Call to scrap landlord licensing after database rollout
3 weeks ago | 7 comments
Government confirms public access rules for landlord licensing registers
12:01 AM, 23rd October 2026, 7 days ago
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The government claims councils must make licensing registers available to the public but are not required to publish them online.
Across England, councils operate selective licensing schemes and HMO licensing schemes requiring landlords in designated areas to obtain a licence for their rental properties.
The government claim they encourage councils to make licensing registers accessible to the public.
Accessibility requirements
In a written parliamentary question, Labour MP Feryal Clark asked the government to review the rules “to ensure that statutory landlord licensing registers are readily accessible to the public in digital form”.
In response, housing minister Matthew Pennycook said: “Under the Housing Act 2004, local authorities are required to make their licensing registers available for inspection to the public.
“They must also provide a certified copy of their registers (or individual entry/entries from it) to anyone who requests it, subject to the payment of a fee.
“We encourage local authorities to consider accessibility requirements in meeting these duties and to ensure that any fees charged for this are reasonable and proportionate.
“There is no requirement for local authorities to publish their licensing registers. Where they choose to do so, they should consider any interactions with data protection legislation in respect of personal data contained within those registers.
“The government keeps licensing regulations under review.”
Landlord privacy
As previously reported by Property118, many landlords have raised privacy concerns over the PRS Database.
Under the PRS Database, landlords will be required to provide information about their properties, including the address, number of residents and bedrooms, as well as copies of gas, electricity and EPC documents.
The government told Property118 that data will be handled in line with data protection legislation, with further details to be announced in due course.
43 comments on this article
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Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 2620
4:29 PM, 26th October 2026, About 3 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Paddy Murphy at 26/10/2026 – 15:42
Yes, it’s nuts. I think you could also say the same thing about student accommodation. Three people living in a three bedroom house is a home if they are from the same family. Three students from three separate families living in a house is no longer a home but a HMO. And even for the rent a room scheme (which is one rare, good bit of legislation) ..rent a room to one lodger then you can use the scheme…but rent two rooms out to two people from separate families who might need somewhere to live and that’s an HMO or guest house.
Faced with all this complexity and regulatory risk a lot of people are just going to go “…you know what….I don’ think I’ll bother.”
How does any of that make any sense when more people need somewhere to live?
Member Since February 2024 - Comments: 40
4:43 PM, 26th October 2026, About 3 days ago
Turkeys voting for Christmas.
As I told my tenants in this case they should exercise their ballot in the local elections as it is the local town hall who set these rules that ultimately the tenant is paying for.
I don’t live in that area so I have no voice and cannot even make a representation to the local MP
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 764 - Articles: 1
10:58 PM, 26th October 2026, About 3 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Paddy Murphy at 26/10/2026 – 15:42
worse than that we have to ask sharers who want to rent a room if they are in a (sexual) relationship!
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 2620
12:13 PM, 27th October 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Joe Bloggs at 26/10/2026 – 22:58
That’s true. It is unpleasant control-freakery reminiscent of what communist China has done in the past. The named tenants in a property already have the right to receive a copy of the boiler safety certificate and report any unresolved safety issues at the property to the council.
Member Since October 2026 - Comments: 1
4:21 PM, 28th October 2026, About 1 day ago
Reply to the comment left by No hate plz at 23/10/2026 – 13:55
Mine are on the council’s list and I get a couple of letters a month from firms wanting to manage or buy. Never thought where they’d got my name until I read this.
Member Since February 2024 - Comments: 40
4:40 PM, 28th October 2026, About 1 day ago
Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 26/10/2026 – 16:29
And I just found out today I actually should have planning permission for my HMO. Luckily I can be grandfathered in as it was already a defecto HMO when my council adopted this local policy. So it is just more paperwork…and a cost of GBP749. Should I ever decide to let to a family I have to apply to change the planning consent and I lose my HMO licence. So effectively I have to choose whether to be a family home permanently or a HMO permanently. So if a family seeks to rent it I can legally discriminate against them without having to worry I will get fined
Member Since October 2020 - Comments: 1403
5:24 PM, 28th October 2026, About 1 day ago
Reply to the comment left by Paddy Murphy at 28/10/2026 – 16:40
If you’re talking about an Article 4 Directive by your Council, then there is no requirement to do anything provided you retain sufficient evidence that the property has continuously operated as an HMO from before the Directive took effect.
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 2620
5:58 PM, 28th October 2026, About 1 day ago
Reply to the comment left by Paddy Murphy at 28/10/2026 – 16:40
Have I understood this correctly? Your license as an HMO means that you cannot let to a family? (Or at least, not without applying for planning permission).
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 764 - Articles: 1
6:05 PM, 28th October 2026, About 1 day ago
Reply to the comment left by Paddy Murphy at 28/10/2026 – 16:40
you dont have to apply for pp as you have established use (assuming the hmo use was continuous and pre-dates the article 4). agreed a cert. of lawful use is useful when selling to another investor – if they exist!
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 764 - Articles: 1
6:07 PM, 28th October 2026, About 1 day ago
Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 28/10/2026 – 17:58
it can be let to a family but you would loose the hmo planning status. and why would anyone chose family over sharers?