Renters’ Rights Act 2025: New Landlord and Rental Property Register – What Landlords Need to Know

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 represents one of the most significant changes to England’s private rented sector in decades.

Following the major tenancy reforms that came into force on 1st May 2026, the Government is now moving ahead with the next phase of the Act. This includes the introduction of a new national ‘Register your rental property’ service.

Under the new system, private landlords will be legally required to register themselves and their rental properties. For landlords in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk and the wider East of England, there are important dates and requirements to prepare for.

What is changing under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025?

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 introduced wide-ranging reforms to the private rented sector.

The first major phase of the reforms came into effect on 1 May 2026, including significant changes to the tenancy system and the abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions.

The next phase includes the introduction of a national Private Rented Sector Database, which the Government is delivering through its new ‘Register your rental property’ service.

The aim is to create a central record of private landlords and rental properties in England, helping landlords understand and demonstrate compliance while providing tenants and local authorities with greater transparency.

Who will need to register?

Registration will be a legal requirement rather than an optional accreditation scheme.

Landlords of assured and regulated tenancies will be required to register themselves and their relevant rental properties.

The Government is introducing the service gradually across England, with different regions being given different registration periods.

When do Suffolk landlords need to register?

For landlords with properties in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk and elsewhere in the East of England, the registration requirement begins on 15 January 2027.

Landlords will then have until 14th April 2027 to complete their registration.

Importantly, the relevant deadline is determined by where the rental property is located, rather than where the landlord lives.

This will be particularly important for portfolio landlords who own properties across different regions of England, as they may have more than one registration deadline to consider.

How much will it cost?

The Government has announced an annual registration fee of £65.00 per property.

Each relevant rental property will need to be registered and the registration renewed annually.

During the initial rollout, fees will be adjusted on a pro-rata basis so landlords registering earlier in the national rollout are not disadvantaged.

For landlords with larger portfolios, this is an additional annual regulatory cost that should be factored into property management budgets.

What information will landlords need?

The new register is intended to hold important information about both the landlord and the rental property.

Landlords should expect to provide personal and contact details together with information relating to each property, including:

• Property address and ownership details
• Property type and number of bedrooms
• Whether the property is occupied
• Number of occupants and households
• Whether the property is furnished, partly furnished or unfurnished
• Rent and payment frequency
• Utilities included within the rent, where applicable
• HMO, selective or additional licensing information, where applicable
• Gas safety information
• Electrical safety information, including relevant electrical certification
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) information
• Details of applicable Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) exemptions

Maintaining accurate and up-to-date property and compliance records will therefore become increasingly important.

Will letting agents be able to register properties for landlords?

Landlords using a managing agent should be aware that responsibility for registration does not simply transfer to their agent.

The Government has indicated that landlords will need to begin the registration process themselves. The service is expected to allow letting agents and property managers to assist by entering certain information on the landlord’s behalf.

However, the landlord will remain legally responsible for ensuring that the required information is provided.

Further Government guidance for letting agents and property managers is expected as the service moves towards launch.

What about properties that are currently empty?

During the initial rollout, landlords will generally be required to register properties that are currently let or which become let during the rollout period.

However, the Government intends to introduce further requirements so that an unoccupied rental property will need to be registered before it can be advertised for let.

The Government also intends for property advertisements eventually to include the relevant unique registration identifiers.

This will make registration an increasingly important part of the pre-marketing process for landlords and letting agents.

What happens if a landlord does not register?

Landlords should be aware that registration is a legal compliance requirement under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.

The new register will be backed by enforcement powers, and local authorities will be able to take action where landlords fail to meet their registration obligations.

The legislation also links registration requirements to possession proceedings. Subject to limited exceptions, failure to comply with the relevant database requirements may affect a landlord’s ability to obtain a possession order.

Landlords should therefore treat registration as an important compliance requirement rather than simply another administrative exercise.

What should landlords do now?

Although the East of England registration deadline is not until 14th April 2027, landlords should start preparing well in advance.

We recommend checking that property records are complete and that all relevant compliance documentation is current and readily accessible, including Gas Safety Certificates, Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs), Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), property licensing information and any applicable MEES exemptions.

Landlords will also require a GOV.UK One Login to access the new service.

Portfolio landlords may particularly benefit from reviewing their records early rather than waiting until the registration deadline approaches.

How Hazells can help

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 has fundamentally changed the regulatory landscape for private landlords, and the introduction of the national landlord and property register represents another important compliance responsibility.

At Hazells, we are continuing to monitor the implementation of the Act and the Government’s rollout of the new registration service.

For our landlords, ensuring that property information, safety certificates and other compliance records are accurate and up to date will become increasingly important as the new system comes into operation.

We will continue to provide updates as further Government guidance becomes available, including more information about how letting and managing agents will be able to assist landlords with the registration process.

If you are a landlord in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk or the surrounding area and would like to discuss how the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 affects your property or portfolio, please contact the Hazells Lettings team.

*This article is intended to provide general information and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements and Government guidance may be updated as the new registration service is implemented.*