13/09/2026
π¨ πππππ ππππ ππΌππΏππππΏπ - ππππ πππ ππΌππΏππππΏ ππππππππ πΏππΌπΏππππ ππΌπ π½πππ πΎππππππππΏ
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 βRegister your rental propertyβ service.
And importantly for landlords in our area:
π NORTH WEST REGISTRATION
ποΈ Opens: 15 May 2027
β° 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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π WHAT IS THE NEW REGISTER?
The new PRS Database - officially called the βRegister your rental propertyβ service - is being introduced as part of the Rentersβ 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.
π· HOW MUCH?
The confirmed cost is:
Β£65 per property, per year.
So a landlord with:
10 properties = Β£650 per year
20 properties = Β£1,300 per year
50 properties = Β£3,250 per year
This is an annual registration fee, not a one-off payment.
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π WHAT WILL LANDLORDS NEED?
The register will require information about both the landlord and the individual rental property.
This includes information such as:
βοΈ Landlord details
βοΈ Property address
βοΈ Property type
βοΈ Number of bedrooms
βοΈ Occupancy information
βοΈ HMO/licensing information where applicable
βοΈ Rent and payment information
βοΈ Gas safety information
βοΈ Electrical safety information
βοΈ EPC information
For landlords with larger portfolios, this means making sure your property records are accurate and up to date.
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β οΈ 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 Β£7,000, with significantly higher penalties available for serious, persistent or repeat non-compliance.
It's important to put this into context:
β Missing registration does NOT automatically mean a Β£40,000 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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π€ 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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ποΈ WHAT ABOUT HMOs AND LICENSING?
The new register doesn't replace existing licensing requirements.
If your property requires:
β’ A mandatory HMO licence
β’ An additional HMO licence
β’ A selective licence
β’ Planning or other local authority permissions
those requirements continue separately.
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π
THE NORTH WEST TIMELINE
For local landlords, this is the date to remember:
π΅ 15 May 2027 β Registration opens
π΅ 14 August 2027 β 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:
βοΈ Gas certificates
βοΈ EICRs
βοΈ EPCs
βοΈ HMO licences
βοΈ Selective licences
βοΈ Property details
βοΈ Tenancy information
βοΈ Landlord information
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π¬ 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 Β£65 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.
π North West landlords β save this post.
π€ 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.
