Landlords face a £65 registration fee: when must your property be registered?
The 30-second summary
England's mandatory 'Register your rental property' service starts rolling out on 15 December 2026, beginning in the West Midlands. Landlords of qualifying occupied rental homes must register by their region's deadline. The annual fee is £65 per property, with a reduced initial charge during rollout. London registrations run from 15 July to 14 October 2027.
- First registration period: West Midlands, 15 December 2026 to 14 March 2027.
- London's deadline: 14 October 2027; South East: 14 June 2027.
- Annual fee: £65 per property, initially pro-rated during rollout.
- Failure to register can trigger a penalty of up to £7,000.
Applies to: England only. Private landlords with occupied properties under assured or regulated tenancies; organisations are also included.
Check original government sources
Example in numbers
Example: annual cost for registered properties
- One property per year
- £65
- Three properties per year
- £195
- Five properties per year
- £325
Annual headline fee only. Initial registration fees are pro-rated during the rollout, with days before 15 November 2027 disregarded. Your first actual charge may be lower.
England landlord register
Registration dates by region
Registration opens in stages. The end date is your deadline for qualifying occupied properties.
- West Midlands
- Opens 15 Dec 2026
- 14 Mar 2027
- East of England
- Opens 15 Jan 2027
- 14 Apr 2027
- East Midlands
- Opens 15 Feb 2027
- 14 May 2027
- South East
- Opens 15 Mar 2027
- 14 Jun 2027
- Yorkshire & Humber
- Opens 15 Apr 2027
- 14 Jul 2027
- North West
- Opens 15 May 2027
- 14 Aug 2027
- North East
- Opens 15 Jun 2027
- 14 Sep 2027
- London
- Opens 15 Jul 2027
- 14 Oct 2027
- South West
- Opens 15 Aug 2027
- 14 Nov 2027
Regional dates from GOV.UK, 29 October 2026. Check the local authority where your rental property is located, not your home address.
When is your region's deadline?
Registration opens region by region from 15 December 2026. The table above gives the official start and deadline for each English region. For example, properties in London have until 14 October 2027, while South East England has until 14 June 2027.
Each region has a three-month period. Landlords can register properties early, including properties in different regions, but must not miss the applicable regional end date. Use the property's local council to confirm its registration region.
How much does registration actually cost?
The published annual fee is £65 per registered property, VAT exempt, with no charge for registering the landlord or updating records. Fees paid during the rollout are pro-rated because days before 15 November 2027 are excluded from the calculation.
GOV.UK illustrates an initial payment of £5.34 for a property registered on 15 December 2026, based on the exact pro-rating formula. A simple £65 multiplied by the number of properties is the normal annual headline amount, not necessarily the first payment.
Which properties are included?
During rollout, the register covers qualifying properties occupied under assured or regulated tenancies, including those that become let during the period. Organisations acting as private landlords are included. The later requirement to register vacant properties before advertising them is not in force at this stage.
Registration uses GOV.UK One Login, and a paper application route is available for landlords without digital access. Property information and safety-document details may be required.
What happens if a landlord misses the deadline?
Government guidance says that failing to register can lead to civil penalties of up to £7,000. More serious or continuing offences, including deliberately misleading information, can face penalties up to £40,000. These are statutory maximums, not automatic charges.
Check whether your lettings agent is assisting with registration, who will supply the required property data and which party will make payment. The registration obligation remains important even when someone else handles day-to-day management.
Frequently asked questions
When does landlord registration begin in England?
The first regional registration period begins in the West Midlands on 15 December 2026. Other regions follow monthly through August 2027.
How much will the new landlord register cost?
The standard annual property fee is £65. Initial fees during the regional rollout are pro-rated; registering the landlord itself is free.
When do London landlords have to register?
The London registration window runs from 15 July to 14 October 2027, according to the 29 October 2026 guidance.
Can the government fine landlords for not registering?
Yes. The government guidance indicates penalties of up to £7,000 for failures to register, with higher maximums for certain serious breaches.
Official sources and fact-checks
Information has been checked against the following original publications. Announcements may change before legislation is enacted.
- MHCLG: Register your rental property service — guidance for landlords(29 October 2026)
- MHCLG: Guidance for letting agents and property managers(29 October 2026)
- MHCLG: Renters' Rights Act implementation roadmap(13 November 2025)
- NRLA: Independent landlord-database deadline guidance(Checked 30 October 2026)
What can you do next?
Explore a relevant MMG guide or calculator. Calculator assumptions may need updating when new rules take effect.