The government's planned Private Rented Sector (PRS) database risks becoming an expensive administrative burden, according to a new report from The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC). The council warns that the platform must be designed around the daily work of landlords and agents to avoid failure.
TLIC states the database should function beyond a static register, supporting compliance monitoring, reporting, and targeted enforcement. It advocates for councils to be able to identify properties with missing, expired, or unsatisfactory safety records in real time.
The report outlines six principles, including clear identification, flexible ownership structures, ease of use, tenant access, digital records, and proportionate implementation. TLIC co-chair Theresa Wallace said the government risks missing an opportunity to build a database adapted to the market's fast-changing needs.
TLIC proposes that the Unique Property Reference Number should be the primary identifier for each property, linking registration, safety records, licensing, and tenancy data. Tenants should be able to verify landlord registration and the presence of valid EPC, gas safety, electrical, and licensing records.
With over 50% of PRS properties in England let or managed by agents, the report suggests the database should reflect their role in compliance and administration. TLIC is calling for API links with agency software and CSV bulk uploads for firms managing large portfolios, along with a minimum six-month lead-in period for each geographical rollout.