Register Your Rental Property: What South West Landlords Need to Know
The Government has now confirmed how its new national landlord registration service will work and South West landlords should start preparing now
The private rented sector is entering another significant period of change.
Following the introduction of the first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act in May 2026, the Government has now provided further detail on the next major stage of reform: the introduction of the new “Register your rental property” service.
For landlords across the South West, including Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Wiltshire, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Cornwall, this will introduce a new legal requirement to register rental properties with the Government.
The service is designed to create a national record of private landlords and rental properties, giving local authorities better information to identify properties and landlords operating within the sector and helping tenants have greater confidence in the homes they rent.
The Government has confirmed that the service will begin rolling out from 15 December 2026, starting in the West Midlands, before moving region by region across England.
For South West landlords, the current timetable means the change is expected to arrive in August 2027. That may sound some way away. However, with the increasing amount of information landlords will need to keep accurate and readily available, now is the right time to start getting organised.
What is “Register your rental property”?
The new service is the Government’s implementation of the Private Rented Sector Database introduced through the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
It will create a national database containing information about landlords and privately rented properties in England.
The Government’s stated intention is to improve transparency across the sector, support responsible landlords and give councils better information to help identify and tackle rogue landlords.
Importantly, registration will not be optional.
The Government has confirmed that landlords will be legally required to register and that failing to comply could result in financial penalties. (GOV.UK)
This is therefore not simply another piece of voluntary landlord administration.
It is becoming an important part of the compliance framework for private landlords.
When will South West landlords need to register?
The Government is taking a phased approach rather than opening registration for the whole of England simultaneously.
The current timetable is:
|Region | Registration window |
|West Midlands | December 2026 – February 2027 |
|East of England | January – March 2027 |
|East Midlands | February – April 2027 |
|South East | March – May 2027 |
|Yorkshire & Humber | April – June 2027 |
|North West | May – July 2027 |
|North East | June – August 2027 |
|London | July – September 2027 |
|**South West** | **August – October 2027** |
For the South West, landlords are currently expected to have their properties registered by 14 November 2027. (GOV.UK)
The registration deadline is based on where the rental property is located, rather than where the landlord lives.
This is particularly important for landlords with portfolios spread across different parts of England.
For example, a landlord living in Somerset with a property in Birmingham and another in Bath would need to consider the registration timetable applicable to each property.
What will landlords need to provide?
This is where preparation becomes particularly important.
The Government has indicated that landlords will need to provide information about themselves and each property they let.
This is expected to include details such as:
Landlord information
Landlords should expect to provide relevant personal and contact information.
Where a property has joint landlords, relevant information will also need to be provided for the joint owners.
Property information
The registration process is expected to require information such as:
● Full property address
● Property type
● Number of bedrooms
● Number of households or occupants
● Whether the property is occupied
● Whether the property is furnished
● Relevant tenancy information
● Rent and payment information
There may also be questions concerning licensing requirements, such as whether a property is subject to HMO, selective or additional licensing.
Compliance information
One of the most important areas for landlords will be having their safety and compliance documentation readily available.
Government information indicates that the database will require safety information, including:
● Gas Safety Certificate
● Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
● Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
The Government has previously indicated that the database will require key information about each property and its safety standards. (GOV.UK)
For landlords, this reinforces an important principle: Good record keeping is becoming increasingly important in professional property management.
The £65 annual registration fee
One of the significant details now confirmed is that landlords will have to pay an annual registration fee.
The current fee is £65 per rental property, per year. (Propertymark)
For landlords with larger portfolios, this is worth factoring into the ongoing cost of operating a rental business.
For example:
● 1 property = £65 per year
● 3 properties = £195 per year
● 5 properties = £325 per year
● 10 properties = £650 per year
The registration will also need to be renewed annually.
As with other regulatory costs, landlords should consider this as part of the ongoing cost of compliance rather than a one-off expense.
Does my letting agent register the property for me?
This is an important distinction.
The Government has indicated that the landlord remains responsible for registering.
However, where a landlord uses a letting agent or property manager, the agent will be able to provide certain information on the landlord’s behalf where appropriate.
This means landlords should not assume that appointing an agent automatically transfers the legal responsibility for registration.
Instead, landlords should speak to their agent about:
● Who will initiate the registration?
● Who will provide the information?
● Who will upload compliance documents?
● Who will check the information?
● Who will make sure registration remains current?
● Who will deal with annual renewal?
Professional agents are likely to play an important supporting role, particularly for landlords with multiple properties.
What should South West landlords do now?
The South West does not currently need to register immediately.
However, waiting until August 2027 to start preparing could create unnecessary pressure.
A sensible approach is to treat the next 12 months as an opportunity to conduct a landlord compliance health check.
1. Check your EPCs
Make sure you know the current EPC rating for every property.
Check:
● Is the EPC still valid?
● Is the property correctly recorded?
● Are improvement recommendations available?
