• A correspondence address in England or Wales

• Details of managing agents, freeholders and superior landlords, where applicable

• Tenancy information, including rent

• Gas Safety Certificate, where applicable

• Electrical Safety Certificate

• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

• Property licensing information, including HMO or other applicable licences

Once the initial property details have been submitted and the registration fee paid, landlords will receive a rental property registration number.

Any outstanding tenancy or compliance information must then be provided within 28 days.

Failure to complete the required information within this period could result in the property’s registration being deactivated.

Can Managing Agents Complete the Registration?

Although letting and managing agents can assist with certain aspects of the process, landlords must initiate their own registration.

Once the property has been registered and a registration number issued, landlords can delegate the submission of tenancy and health and safety information to their appointed agent.

However, the legal responsibility for ensuring the registration is completed correctly and on time remains with the landlord.

This makes it particularly important for landlords and managing agents to maintain accurate and accessible property records.

Will Landlords Need to Renew Their Registration?

Yes. Property registration will need to be renewed annually.

The renewal date will be based on the date the landlord first registers a property. Any additional properties registered afterwards will share the same renewal date.

Landlords must also keep their records up to date throughout the year.

Changes to relevant information, including occupancy details, personal information and expired safety certificates, must be updated within 28 days.

What Happens If a Landlord Fails to Register?

The Government has introduced financial penalties for landlords who fail to meet the new registration requirements.

Landlords may face:

• Financial penalties of up to £7,000 for failing to register themselves or their rental properties.

• Financial penalties of up to £40,000 for knowingly or recklessly providing false or misleading information, or for certain repeated or continuing breaches.

Local authorities will be responsible for enforcing these requirements.

In certain circumstances, serious or repeated breaches may also allow tenants to apply for Rent Repayment Orders.

What Should Landlords Do Now?

Although registration for London properties will not begin until July 2027, landlords should start preparing in advance.

We recommend reviewing existing property records, checking that safety certificates remain valid and ensuring all required licensing and tenancy information is readily available.

Landlords with properties in different regions should also familiarise themselves with the relevant registration deadlines.

Preparing this information early will help make the registration process more straightforward and reduce the risk of delays or incomplete submissions.

How Ladybird Living Can Help

At Ladybird Living, we understand that changes to property legislation can create additional responsibilities for landlords.

As the Register your rental property service is introduced, we will continue monitoring government announcements and keeping our landlords informed of important deadlines and requirements.

Our team remains available to assist with property management enquiries and help landlords understand their ongoing responsibilities.

For further information, contact Ladybird Living on 020 3488 1488 or email info@ladybirdliving.co.uk.

For the full official guidance, visit:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-your-rental-property-service-guidance-for-landlords

The information in this blog is correct as of November 2026. Landlords should refer to the latest government guidance for any subsequent changes.