Landlords pay the price when tenants secretly sublet
6 months ago | 4 comments
Government claims PRS Database will crack down on subletting
9:49 AM, 20th March 2026, 3 weeks ago
8
Categories:
The Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database will help tackle illegal subletting, claims the government.
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, all landlords must register in the database, which will include information about their properties that tenants can access.
As previously reported by Property118, one in five landlords discovered their property was being sublet on platforms such as SpareRoom, Airbnb or Gumtree.
Take action against illegal subletting
In a written question, Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi asked: “What steps is the government taking to help tackle exploitative and non‑transparent sub‑letting in the private rented sector, and whether he has assessed the merits of strengthening redress for sub‑tenants who have been misled into paying rent to a legal tenant rather than the landlord.
In response, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said: “Subletting a property is subject to the conditions outlined in the tenancy agreement between the tenant and landlord, and the agreement between the sub-tenant and the main tenant.
“Where disputes arise, established legal routes and access to the courts are available to provide appropriate remedies.
“In implementation Phase 2 from late 2026, we will introduce the national Private Rented Sector Database, providing tenants with more information about private landlords, and supporting local authorities to identify and take action against illegal subletting.”
Councils will gain the power to take enforcement action against landlords who fail to register on the PRS Database.
If a landlord lets or advertises a property without it first being registered on the database, they can be issued with a civil penalty of up to £7,000 or a £40,000 fine if they provide fraudulent information to the database.
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, councils also now have the power to carry out surprise inspections, including entering premises where tenancy records are kept with or without a warrant.
Councils can also compel landlords, letting agents, and third parties (e.g., prop tech companies, banks, accountants, contractors) to provide documents and information related to housing compliance.
Comments
Have Your Say
Every day, landlords who want to influence policy and share real-world experience add their voice here. Your perspective helps keep the debate balanced.
Not a member yet? Join In Seconds
Login with
or
Related Articles
Illegal Activity by Tenants – Are You Covered?
4 months ago | 2 comments
Surge in rental scams targeting young tenants
7 months ago
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1435 - Articles: 1
10:53 AM, 20th March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
So tenants who use the government’s Rent a Room Scheme will need to be on Labour’s Landlord Database????
Or is this yet another something that the idiots in power have not thought about?
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 754
11:05 AM, 20th March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
“What steps is the government taking to help tackle exploitative and non‑transparent sub‑letting in the private rented sector… ”
Just as importantly, what steps are being taken to prevent subletting in the public/social sector – as far as I know, it is widespread and whilst some individuals have been pursued, numbers of prosecutions are pitiful.
Member Since November 2017 - Comments: 261
12:26 PM, 20th March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Does anyone know yet, if your letting via a company, is it the company details and address that will suffice or will they want all the directors addresses too? Somehow I can’t see them being satisfied with a company postal address at an address company/PO box.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1435 - Articles: 1
10:10 AM, 21st March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Tim Rogers at 20/03/2026 – 12:26
It would appear to be the director’s home address not a PO Box or accountants.
Interesting to have received from HMLR an email on removing directors home addresses from the public accessible company info listing on their website
Member Since July 2024 - Comments: 112
2:51 AM, 22nd March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Would be good if it actually worked. I found out one immigrant was subletting a room of mine. But I suspect it was done via word of mouth so he would still havd gotten away with it.
Member Since February 2023 - Comments: 1
5:27 PM, 23rd March 2026, About 2 weeks ago
People who make up these rules have never worked in high levels in the commercial sector, they have never been business owners. They won’t and do not understand how businesses run and operate. Our government is financially inept…. and cant be trusted.
Member Since January 2020 - Comments: 93
10:13 AM, 27th March 2026, About 2 weeks ago
Aren’t identified landlords all ready on a number of government databases already? I can think of HMRC, ICO, Council tax and council selective licenses. Any more ?
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3508 - Articles: 5
2:24 PM, 27th March 2026, About 2 weeks ago
1. The database is reliant on LL’s to input the info.
2. The database will (presumably) show the rental address and details of any SL applied and (presumably) somewhere it will require the LL to confirm that the whole property is only being let as a single unit.
so…
That means the address is publicly known to be a rental, and not only that, all the property ownership info open to being used/stolen for any underhand/criminal means.
The database may actually encourage subletting, because there is nothing about it that actually discourages it in the first place. If all the property info is on the dbase its even easier for it to be lifted and used for subletting purposes.
Unless every single private let (TA, short term let, AirBnB, Arbo) is listed along with the tenant name on the rental agreement, the idea that any property can be stopped from being sublet is absolutely ludicrous.