● Are there any potential MEES issues?
● Do you have evidence of any exemption where applicable?
With energy efficiency becoming an increasingly important part of the private rented sector, keeping EPC information accurate will be essential.
2. Review your gas safety records
Check that every property requiring gas safety certification has:
● A current Gas Safety Certificate
● The correct property address
● The correct landlord/property details
● Evidence of the required annual checks
● Records retained appropriately
Don’t simply rely on knowing that the certificate exists.
Make sure you can actually locate it.
3. Check your EICRs
Electrical safety documentation should also be reviewed.
Make sure your EICR is current and that any remedial works identified by the report have been completed and documented.
Where remedial works have been undertaken, retain evidence such as:
● Contractor invoices
● Electrical certificates
● Completion documentation
● Correspondence relating to remedial works
A compliance record should demonstrate not only that an inspection took place, but what happened afterwards.
4. Review licensing
If your property is:
● An HMO
● Subject to additional licensing
● Subject to selective licensing
● Within an area with specific local licensing requirements
make sure you understand the relevant requirements and retain copies of licences and applications.
This is particularly important because licensing arrangements can differ significantly between local authorities across the South West.
5. Check your tenancy records
Landlords should also ensure they have accurate records of:
● Current tenants
● Tenancy start dates
● Rent
● Deposit information
● Property address
● Occupancy
● Landlord details
● Managing agent details
The new register is another reason why property records should be kept consistently and accurately.
What does this mean for landlords in Somerset, Bath and Bristol?
For landlords operating across the South West, the message is relatively straightforward:
The registration requirement is coming, but there is time to prepare.
The current timetable places the South West towards the end of the national rollout.
That provides landlords with a valuable opportunity to get their documentation and property records in order before registration becomes mandatory.
For landlords in areas such as Paulton, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Timsbury, Ston Easton, Bath, Bristol and the wider Somerset area, this is another reason to take a proactive approach to compliance rather than waiting for legislation to force action.
Local authorities will have access to information through the new system, strengthening their ability to identify landlords and properties operating within the private rented sector.
The Government has specifically said that the service will help councils identify rogue landlords and take quicker action. (GOV.UK)
For responsible landlords, this should not necessarily be viewed negatively.
In fact, a well-run and professionally managed property should have little to fear from greater transparency.
Good landlords should see registration as an opportunity.
There is a tendency for new legislation to be viewed purely as another burden for landlords.
But there is another way of looking at the new registration system.
A national register has the potential to help distinguish professional landlords from those who consistently fail to meet their legal responsibilities.
Responsible landlords already invest in:
● Safe properties
● Proper documentation
● Regular inspections
● Professional management
● Appropriate insurance
● Accurate tenancy records
● Prompt maintenance
● Legal compliance
The new register could ultimately help create a clearer distinction between landlords who take their responsibilities seriously and those who do not.
The Government itself says the system is intended to create a fairer market and help responsible landlords demonstrate strong standards. (GOV.UK)
What about empty properties?
Initially, the Government’s registration requirement will focus on properties that are already let or become occupied during the rollout.
However, the Government has confirmed that a future stage will require landlords to register vacant properties before marketing them for let.
There will also eventually be requirements for registration numbers to appear in property advertising. (GOV.UK)
This is particularly relevant to letting agents.
It means registration is likely to become increasingly integrated into the normal property marketing and letting process.
In time, a landlord may not simply instruct an agent, agree a rental price and put the property on Rightmove.
There will be another compliance step to consider before marketing.
Don’t leave it until 2027
Although South West landlords have until the autumn of 2027 to complete the current registration process, there is a strong argument for preparing well before then.
The private rented sector has already experienced substantial change in 2026.
The abolition of Section 21, the move to periodic tenancies, new rent increase requirements, changes concerning rental bidding and new rules around pets have already changed how landlords operate.
The registration service represents another significant step towards a more regulated and transparent private rented sector.
The best approach is therefore not to wait for the deadline. Instead: Review. Record. Prepare. Register.
Our advice to South West landlords
At Allen Residential, we believe that good property management starts with being proactive rather than reactive.
The new registration requirement is another reminder that successful landlords need to understand not just how to let a property, but how to operate it as a compliant rental investment.
If you own a rental property in Somerset, Bath, Bristol or the wider South West, now is a good time to review your property records and make sure your compliance documentation is complete and readily accessible.
The Government’s registration service is scheduled to reach the South West in August 2027, with the current overall deadline for actively let properties being 14 November 2027. (GOV.UK)
There is time.
But there is no reason to wait.
A well-prepared landlord should be able to approach registration as an administrative exercise rather than another last-minute compliance challenge.
Stay informed. Stay compliant. Protect your investment.
If you are unsure whether your rental property is ready for the next stage of regulation, speaking to an experienced professional letting agent can provide valuable reassurance and help identify areas that need attention before the new requirements take effect.
