PRS Database must be more than a licensing fee collector – Propertymark

An industry body has warned that the PRS Database must not become a duplication of selective licensing.

Propertymark says schemes should not duplicate existing regulation, warning that “simply collecting licensing fees will not improve standards”.

Under the Renters’ Rights Act, all landlords will need to sign up to the database, which will include information about their properties that tenants can access.

If a landlord lets or advertises a property without first registering it on the database, they could face a civil penalty of up to £7,000. Providing fraudulent information to the database could result in a fine of up to £40,000.

Must not be asked to submit same information repeatedly

In a post on its website, Propertymark said: “The government intends to begin a regional rollout of the PRS Database from late 2026. Registration will be compulsory, landlords will pay an annual fee, and the system is expected to contain property, ownership, and safety information.

“The database should provide councils with better information to identify unlicensed properties and target enforcement. However, it will not automatically replace selective, additional or mandatory HMO licensing.

“We support a national landlord and property register that helps responsible businesses demonstrate compliance and allows councils to focus on the highest-risk cases. However, landlords and agents must not be asked to submit the same information repeatedly to national and local systems”.

Simply collecting licence fees will not improve housing standards

The industry body adds: “We believe licensing schemes must have clear aims, be supported by robust local evidence and show measurable improvements. Fees and enforcement policies should be transparent and consistent, while councils should recognise professional agents and accredited landlords who already work to high standards.

“Schemes should not duplicate existing regulation or place unnecessary financial and administrative burdens on responsible landlords. Councils must also demonstrate that they have sufficient resources to inspect properties, enforce conditions and pursue those who deliberately operate outside the law. Simply collecting licence fees will not improve housing standards”.

Propertymark is part of The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC), which has previously warned the PRS Database risks becoming a costly failure.