Landlords Corner: The Landlord Register Has a Date: What Leytonstone Landlords Need to Know
Every private landlord in England will soon have to sign up to a national register. After months of uncertainty, the government has now confirmed when, what it will cost and what happens to landlords who don't register.
What's been announced
On 9 September, the government confirmed that the Private Rented Sector Database will begin rolling out on 15 December 2026, starting in the West Midlands. It has been renamed the "Register your rental property" service and forms part of the second phase of the Renters' Rights Act.
Every landlord letting a home on an assured or regulated tenancy will need to register themselves, then register each property separately.
When London landlords must act
The rollout moves region by region. For properties in London, the registration window opens on 15 July 2027 and closes on 14 October 2027.
The deadline follows the property, not the landlord. If you live in Leytonstone but own a flat in Birmingham, that flat falls into the very first wave. Voluntary registration opens to everyone from 15 December 2026, so landlords with properties in several regions can register them all at once.
What it will cost
Registration costs £65 per property and must be renewed, and paid again, every year. A landlord with three properties will pay £195 a year before any other compliance costs.
What you'll need to provide
Landlords will be asked for:
- personal and contact details
- the number of bedrooms and occupants
- the rent charged
- whether the property is licensed
- the status of key safety documents: gas safety records, electrical installation condition reports (EICRs) and Energy Performance Certificates
The register will expose any gaps in your paperwork. An expired certificate that might once have gone unnoticed will now sit on a government database.
The real risk isn't the fine
Councils will enforce the register. Letting a property without registering can bring a civil penalty of up to £7,000, rising to £40,000 for giving false information or for a continuing breach.
The more serious consequence concerns possession. Section 21 was abolished in May, so section 8 is now the only route to regaining a property. A landlord in breach of the duty to register generally cannot obtain a possession order, except on anti-social behaviour grounds. An unregistered landlord could be unable to recover the property even with a valid reason.
Why Waltham Forest landlords should pay particular attention
Leytonstone landlords already operate under one of London's most extensive licensing regimes. Waltham Forest's selective licensing scheme runs until April 2030. It covers every ward except three, including Leytonstone, and applies to almost all privately rented homes.
Your licence status will be recorded on the new register, giving the council a far clearer picture of who is compliant. The council has also shown it is prepared to act. In July, a multi-property landlord and his agents failed to overturn £105,000 in selective licensing penalties at tribunal.
Using the time well
London's deadline is ten months away, which is why now is the time to prepare. Check that every certificate is current, confirm your licence details and gather the property information you'll need. Landlords whose records are in order will find registration a formality. Those whose records aren't may discover problems at the worst possible time.
Staying ahead in the Leytonstone rental market
If you are looking for guidance on the Leytonstone rental market, or you just want a helping hand in complying with rental market regulations, we are always here to assist you.
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