If you own rental property in Nottingham, there's another Renters' Rights Act change you need to have on your radar before the end of this year. The government is introducing a new national landlord registration service, commonly referred to as the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database.
The service will be called Register your rental property and is due to start rolling out across England region by region from December 2026.
So what will Nottingham landlords actually need to do? Here's what we know so far.
What is the new PRS Database?
The database is essentially going to create a national record of private landlords and the properties they rent out. Registration will be mandatory for landlords who fall within the new requirements, rather than an optional accreditation scheme.
Landlords will need to register themselves and their rental properties and keep the information held on the database up to date. For landlords with portfolios, that means thinking beyond simply registering yourself once. The individual properties you let will also need active entries.
What information will landlords need to provide?
The final registration requirements will be set out in regulations, but the government has already indicated that landlords should expect to provide information including:
- Landlord contact details
- Details of jointly owned properties where applicable
- Rental property address and property type
- Number of bedrooms
- Information about the occupants and households
- Whether the property is furnished
- Gas safety information
- Electrical safety information
- EPC information
The database isn't therefore just going to be a list of landlord names. It will also help demonstrate whether rental properties are meeting important safety and compliance requirements.
Will Nottingham landlords have to register?
Yes. If your Nottingham property falls within the new registration requirements, you'll need to register it on the new Register your rental property service.
For landlords in Nottingham and the wider East Midlands, registration opens on 15 February 2027. Landlords will then have a three-month registration window, with the deadline to register by 14 May 2027.
So while the national rollout begins in December 2026, Nottingham landlords don't need to register immediately. The key dates to have in your diary are 15 February to 14 May 2027.
Will there be a registration fee?
The annual registration fee has now been confirmed at £65 per property.
For portfolio landlords, this is worth factoring into annual running costs now, particularly as the fee applies to each individual rental property rather than once per landlord.
What happens if a landlord doesn't register?
Failing to register before letting or advertising a property could lead to enforcement action and a civil penalty of up to £7,000. Repeated breaches or more serious offences, including providing fraudulent information, could result in penalties of up to £40,000 or criminal prosecution.
Failure to have the required active landlord and property entries can also affect a landlord's ability to obtain a possession order, subject to limited exceptions.
So this isn't just another administrative database. It will become part of legally managing a rental property.
Does this replace Nottingham property licensing?
No. This is particularly important for landlords with properties in Nottingham.
The national PRS Database does not automatically replace selective, additional or HMO licensing.
Depending on the type and location of your Nottingham property, you may therefore have registration requirements under the new national database as well as existing local property licensing requirements.
Don't assume registering on one means you're covered for the other.
What should Nottingham landlords do now?
You don't need to try to register before the service is available but I would use the next few months to make sure the information behind your portfolio is organised.
Check that you've got accurate ownership and property details and that your Gas Safety Certificates, EICRs and EPCs are current and easily accessible.
For landlords with 5, 10 or 15 properties, this is where good portfolio management becomes increasingly important. You don't want the database to launch and then discover you're trying to find certificates, check expiry dates and piece together information across multiple properties.
What we'll be doing for Amhurst landlords
At Amhurst Lettings, we'll be keeping a close eye on the rollout and what it means specifically for landlords with properties across Nottinghamshire.
As further details are confirmed, including the East Midlands registration date, annual fee and final information requirements, we'll update our landlords and make sure we're prepared for the change.
The PRS Database is another example of why property management is becoming increasingly systems-led. Managing a portfolio isn't just collecting rent and organising maintenance anymore.
It's knowing what needs doing, when it needs doing and making sure nothing gets missed.
