Landlords warn rental database must be more than a national directory

The NRLA has issued its response to the Government's announcement that, over the coming year, landlords across England will need to sign up to its 'Register Your Rental Property' private rented sector database.

The announcement confirms how, starting with the West Midlands in December 2026, the database - introduced as part of the Government's rental reforms - will be rolled out gradually region by region over the next year.

This database aims to provide local authorities with information that can be used to drive enforcement efforts designed to drive out rogue or criminal landlords.

Responding to the Government’s announcement on the new private rented sector database, Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), said:

“Whilst the timetable provides some much-needed certainty, we remain concerned that the private rented sector database will become little more than a national directory for councils, missing a major opportunity to deliver a system which will help raise standards across the market.

“Rather than just a list of local landlords, the database should be a genuine compliance tool that helps tenants and councils check that homes meet required standards, while enabling responsible landlords to demonstrate that they are meeting their obligations.

“Instead of simply requiring landlords to upload documents, the database should make intelligent use of existing data to verify compliance and ownership. Done properly, it could give tenants confidence, help councils target enforcement and make landlord compliance easier to verify.

“In rushing to launch a stripped-back minimum viable product, the Government risks building the database quickly rather than building it properly.

“There is also a real risk of duplication. In many parts of the country landlords already pay for local licensing schemes which collect much of the same information. The Government needs to explain how these systems will work together – compliant landlords should not have to pay twice to provide the same information.

Responding to the Government’s announcement on the future handling of rent disputes, Mr Beadle continued:

“We strongly welcome the decision for HM Revenue and Customs’ Valuation Office (VO) to take responsibility for determining challenges to rent increases.

“During the passage of the Renters’ Rights Act, the NRLA repeatedly called for the Government to make use of the VO’s expertise on local market rents to help prevent the Tribunal system becoming overwhelmed.

“A quicker, specialist rent determination service should benefit both tenants and landlords while easing pressure on an already stretched Tribunal system.

-ENDS-

Notes:

• The Government’s press release can be accessed here.
• During the passage of the Renters’ Rights Act, the NRLA supported an amendment tabled by Baroness Wolf of Dulwich which would have required applications challenging rent increases to be reviewed first by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), the predecessor to the now integrated HM Revenue and Customs' Valuation Office (VO). It sought to establish a pre-appeal assessment process to filter out cases with no prospect of success and avoid over-burdening the Tribunal. The amendment can be found here.
• In July 2026, the cross-party Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee called on the Government to be “more ambitious” with the Private Rented Sector Database so that it can drive up standards and give tenants comprehensive information about landlords and the quality of homes.
• The Committee also called on the Government to conduct and publish a full assessment of the resources and powers available to local authorities to enforce standards in the private rented sector. Further information can be found here.
• In November 2024, the NRLA called for the database to provide meaningful information enabling responsible landlords to demonstrate compliance and tenants to identify safe and compliant homes. Further information can be found here.
• Further information about the NRLA can be found at www.nrla.org.uk.  It posts on X @NRLAssociation.
• The NRLA’s press office can be contacted by emailing [email protected] or by calling 0300 131 6363.