The government's new national landlord database is set to be rolled out regionally as part of the next phase of the Renters’ Rights Act. Landlords will need to register themselves and their rental properties through this new service, with an annual registration fee of £65 per property.
The initiative has received a mixed response from the property industry. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) welcomed the timetable certainty but expressed concerns that the database might become merely a national directory for councils, missing an opportunity to raise market standards. Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, suggested the database should be a compliance tool that uses existing data to verify standards, rather than just a list requiring document uploads.
Concerns have also been raised about potential duplication and multiple penalties. Scott Goldstein, a property disputes partner at Payne Hicks Beach, warned that landlords could face fines of up to £7,000 for each scheme if they fail to register for both the national database and existing local licensing schemes. This could potentially lead to more small private landlords leaving the market, which may increase pressure on rents in the short term.
Letting agents are being advised to prepare for a significant increase in workload. Sean Hooker, head of redress at Property Redress, noted that while the database could improve transparency, agents should not underestimate the operational impact. Agents may be asked by landlords to assist with registration, requiring them to review contracts, define support, and ensure they have the necessary resources and systems. Registration checks will also need to become an ongoing part of agents' processes, as unoccupied properties will need to be registered before marketing, and unique identifiers included in advertisements.