The PRS Database for Landlords: What It Is and How to Register
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 creates a new national Private Rented Sector (PRS) database for England. Most private landlords will be legally required to register themselves and their properties on it. This guide explains what the database is, who it applies to, and how to get ahead of the deadline.
What is the PRS database?
The PRS database is a national digital register of private landlords and their rented properties in England, introduced under the Renters' Rights Act. It's intended to give tenants, councils and the new PRS ombudsman a single source of information about who is letting property and whether they meet their legal obligations.
In practice it means most landlords will need to create an entry for themselves and register each property they let, keeping the details up to date. Certain compliance information is expected to be recorded against each property.
Who has to register?
The requirement is expected to apply to private landlords letting residential property in England under the tenancy types covered by the Act. If you let a property to private tenants, you should assume you'll be in scope and plan accordingly.
There are likely to be limited exceptions, and the precise scope is set out in regulations that follow the Act. Because the detail is still being finalised, the safest approach is to prepare to register rather than assume you're exempt.
When does registration open?
The database is being introduced in phases following the Act, with the register expected to come into operation from late 2026 onwards. Exact dates are confirmed through secondary legislation and government announcements.
Once it's live, letting a property without being properly registered is expected to carry financial penalties, so knowing your start date matters. Deadlines like this are exactly what RentClock is built to track — we'll flag PRS registration in your ledger the moment it applies to your properties.
What will you need to register?
While the final data fields are set in regulations, landlords should expect to provide identifying details for themselves and each property, and to link relevant compliance records — the kind of information you should already be keeping: gas safety, electrical safety (EICR), energy performance (EPC) and deposit protection details.
Having these documents organised and their renewal dates to hand will make registration far quicker. If they're currently scattered across your inbox and a filing cabinet, now is the time to get them in one place.
How to prepare now
Three practical steps. First, gather your current certificates for every property and check none have lapsed. Second, record the renewal date for each so nothing expires just as the database launches. Third, watch for the confirmed commencement date and register promptly once it opens.
RentClock does the first two for you: add your properties, attach each certificate, and it counts down every renewal — then adds PRS registration to your checklist as soon as it goes live.
Frequently asked questions
No. Selective and additional licensing schemes run by individual councils are separate. The PRS database is a single national register introduced by the Renters' Rights Act, and you may need to comply with both.
Once the database is in force, letting a property without registering is expected to carry financial penalties. The precise amounts are set in regulations following the Act.
The register is expected to come into operation from late 2026, with exact timing confirmed through secondary legislation. Check GOV.UK for the confirmed date, or let RentClock flag it for you.
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and reflects the rules as they stood when last updated (2026-07-01). Always check GOV.UK or a professional for your specific situation.