Phase 2 of the Renters’ Rights Act is moving closer, and we now have confirmed details of the new national landlord database.
The Government’s Register Your Rental Property service will begin rolling out across England from 15 December 2026, with landlords required to register themselves and each qualifying rental property.
For landlords in Kent and the wider South East, the legal requirement begins on 15 March 2027, with registration required by 14 June 2027.
That may sound some way off.
But when you look at the information landlords will be expected to provide, our advice would be simple:
Don’t wait until your deadline to find out whether your property records and compliance are in order.
What Is the Register Your Rental Property Service?
The new landlord database forms part of Phase 2 of the Renters’ Rights Act reforms.
Landlords of assured or regulated tenancies will need to register themselves and each relevant rental property through the Government service.
Registration will cost £65 per property, per year, although fees will be adjusted during the initial rollout so landlords registering earlier don’t pay more simply because their region comes first.
Initially, landlords only need to register properties that are already let or become let during the rollout.
In the future, this will go further. The Government plans to require landlords to register unoccupied properties before they can be marketed for let, with unique landlord and property identifiers eventually required on property adverts.
Kent Landlords: Your Key Dates
For properties in Kent and the South East, the important dates are:
Registration available: 15 December 2026
South East legal requirement begins: 15 March 2027
Deadline to register: 14 June 2027
Annual cost: £65 per property
Landlords can choose to register earlier than their regional requirement once the service opens in December.
After the three-month registration window for a region closes, local councils will be able to begin enforcement action where landlords have failed to comply.
Own Properties Outside Kent? Check Your Deadlines Carefully
This is particularly important for portfolio landlords.
The registration deadline is based on where the rental property is located – not where you live.
So, for example, a landlord living in Kent who owns a rental property in the West Midlands will need to comply with the West Midlands timetable for that property.
The regional deadlines are:
| Region | Requirement Begins | Registration Deadline |
| West Midlands | 15 December 2026 | 14 March 2027 |
| East of England | 15 January 2027 | 14 April 2027 |
| East Midlands | 15 February 2027 | 14 May 2027 |
| South East | 15 March 2027 | 14 June 2027 |
| Yorkshire and Humber | 15 April 2027 | 14 July 2027 |
| North West | 15 May 2027 | 14 August 2027 |
| North East | 15 June 2027 | 14 September 2027 |
| London | 15 July 2027 | 14 October 2027 |
| South West | 15 August 2027 | 14 November 2027 |
If you own properties across several regions, you don’t necessarily have to register them separately according to each timetable.
From 15 December 2026, landlords will be able to register properties early. So a portfolio landlord may decide to register properties across different regions together rather than working through several deadlines throughout 2027.
What Information Will Landlords Need to Provide?
This isn’t simply a register containing your name and property address.
The Government has confirmed that landlords will need to provide information covering the landlord, property, tenancy, rent and important areas of compliance.
This includes details such as:
- Property address, ownership type and property type.
- Number of bedrooms.
- Number of occupants and households.
- Whether the property is furnished, partly furnished or unfurnished.
- Current rent, payment frequency and whether utilities are included.
- HMO, additional or selective licensing information where applicable.
- Gas safety information and a copy of the gas safety record where one exists.
- Electrical safety information, including EICR or EIC details.
- EPC information.
- Details of any relevant Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) exemption.
Landlords will also need a GOV.UK One Login to use the service.
The Government has published a full list of the information landlords should prepare, which we’d strongly recommend reviewing well before your registration window opens.
Can Your Letting Agent Register for You?
This is an important point for managed landlords.
Your letting agent cannot simply take over the entire registration process for you.
The Government has confirmed that landlords remain responsible for starting and completing their registration.
There will be an option for a letting agent or property manager to provide certain information on the landlord’s behalf, and further guidance explaining exactly how this will work will be published before the service launches.
So even if your property is fully managed, this is one piece of compliance landlords will still need to be personally involved with.
Why We Think Landlords Should Start Preparing Now
There is no need for Kent landlords to panic or rush to register – the service isn’t open yet.
But there is a big difference between registering and being ready to register.
The database will bring together information about your property, tenancy, rent, licensing and safety compliance.
If your gas safety information, EICR, EPC and licensing records are all up to date and easily accessible, registration should be considerably more straightforward.
But what if they aren’t?
What if an EPC has expired?
What if you’re unsure whether a property requires a particular licence?
What if information within your tenancy records doesn’t match your current situation?
Or you simply don’t know where some of the documentation is?
June 2027 isn’t the ideal time to discover those problems.
The Government has made clear that the database won’t simply be an administrative exercise. Local councils will be able to use it to help identify and tackle poor practice, while tenants will eventually be able to check whether landlords comply with key legal requirements.
Preparation therefore isn’t just about filling in an online form.
It’s about being confident that the information you’re putting into it demonstrates that your property is being managed compliantly.
Don’t Wait for Registration to Discover the Gaps
For self-managing landlords, the new database provides another good reason to make sure your tenancy documentation and compliance are where they need to be.
Our Tenancy Health Check gives you an opportunity to do exactly that.
We’ll review your existing tenancy and help identify areas where your documentation, compliance or management processes may need attention, giving you time to address potential gaps before the South-East registration window opens.
You don’t need to wait until March 2027 to find out whether you’re ready.
Book your Tenancy Health Check now and start preparing now.
This article is intended for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements may be subject to further guidance as the Register Your Rental Property service is implemented. Landlords should refer to current Government guidance and seek appropriate professional advice where required.
