Following on from the recent Government announcement and our blog dated 9th September, we have secured further information on the manner in which the “Register My Rental Property” portal will look to work and what should be included.

For landlords across Essex and Suffolk, the current draft Regulations propose that the new requirements will come into force in the East of England on 15 January 2027. However, landlords should not leave preparations until the last minute.

It is important to note the Regulations currently remain in draft form, so some details may change before implementation. 

At Boydens, we are already encouraging landlords to make sure their ownership details and property compliance records are complete and accurate.

Joint landlords – an important point

Where a property has more than one legal landlord, it is important that all of the legal landlords are identified.

Under section 82 of the Renters' Rights Act, a residential landlord has a duty to ensure that there is an active landlord entry in respect of that person and an active dwelling entry for the property. 

On the wording of the current draft Regulations, this means that each legal owner will need their appropriate landlord registration. The property itself does not then need to be separately registered several times. The draft provides for only one active dwelling entry in normal circumstances and specifically recognises that one joint landlord can make or reactivate the dwelling entry on behalf of the joint landlords. 

In practical terms, if Mr and Mrs Smith are both registered legal owners, both need to be correctly identified and registered as landlords, but there should normally be one property registration linked to the joint landlords.

This makes checking the actual legal ownership of a property particularly important.

Who can make the registration?

An individual landlord can make their own registration.

Where the landlord is a company or other organisation, the draft Regulations specifically anticipate an individual making the entry on behalf of the organisation. The registration must identify that individual as well as a nominated contact for the organisation.

Where the organisation is constituted as a trust, details of the lead trustee will also be required. 

The Regulations also provide for certain people with specific legal authority to act, including attorneys acting under a Power of Attorney, personal representatives of deceased estates, court-appointed deputies, guardians, receivers, trustees in bankruptcy, liquidators and administrators. Evidence of their authority may have to be provided. 

Importantly, the current draft does not simply allow a letting agent to take over the whole landlord registration process as though they were the landlord. It does, however, allow an appointed letting agent or property manager to provide certain tenancy, health and safety information and documents on behalf of the person making the dwelling entry. 

Why getting the ownership right matters

This will not simply be an administrative exercise.

The Renters' Rights Act allows local authorities to impose a civil penalty of up to £7,000 for breaches of the PRS Database requirements. Continuing or repeat breaches and certain offences, including knowingly or recklessly providing false or misleading information, can lead to a civil penalty of up to £40,000 or criminal prosecution. 

The Government's own guidance also confirms that advertising or letting a property without the required registration can attract enforcement action. 

There is another important consequence: failure to maintain the required active landlord and property registration can also restrict a landlord's ability to obtain possession of their property, subject to limited exceptions such as certain anti-social behaviour grounds. 

Start preparing now

For many landlords, most of the information required will already exist. The important thing is making sure that it is accurate, current and relates to every legal landlord.

If your property is jointly owned, owned through a limited company, held within a trust or estate, or you are unsure exactly who should be registered, speak to the Boydens team before registration opens.

Boydens will continue to monitor the Regulations and Government guidance and will keep our landlords informed as the final registration process and timetable are confirmed.