Rental Property Register Update: New Landlord Guidance Explained

Rental Property Register Update: New Landlord Guidance Explained

The rollout of the Register Your Rental Property Scheme starts next month. Here’s a rundown, based on new government guidance, on how it will work.

Plans for a national register of landlords and rental properties are moving full steam ahead with a phased introduction of the scheme starting in December.

Recent government guidance fleshes out how the scheme will work and what the requirements are for landlords and letting agents.

Here’s a summary of the guidance. (You can read the guidance yourself by visiting https://tinyurl.com/mvpmdchn.)

Who needs to register?

All private landlords with tenanted properties in England (under an assured or regulated tenancy) need to register.

This includes landlords who operate as an individual or sole trader, those who work in partnership with other landlords, and those who operate through a trust, company or charity.

If you have a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), you must register your rental as one property, not individual rooms.

Currently, you only need to register occupied properties, although, in the future, landlords will also have to register unoccupied properties before marketing or advertising them.

With properties held in joint ownership, each landlord must register. Even if you aren’t named on the tenancy agreement and leave the active landlord duties up to someone else, you need to register if you own part of the rental property.

In joint situations, one landlord should register the property and then invite the other landlord (or landlords) to the registration.

What information is required?

The landlord must provide their name and contact details, the address of the rental property, the number of bedrooms and information about any superior landlords or freeholders.

Once this has been done, the landlord will receive a property registration number. They will have 28 days to provide further information about the rental.

This includes evidence of gas and electrical safety certificates and EPC, and information about the tenancy, including the rent. You must also detail any licences, such as an HMO licence.

Can a letting agent complete the registration?

A landlord must complete the first part of the process and obtain the property registration number. A letting agent can complete the second part, such as providing information about the safety certificates and EPC.

However, the landlord remains responsible for registration. Even if they delegate some of the work to a letting agent, the landlord is ultimately responsible for meeting the 28-day deadline.

Penalties

Failing to register in time can result in a hefty £7,000 fine. Providing knowingly false information can lead to a penalty of up to £40,000.

Registration deadlines

The rollout is phased in nine stages. The first deadline is for the West Midlands region. Registration opens on 15 December and closes on 14 March next year.

This is followed by:

• The East of England (opens 15 January, closes 14 April).
• East Midlands (opens 15 February, closes 14 May).
• South East (opens 15 March, closes 14 June).
• Yorkshire and Humberside (opens 15 April, closes 14 July).
• North West (opens 15 May, closes 14 August).
• North East (opens 15 June, closes 14 September).
• London (opens 15 July, closes 14 October).
• South West (opens 15 August, closes 14 November).

Do I have to wait for the regional registration start date?

No, you can register your rental properties ahead of a regional start date if you wish.

Cost

The most you’ll pay per property is £65 for the first year (although you may pay less as the fee is pro-rated depending on when your registration opens).

Registration must be renewed annually. Landlords with more than one property should note that the renewal deadline will fall on the date you registered your first property.

Want help navigating the registration process?

Feeling confused? If you have any compliance questions, call us. We’re here to help