The Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database

This one-stop property portal is designed to improve transparency and standards in the industry.

Despite privacy concerns for landlords, it should deliver value to stakeholders across the industry.

PROPOSED CHANGES - The PRS database will list the name and key information of PRS landlords.

A LIST OF LANDLORDS While specifics are still to be finalised, the PRS database is expected to publicly list a range of landlord data points, including compliance credentials, possession orders, tenancy dispute information, and more.

The government aims to improve transparency and raise standards in the PRS.

“Responsible landlords who meet their obligations have nothing to fear from the PRS database. This register will introduce an additional level of transparency to the lettings industry, empowering tenants to make informed decisions about their housing.”

Emily Popple Director of Landlord Experience, Goodlord

Transparency will be the name of the game as landlords must register for the database.

BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OBLIGATIONS

The government views the database as a potential compliance portal. Residential landlords will be able to understand their responsibilities better and ensure that their properties meet the new requirements of the UK rental market.

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), for example, has called for the digitisation of important electricity and gas safety certificates. It argues that this kind of information will ensure peace of mind for tenants while also allowing responsible landlords to demonstrate their professionalism.

THE RISK OF FINES AND A GREATER CHANCE OF ENFORCEMENT

Without registering on the database, it will be illegal for landlords and their agents to advertise a property for rent. They also won't be able to carry out eviction proceedings against their tenants, unless anti-social behaviour is involved. Not only that, but non-compliant landlords may be saddled with financial penalties of £7,000 for the first civil penalty, with costs spiralling to £40,000 for repeated breaches. Agents will face the same fines for advertising or letting a property belonging to an unregistered landlord. Providing false or misleading information to the registry will be designated a criminal offence, which could result in rent repayment orders, potentially leading to further prosecution.

SUBMITTING INFORMATION ON BEHALF OF LANDLORDS

The government intends to allow agents to submit information to the database on behalf of landlords and will be exploring through secondary legislation what that might look like in practice and what capabilities they will need to build

PUBLICLY LISTED INFORMATION

Much like Companies House, the PRS Database will be a public register. This means that the majority of the information stored in the database will be accessible to the general public. In particular, the industry would like to see landlords given a unique register number, and each property uploaded to the database assigned a Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN). This will help identify landlords within the system and ensure their properties are listed correctly. It will also allow simple duplication checks. In other words, a landlord won’t be able to add themselves to the database multiple times, meaning all of their information will be in one place.

EXTRA FEES

Although landlords will have to pay a fee to register for the database, the government has said membership fees will be proportionate and reasonable.

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