The regulations were laid before Parliament in draft form on 9 September 2026 and remain subject to parliamentary approval. However, the proposed timetable and registration requirements are now clear enough for landlords to begin preparing.
For landlords with properties managed by The Property Hive in Doncaster, the important date is 15 April 2027, and properties will need to be registered by 14th of July 2027.
What is the Private Rented Sector Database?
Created under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, the database is intended to provide a central record of private landlords, rented homes and key compliance information.
The government says the service will help:
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landlords understand and demonstrate compliance;
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tenants confirm that their landlord and home are registered;
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local authorities identify non-compliance and take enforcement action; and
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responsible landlords distinguish themselves from those who fail to meet the required standards.
Registration will be a legal requirement rather than an optional accreditation scheme.
When must Doncaster landlords register?
The service will launch nationally on 15 December 2026, with landlords called forward region by region.
Doncaster is expressly included within the Yorkshire and Humber region. The proposed timetable is:
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15 April 2027: registration opens for landlords with rented properties in Doncaster and the wider Yorkshire and Humber region.
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14 July 2027: the proposed end of the three-month registration period for landlords whose properties are already occupied.
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Within 28 days of a tenancy beginning: additional tenancy and compliance information must be added when a registered vacant property becomes occupied.
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Every 12 months: active entries must normally be renewed and the relevant property fee paid.
Landlords with properties in more than one region may have different registration periods for different parts of their portfolio.
The initial rollout applies to properties that are already let or become occupied during the rollout period. The government intends to introduce further requirements at a later stage, including registration before an unoccupied property is marketed and the inclusion of registration numbers in advertisements.
Who will need to register?
The requirements are expected to apply to all landlords operating assured or regulated private tenancies in England, whether the landlord is:
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an individual;
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a company;
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a partnership;
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a trust or charity; or
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one of several joint landlords.
Each joint landlord will need a separate landlord entry, although the landlords will share the property’s dwelling entry.
What information will landlords need to provide?
Information about the landlord
An individual landlord will need to provide:
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their full name;
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date of birth;
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residential address;
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telephone number; and
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email address.
Companies, trusts and other organisations will need to provide additional details. These may include the organisation’s legal status, registered address, Companies House or charity number and information about directors, trustees or other responsible people.
Information about each property
A separate dwelling entry will be required for every qualifying property. The information is expected to include:
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the property’s full address;
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the landlord’s name and correspondence details;
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ownership and property type;
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the number of bedrooms;
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whether the property is currently occupied;
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details of any freeholder, superior landlord or property manager;
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the number of occupants and households;
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any HMO, additional or selective licence details;
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gas safety information and a copy of the current record;
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an Electrical Installation Condition Report or relevant electrical certificate;
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Energy Performance Certificate information;
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details of any registered minimum energy-efficiency exemption;
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the rent and payment frequency;
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whether utilities are included; and
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whether the property is furnished, partly furnished or unfurnished.
An entry for an occupied property can initially be created without all the tenancy and safety documentation, but the missing information must generally be supplied within 28 days. Otherwise, the entry may become inactive.
Where can Landlords register?
Registration will be done online via a website provided by the Government or via a form provided by the Government. Further details, including a link to the registration portal will be published closer to December 15th 2026.
Will information on the database need to be maintained by the Landlord?
Yes, landlords will need to update the database with changes to the following:
- contact or ownership details;
- occupancy or household information;
- rent or included utilities;
- licensing details;
- gas safety records, EICRs or EPCs; and
- whether the property is furnished.
Registration is not a one-off exercise.
Landlord and property information must normally be updated within 28 days of becoming out of date. This could include a change of address, contact details, rent, occupants, property manager or safety documentation.
Entries will normally remain active for 12 months and must then be renewed. A fee will be payable for each dwelling entry when it is created and renewed. The amount has not yet been confirmed and will be set by the database operator.
Where a landlord has several properties, renewal dates are intended to be aligned to reduce the administrative burden.
An active landlord entry may become inactive if no associated dwelling entry is created within three months. A dwelling entry may also become inactive if the required tenancy and safety information is not added within the relevant 28-day period.
Can The Property Hive register on a landlord’s behalf?
The draft regulations place responsibility for making the landlord and dwelling entries on the landlord. A managing or letting agent is not generally permitted to complete the entire registration in the landlord’s place.
There are limited exceptions, including someone acting under a power of attorney, a personal representative of a deceased landlord, a court-appointed deputy and certain insolvency or repossession situations.
However, landlords will be able to appoint a letting or managing agent to supply and update specified property, tenancy and compliance information. This is where The Property Hive can provide valuable practical support.
Is there a fee to register a property?
Yes. Under the draft regulations, landlords will pay a fee for each property entry:
- when the property is first registered;
- when the entry is renewed—normally every 12 months; and
- when an inactive entry is reactivated in certain circumstances.
The fee is expected to be around £65 per property per year.
How The Property Hive can help
For landlords using our managed service, we already hold and monitor much of the information that will be required for the property entry.
The landlord will remain legally responsible for completing the registration and for ensuring that every entry is accurate, active and renewed on time.
We recommend that landlords check that the name in which each property is legally owned matches their records and that all joint owners, company details and contact information are current.
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The consequences could extend beyond an administrative fine.
Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, a local authority may impose:
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a civil penalty of up to £7,000 for an initial breach of the database duties; or
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a civil penalty of up to £40,000 where the conduct amounts to an offence.
Offences include knowingly or recklessly supplying materially false or misleading information, continuing a breach for more than 28 days after a penalty, or committing certain further breaches within five years.
Future advertising rules will also prevent a property from being marketed without active landlord and property entries and will require the relevant registration identifiers to appear in written advertisements.
What should landlords do now?
Doncaster landlords do not need to register immediately, but preparation should begin well before April 2027.
We recommend taking the following steps:
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Check that your personal, ownership or company information is accurate.
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Identify every person who is legally a joint landlord.
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Make sure your gas safety record, electrical report and EPC are valid and readily available.
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Confirm whether the property requires an HMO, additional or selective licence.
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Review the tenancy’s rent, occupancy, household and furnishing information.
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Tell The Property Hive promptly about any changes that may affect your records.
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Look out for further information from us ahead of the Doncaster registration window.
We are here to help
The introduction of the database will create another important compliance responsibility for landlords. For clients of The Property Hive’s managed service, our aim is to make the process as straightforward as possible.
We will continue monitoring the regulations as they pass through Parliament and will update our landlords when the registration service, final fees and supporting guidance are confirmed.
If you would like help reviewing the compliance position of your Doncaster rental property—or would like to discuss the benefits of our fully managed service—please contact The Property Hive.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. The Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026 were laid before Parliament in draft form on 9 September 2026 and may be amended before they are approved. Dates and requirements should be checked against the final legislation and official guidance.
