Landlords’ information on PRS Database to remain private until 2027

The government has confirmed that landlords’ information submitted to the PRS Database will not be publicly available before 2027.

In answer to a written parliamentary question, housing minister Matthew Pennycook claims information on the PRS Database will be proportionate for landlords.

The news comes as the government has published guidance setting out how landlords must register with the PRS Database.

Balance the benefits of transparency with landlords’ privacy rights

In a written question, Conservative MP Mark Garnier asked: “Whether the government plans to make the residential addresses of landlords not publicly accessible on the PRS Database”.

In response, Mr Pennycook said: “Information submitted to the ‘Register your rental property’ service will not be publicly visible before winter 2027.

“Future legislation will set out which landlord and property records will be publicly accessible at the point the public-facing service is launched at a later date.

“Following this, tenants will be able to access certain necessary and proportionate information about landlords and rental properties, to help them better understand whether key legal requirements are being met.

“In considering which information should be published, the government will carefully balance the benefits of transparency with landlords’ privacy rights, safety concerns, and data protection requirements.”

Lack of an audit trail

As previously reported by Property118, MPs have raised concerns over landlords’ privacy rights in relation to the PRS Database, with Conservative housing spokesman Gareth Bacon questioning how landlords would be able to check records across their portfolios and establish what had been changed.

He said: “Then there is the lack of an audit trail.

“Because of the system favoured by the government, landlords have no ability to verify and validate data on a portfolio basis.”

He added: “They have no access controls nor an audit trail for data uploads, changes or deletions.”

Mr Bacon warned that these alleged shortcomings could lead to administrative errors, potential fines and wider compliance risks.

In his response, Mr Pennycook did not directly address the concerns over the lack of an audit trail, although he outlined plans for organisations to add employees to their accounts and the possibility of linking the database with property management systems.

The latest guidance confirms that organisation team members will be able to register and update properties. However, it remains unclear whether landlords will have access to a record of changes showing who amended, uploaded or deleted information.