Government fails to explain how landlord privacy will be protected under PRS Database
1 month ago | 61 comments
PRS Database could penalise good landlords while rogue landlords go unregistered
12:01 AM, 19th October 2026, 3 weeks ago
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Rogue landlords will simply choose not to register on the PRS Database, warns a software company.
Veco claims the cost and administrative burden of the database will fall on compliant landlords, while rogue landlords could ignore the requirements altogether.
The PRS Database will be rolled out regionally, starting in the West Midlands in December. Landlords will be required to provide property details, including addresses, the number of residents and bedrooms, alongside copies of gas, electricity and EPC documents.
Simply choose not to register
Richard Murray, CEO of Veco, said: “I support measures that raise standards in the Private Rented Sector, but there is an obvious question: will registration really flush out rogue landlords, or will those determined to operate outside the rules simply choose not to register?
“My concern is that the immediate cost and administrative burden will fall most heavily on good landlords who already do the right thing, and on reputable letting agents managing properties professionally on their behalf.
“Regulatory change is never straightforward, particularly for agents managing hundreds or thousands of properties on behalf of different landlords
“The real test will be whether local authorities have the resources and determination to identify and pursue those who fail to register. Otherwise, we risk creating another layer of administration for the compliant majority without effectively tackling the minority who cause the problems.”
£65 annual fee
Under the PRS Database, landlords will have to pay a £65 annual fee per property to register on the PRS Database.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has warned that England’s planned landlord database could cost the private rented sector at least £327 million a year, with tenants ultimately footing the bill.
NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle said: “A well-designed database should make it easy for landlords to demonstrate compliance with their obligations; empower tenants; and be truly digital in every way. This looks likely to fail on every count.”
He added: “What we have on offer is a costly mess.
“It expects payment for landlords to provide much the same information as many already give their councils, with no additional benefit to them or their customers.”
7 comments on this article
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1 month ago | 22 comments
Does the PRS Database penalise landlords with non-standard properties?
2 months ago | 13 comments
Member Since October 2026 - Comments: 6
9:25 AM, 19th October 2026, About 3 weeks ago
I don’t believe this database will help landlords, it will help councils fine them more easily.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1656 - Articles: 1
11:38 AM, 19th October 2026, About 3 weeks ago
It’s not the £65 per property, as it is after all an allowable expense, but the breach of a landlord’s, and importantly if they have one, their family’s Art 8 HRA/ECHR by the publishing, accessible to all and sundry, of their residential home address, the landlords phone number – which could be the home’s landline, the landlord’s date of birth and email address. Plenty enough information for criminals/hackers/anti-landlord groups etc etc to commit real harm.
Why does any prospective tenant or member of the general public need to know the landlord’s date of birth, their home address or telephone number?
Much better for ALL PRS landlords to refuse to complete and upload this information to this publicly accessible database and cite the very real fear of criminal activity including hacking, intimidation, harassment and mental & physical harm of themselves AND their family.
Better still on an organised date and time ALL PRS landlords should be on the streets demanding this database to be rescinded.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3421 - Articles: 83
11:48 AM, 19th October 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 19/10/2026 – 11:38
And the time, where do they suddenly think some of us can find 40 houses between Feb & May…
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3792 - Articles: 5
2:05 PM, 19th October 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 19/10/2026 – 11:38
its not the point about being an allowable expense though it is – its the hidden workload. extra time etc that is never accounted for.
Member Since October 2026 - Comments: 6
4:11 PM, 21st October 2026, About 3 weeks ago
The £65 I can live with. It’s the evenings. Every year there’s another portal to sign up to and another certificate to upload, and none of it gets a tenant’s tap fixed any quicker.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3792 - Articles: 5
4:37 PM, 21st October 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Tom Ashworth at 21/10/2026 – 16:11
as far as I am aware its not just once a year update required to check the info is correct. Every time a tenancy changes, a new rent is charged, and when the gas and elec/EPC are also carried out, the D’base has to be updated…..
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3421 - Articles: 83
5:53 PM, 21st October 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Tom Ashworth at 21/10/2026 – 16:11
Gets the tenants repairs done much slower.
I said this form day one of Selective Licensing 2018. I’m doing the Council forms when I should be locating a new boiler for tenants who’s heating has just broke. My houses are getting worse since all these changes.