Register Your Rental Property: What Landlords in England Need to Know

The government is introducing a new registration requirement for private landlords in England under the Renters’ Rights Act.

Landlords will need to register themselves and their rental properties through the new Register your rental property service.

Whether you own one rental property or several, it is important to understand when registration starts, what information you will need and how much it will cost.

At RNM Accountants UK, we help individuals and businesses understand their financial and tax responsibilities and compliance.

Here is a summary of the government's latest guidance to help landlords prepare.

Who needs to register?

Private landlords renting out properties in England under an assured or regulated tenancy must register themselves and their properties.

This requirement also applies to organisations acting as private landlords, including:

• Limited companies
• Charities
• Trusts
• Limited liability partnerships (LLPs)
• Scottish partnerships

If you own a rental property jointly with someone else, each landlord must register individually. One of the joint landlords will register the property and invite the other landlords to join its registration.

There is an exception for tenancies that fall within the definition of supported exempt accommodation under the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023.

When do landlords need to register?

The registration service will be introduced in stages across England. Each region will have a three-month registration period.

The government has published the following timetable:

Region	Registration opens	Deadline
West Midlands	15 December 2026	14 March 2027
East of England	15 January 2027	14 April 2027
East Midlands	15 February 2027	14 May 2027
South East	15 March 2027	14 June 2027
Yorkshire and Humberside	15 April 2027	14 July 2027
North West	15 May 2027	14 August 2027
North East	15 June 2027	14 September 2027
London	15 July 2027	14 October 2027
South West	15 August 2027	14 November 2027

 

Landlords can register before their region's registration period opens. However, they must complete registration by the deadline for the region where their property is located.

During the rollout period, from 15 December 2026 to 14 November 2027, landlords only need to register properties that are currently rented out or become rented out during this period.

What information will you need?

Landlords will need to provide information about themselves and their rental properties.

For property registration, the required details include:

• Property address, number of bedrooms and current rental status.
• A correspondence address in England or Wales.
• Contact details for managing agents, superior landlords and freeholders.

You will also need to provide supporting information, including:

• Gas safety certificate evidence, if the property has a gas supply.
• Electrical safety certificate evidence.
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) evidence.
• Tenancy information, including rent.
• Relevant property licences, such as an HMO licence.

You can submit this information when registering or provide any outstanding details within 28 days.

If you fail to provide the outstanding information within 28 days, your property registration may be deactivated.
What about HMO landlords?

If your property has an HMO licence, you only need to register the whole property once. You do not need to register each individual room separately.

How much does registration cost?

The government has confirmed an annual service fee of £65 per property.

There is no charge for registering as a landlord or updating your landlord and property records.
The £65 fee is payable when registering each property and annually thereafter to keep the property registered.

Importantly, the government has confirmed that the service fee is tax-deductible. Landlords should review the relevant HMRC guidance when completing their tax returns.

During the initial rollout, the registration fee will be adjusted (pro-rated). This means landlords registering at different stages will pay an amount reflecting the relevant period.

From 15 November 2027, all landlords will be required to have registered.

Can a letting agent register on your behalf?

Landlords can ask their letting or managing agent to provide tenancy and health and safety information.

However, the landlord must start the registration process and remains responsible for ensuring that the property record is completed within 28 days.

Delegating certain tasks to an agent does not remove the landlord's responsibility to meet the registration requirements.

Do landlords need to update their registration?

Yes. If any information changes or expires, landlords must update their registration within 28 days.

This includes changes to personal details and property information, such as occupancy details and safety certificates.

There is no charge for making these updates.

All registered properties will share the same annual renewal date, which is one year from the date the landlord registered their first property.

What happens if landlords fail to register?

Landlords who do not comply with the registration requirements may face financial penalties.

According to the government guidance:

• Penalties of up to £7,000 may apply for failing to register yourself and your property.
• Penalties of up to £40,000 may apply for knowingly or recklessly providing false or misleading information, or for continuing or repeated breaches of certain requirements.

Local authorities may also take enforcement action where landlords fail to comply.

How do landlords register?

Landlords will register through the government's Register your rental property service using GOV.UK One Login. They will have the option of verifying their identity.

For those without digital access, a paper-based application will also be available.

The service will be operated by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How RNM Accountants UK can help

Keeping up with changes in landlord responsibilities and compliance is important, particularly if you own multiple rental properties or operate through a company.

At RNM Accountants UK, we provide accounting, tax and business advisory services to individuals and businesses. We can help you understand your financial and tax responsibilities, including the tax treatment of relevant property expenses.

If you are a landlord and would like support with your accounting or tax affairs, contact our team.

RNM Accountants UK

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0208 087 0123
info@ukrnm.com