When can landlords in the West Midlands register on the PRS Database?

From 15 December 2026, when the service opens. The West Midlands is the first region where registering is a legal requirement, from that same day, and every property let there must be registered by 14 March 2027.

What happens if I miss the 14 March 2027 deadline?

Your council can impose a civil penalty of up to £7,000, rising to £40,000 where a breach carries on 28 days after a penalty, recurs within five years, or involves false information. The Renters’ Rights Act also stops a court making a possession order while a property is unregistered, except on Grounds 7A and 14 for anti-social behaviour. The government hasn’t yet said when that part starts.

How much does it cost?

£65 per property, per year, and registration has to be renewed each year. The fee is pro-rated during the rollout, so those who sign up first don’t pay more. GOV.UK hasn’t yet said how it will be paid.

PRS Database registration in the West Midlands

Every landlord letting in the West Midlands must register each property on the government’s new Register your rental property service. Here are your dates, the fee, and what you will be asked for.

A legal requirement from

15 December 2026

in 49 days

Must be registered by

14 March 2027

138 days from today

You can register from 15 December 2026, when the service opens to every landlord in England.

£65 per property, every year. Registration has to be renewed each year.

What happens if you miss it

Once 14 March 2027 passes, councils in the West Midlands can begin enforcement. A civil penalty of up to £7,000 applies for failing to register, rising to £40,000 for false information or repeated breaches.

The bigger risk is possession. The Renters' Rights Act says a court can't make a possession order while a property is unregistered, with Grounds 7A and 14 as the exceptions.

The government hasn't yet said when that part of the Act starts. Once it applies, an unregistered landlord cannot regain their property through the normal route, however good their grounds.

What you will be asked for

You register each property yourself on the government's “Register your rental property” service, signed in with GOV.UK One Login. If you use a letting agent you still start it yourself, and the government says agents will be able to add some of the information. It asks for the following, with copies of the three certificates to upload.

About you

· Your name and email address
· Your date of birth, home address and phone number
· A correspondence address in England or Wales, which can’t be a PO box

About the property

· Address of the property
· Ownership type
· Dwelling type, such as house or flat
· Number of bedrooms
· Name and email of the freeholder, any superior landlord and the property manager

About the letting

· Whether the property is currently let
· Number of occupants
· Number of households
· Whether it needs an HMO, additional or selective licence, and the licence numbers
· Furnished, partly furnished or unfurnished
· Rent and how often it is paid
· Which utilities the rent includes, if any

Safety certificates

· Gas safety record: a copy to upload, and the date it was issued
· EICR or Electrical Installation Certificate: a copy to upload, and its expiry date
· EPC: a copy of the most recent one to upload
· Any registered MEES exemption, if the EPC rating is below the minimum

The items landlords most often cannot find are the licence numbers and the certificate expiry dates. Check which licensing schemes apply to your address with our free licensing checker, and see your full readiness list with the PRS Database readiness check.

Owned jointly, or let through an agent? Our landlord database guide says what is settled so far.

Common questions

When can landlords in the West Midlands register on the PRS Database?: From 15 December 2026, when the service opens. The West Midlands is the first region where registering is a legal requirement, from that same day, and every property let there must be registered by 14 March 2027.
What happens if I miss the 14 March 2027 deadline?: Your council can impose a civil penalty of up to £7,000, rising to £40,000 where a breach carries on 28 days after a penalty, recurs within five years, or involves false information. The Renters’ Rights Act also stops a court making a possession order while a property is unregistered, except on Grounds 7A and 14 for anti-social behaviour. The government hasn’t yet said when that part starts.
How much does it cost?: £65 per property, per year, and registration has to be renewed each year. The fee is pro-rated during the rollout, so those who sign up first don’t pay more. GOV.UK hasn’t yet said how it will be paid.

HouseFile holds the certificates and licence details the PRS Database asks for, so they're ready to upload when you register.

Every property gets its own file, with a reminder before any certificate expires. When you share documents with your tenant, you’ll see when they open each one.

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Other regions

Source: GOV.UK: Get ready for the ‘Register your rental property’ service. Confirmed by MHCLG on 9 September 2026; last checked 4 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.