England’s planned national landlord register could increase administrative burdens and costs without raising property standards, according to Propertymark, the professional body representing estate and letting agents.
The database, scheduled for introduction later this year under the Renters’ Rights Act, will require private landlords to register personal details and individual properties, display unique registration numbers on advertisements, and pay an annual fee.
Propertymark has raised concerns that the system may duplicate information already collected through local licensing schemes and other government-approved databases. The organisation stated it has “long supported the principle of a national landlord and property register” to help professional agents and responsible landlords demonstrate compliance whilst enabling councils to target enforcement resources effectively.
Implementation concerns
“The database must not simply duplicate information already submitted through local licensing schemes or held on other Government-approved systems, as this risks increasing workload and fees without necessarily improving standards,” Propertymark said in its statement.
The trade body called for clarity on how the database will interact with unique property identifiers, advertising requirements, and the new Landlord Ombudsman. It emphasised that legislation and supporting technology must be practical and developed with input from users.
The concerns come as property agencies face increasing regulatory pressures across multiple fronts. The warning echoes broader industry concerns about administrative burdens affecting the rental sector.
Enforcement capacity
Propertymark highlighted potential enforcement challenges, noting that landlords operating outside legal requirements may avoid registration entirely or submit false documentation. The organisation stressed that local councils will still require adequate staffing, resources, and investigatory capacity to identify non-compliant operators.
“The database must also support, rather than replace, effective local enforcement,” the statement said. The body called for an enforcement approach that assists landlords and agents attempting to comply whilst reserving stronger penalties for deliberate and repeated breaches.
The register forms part of wider reforms to the private rental sector, which has seen significant changes in tenant mobility patterns in recent years. The government has not yet confirmed the annual fee structure or specified how the database will integrate with existing local authority systems.
