The Government's new ‘Register your rental property’ service, set out in guidance on 29th October 2026, will require private landlords to register themselves and their rental properties on a national database. As part of a phased rollout across England, landlords will have a three-month registration window based on where their rental properties are located.
For landlords in Manchester and across the North West, voluntary registration opens on 15th December 2026, allowing landlords to register their properties ahead of the mandatory registration period, which runs from 15th May 2027 to 14th August 2027.
The new requirements form part of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and will introduce additional registration responsibilities for private landlords.
With the changes approaching, understanding which properties need to be registered, what information landlords will need to provide and how letting agents can support the process will help landlords prepare.
What is the ‘Register your rental property’ service?
The ‘Register your rental property’ service is a new Government system designed to create a central private rented sector database of private landlords and their rental properties across England. The aim is to give local authorities a clearer picture of the private rented sector, helping them identify properties and landlords that may not be meeting their legal responsibilities.
Landlords will need to register themselves to obtain a unique landlord registration number, as well as register each qualifying rental property individually. The service will also bring together important information about rental properties, including occupancy, rent, licensing and safety certificates. There will also be an annual registration fee of £65 per property, payable when each property is registered. Landlords will need to renew their registrations and pay the fee each year to keep their properties on the database.
For tenants, the register is intended to provide greater transparency, helping them check whether a current or prospective landlord is registered as the system develops.
When do landlords need to register their rental properties?
The registration service will launch first in the West Midlands on 15th December 2026, before being rolled out monthly to other regions across England. Each region will have a three-month registration window, with the relevant dates determined by where the rental property is located, rather than where the landlord lives.
For landlords with properties in Manchester and across the North West, the registration dates are:
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Voluntary registration opens: 15th December 2026
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North West mandatory registration period: 15th May 2027 – 14th August 2027
Registration dates are determined by the location of each rental property, rather than where the landlord lives. This means the rental property registration deadline of 14th August 2027 applies to properties located in Manchester and other North West locations, regardless of where their landlord is based.
Landlords with properties across different regions of England may have separate registration deadlines to meet for each property, depending on its location.
Which rental properties need to be registered?
During the initial rollout, landlords will need to register properties let under an assured periodic or regulated tenancy at the registration deadline for their region, as well as properties that become let after that deadline.
There are some exemptions, including tenancies that fall within the definition of supported exempt accommodation under the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023.
The Government also intends to extend the requirements in a future phase. This will mean that properties available to rent, including those that are currently unoccupied, will need to be registered before they can be marketed or advertised.
At that stage, landlords and letting agents in Manchester and across England will also need to include the relevant landlord and property registration numbers in rental adverts. These advertising requirements will not form part of the initial registration rollout, with further details to follow.
What information will landlords need to provide?
The registration process will require information about both the landlord and each rental property. This includes details about how the property is let, who occupies it and the relevant safety and compliance documentation.
Information required will include:
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Property licensing details, including HMO, additional or selective licences where applicable.
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The number of tenants and households living at the property.
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Whether the property is furnished, partly furnished or unfurnished.
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The amount of rent charged and any bills included within it.
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Gas safety certificates, where the property has a gas supply.
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Electrical safety documentation, including an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) or Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC).
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Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) details.
Having these records organised and up to date will help landlords prepare for registration and make it easier to provide the required information when their registration window opens.
It is also important to remember that registration is not a one-off task. Landlords will need to keep their information accurate, updating relevant details within 28 days of any changes, such as a change in rent, occupancy or a renewed safety certificate.
Can letting agents register a property on behalf of a landlord?
While letting agents and property managers will be able to support landlords with parts of the registration process, the legal responsibility for registering remains with the landlord.
Landlords must register themselves, start each individual property registration and pay the annual registration fee. However, they can nominate their letting agent or property manager to provide certain property information through the Government service.
Once nominated, the landlord will provide their agent's email address and the Government will send a unique access link for each property.
With the landlord's agreement, agents will be able to submit and update information relating to:
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Property licensing, occupancy, furnishing and rent details.
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Bills included within the rent.
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Gas safety, electrical safety and energy performance certificates, including their relevant issue and expiry dates.
This support is voluntary, meaning landlords and their agents will need to agree which responsibilities, if any, the agent will take on. Any information submitted by an agent must be accurate, and landlords will remain responsible for ensuring that all required information is provided.
Once a property registration has been started, the required information must be submitted within 28 days. If it is not, the registration will become inactive and the landlord may be in breach of their legal duties.
Failure to register a rental property can result in a penalty of up to £7,000. Knowingly or recklessly providing false or misleading information, or certain repeated breaches, can lead to penalties of up to £40,000. These penalties make it particularly important for landlords to understand their landlord responsibilities in England and ensure their registration information is accurate and kept up to date.
How can landlords prepare for the new registration requirements?
Although Manchester landlords have until May 2027 before their registration window opens, there are some useful steps to take in advance.
1. Check your property records
Make sure you have the correct details for each rental property, including occupancy, rent, furnishing and any relevant licensing information.
2. Review your safety certificates
Check that your gas safety certificates, electrical safety reports and EPCs are available and up to date. Make a note of any expiry dates so that renewals can be arranged when needed.
3. Understand your registration deadline
If you own rental properties in different regions, check the relevant registration dates for each one. The deadline is based on the property's location, not your home address.
4. Speak to your letting agent
If you use a letting agent or property management company, discuss what support they may be able to provide with the registration process. Agreeing responsibilities in advance will help avoid confusion when the service launches.
5. Keep your information updated
Once registered, landlords will need to make sure their details remain accurate, including updating relevant changes within the required 28-day period.
Taking the time to organise your property records now should make the registration process more straightforward when the time comes.
How Northern Group can help Manchester landlords
The introduction of rental property registration is another important change for landlords to understand, particularly alongside the wider reforms being introduced through the Renters’ Rights Act.
At Northern Group, we provide residential lettings and property management in Manchester, supporting landlords with the day-to-day management of their rental properties. We understand that keeping up with changing legislation and compliance requirements can be challenging, particularly for landlords managing multiple properties alongside other responsibilities.
As the new registration service approaches, we will be reviewing the requirements and how we can best support our managed landlords through the process, and will be in touch with our landlords directly with further information about the registration requirements and any support Northern Group will be able to provide.
In the meantime, we recommend familiarising yourself with the new requirements and making sure your property records and compliance documents are up to date.
For more information about property management in Manchester and residential lettings, get in touch with our team.