13/09/2026
๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ - ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฟ
If you own rental property in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire or elsewhere in the North West, this is one to put in your diary.
The Government has now confirmed the rollout of its new national โRegister your rental propertyโ service.
And importantly for landlords in our area:
๐ NORTH WEST REGISTRATION
๐๏ธ Opens: 15 May 2027
โฐ Deadline: 14 August 2027
That gives North West landlords a three-month window to register.
The deadline is based on where your rental property is located, not where you live.
So if you live outside the North West but own a rental property here, the North West deadline applies to that property.
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๐ WHAT IS THE NEW REGISTER?
The new PRS Database - officially called the โRegister your rental propertyโ service - is being introduced as part of the Rentersโ Rights Act reforms.
Landlords will be required to register themselves and their relevant rental properties.
The service launches nationally on 15 December 2026, beginning in the West Midlands, before rolling out region by region.
๐ท HOW MUCH?
The confirmed cost is:
ยฃ65 per property, per year.
So a landlord with:
10 properties = ยฃ650 per year
20 properties = ยฃ1,300 per year
50 properties = ยฃ3,250 per year
This is an annual registration fee, not a one-off payment.
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๐ WHAT WILL LANDLORDS NEED?
The register will require information about both the landlord and the individual rental property.
This includes information such as:
โ๏ธ Landlord details
โ๏ธ Property address
โ๏ธ Property type
โ๏ธ Number of bedrooms
โ๏ธ Occupancy information
โ๏ธ HMO/licensing information where applicable
โ๏ธ Rent and payment information
โ๏ธ Gas safety information
โ๏ธ Electrical safety information
โ๏ธ EPC information
For landlords with larger portfolios, this means making sure your property records are accurate and up to date.
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โ ๏ธ WHAT IF YOU DON'T REGISTER?
Registration will be a legal requirement.
The Government has confirmed that councils will have enforcement powers, including financial penalties.
For certain breaches, penalties can be up to ยฃ7,000, with significantly higher penalties available for serious, persistent or repeat non-compliance.
It's important to put this into context:
โ Missing registration does NOT automatically mean a ยฃ40,000 fine.
But failing to comply can become very expensive.
There are also circumstances where failure to meet the database requirements can affect a landlord's ability to obtain certain possession orders.
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๐ค WHAT IF YOU USE A LETTING AGENT?
Using an agent doesn't mean the landlord can simply ignore the requirement.
The landlord remains responsible for ensuring the registration requirements are met, although agents and property managers will be able to assist with providing certain information on the landlord's behalf.
The Government is expected to provide further guidance for agents and property managers before the service goes live.
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๐๏ธ WHAT ABOUT HMOs AND LICENSING?
The new register doesn't replace existing licensing requirements.
If your property requires:
โข A mandatory HMO licence
โข An additional HMO licence
โข A selective licence
โข Planning or other local authority permissions
those requirements continue separately.
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๐
THE NORTH WEST TIMELINE
For local landlords, this is the date to remember:
๐ต 15 May 2027 โ Registration opens
๐ต 14 August 2027 โ North West registration deadline
Don't leave it until August.
If you own multiple properties, now is the time to start getting your records organised.
Check your:
โ๏ธ Gas certificates
โ๏ธ EICRs
โ๏ธ EPCs
โ๏ธ HMO licences
โ๏ธ Selective licences
โ๏ธ Property details
โ๏ธ Tenancy information
โ๏ธ Landlord information
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๐ฌ OUR VIEW
We work with landlords across Barrow-in-Furness and the wider South Lakes, and we know how much information is involved in managing a property portfolio properly.
The ยฃ65 annual fee isn't really the biggest issue.
The bigger issue is having good systems and accurate records.
The direction of travel is clear:
Professional landlords need professional systems.
The new register is another step towards a private rented sector that is more transparent, more regulated and more focused on documented compliance.
For landlords who already run their properties professionally, this should be manageable.
But don't wait until 14 August 2027 to discover that your portfolio isn't organised.
๐ North West landlords โ save this post.
๐ค And if you know another landlord in Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester or Merseyside, share this with them.
Herdman Homes
Professional HMO & Property Management
Information based on the latest Government guidance available at the time of publication. Further regulations and guidance may be issued as the scheme develops.
