WORLD NEWS
England’s rental-property register becomes compulsory first in the West Midlands on 15 December
England’s new Register Your Rental Property service opens on 15 December 2026. The first legal requirement covers landlords actively letting homes in the West Midlands, who have until 14 March 2027 to register.
A national opening date is not the same as a nationwide legal deadline. Each region gets a three-month registration window after its start date, while empty homes that are merely being advertised are outside the initial phase.
Who goes first?
Landlords of occupied homes in the West Midlands under assured or regulated tenancies are first. Existing tenancies and new tenancies signed during the regional rollout are included.
What will it cost?
The NRLA says registration will cost £65 per property each year. Landlords must provide contact and service addresses plus information about each property and tenancy, so multiple homes require separate registrations.
When do other regions follow?
The East of England starts in January 2027, the East Midlands in February and the South East in March. The government aims to have all actively letting landlords registered by 14 November 2027.
What changes for renters?
The government says councils will use the records to identify non-compliance sooner and renters will gain clearer property information. The public search interface and a rule requiring numbers in adverts for empty homes need a later legal step.
What should people check now?
Landlords should separate their region’s start date from its three-month deadline. Renters should not expect every English property record to become public immediately in December and should follow the official regional timetable.