A new annual charge of £65 per property will be introduced for landlords to register on a government database. The government has described this new Private Rented Sector (PRS) database charge as 'fair and sustainable'.
Landlords are legally compelled to join this database, providing and updating information for each property. The NRLA states that landlords must register their properties personally, rather than through an agent. Failure to comply with the registration requirements could result in penalties of up to £7,000, increasing to £40,000 for repeated or continuing breaches.
The Property118 article suggests that the database will partly enable councils to police landlords more effectively. Concerns have been raised by the NRLA regarding potential duplication, suggesting the database should utilise information the government already holds, such as EPCs and data from licensing authorities, instead of requiring landlords to re-upload documents and pay again.
The registration service will collect extensive information from landlords. The same government announcement confirms that HMRC’s Valuation Office will eventually determine tenant challenges to rent increases.