PRS database
If your landlord isn’t registered
Once the database reaches your region and its deadline passes, a landlord can’t lawfully market, advertise or let a home without an active entry for it. Here’s what that means for you, and what to do.
Landlord registration opens on 15 December 2026, starting with the West Midlands. Every actively let property in England must be registered by 14 November 2027.
England only · Guidance checked September 2026. The dates come from the draft Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026 and the government’s rollout table. The Regulations are still in draft, so dates could change.
Check the deadline first
Registration opens region by region, and landlords get three months to register homes they already let. Until their region’s deadline, a landlord who isn’t registered has done nothing wrong. The last deadline is 14 November 2027. See your region’s dates.
What the landlord risks
- They can’t let or advertise it
- Marketing, advertising or letting a home without an active entry breaches the Renters’ Rights Act, and adverts must carry the entry’s identifiers.
- Civil penalties
- Up to £7,000 for a breach, and up to £40,000 where an offence is committed. Penalties can repeat if the breach continues, and serious cases can be prosecuted.
- Possession is blocked
- A court can’t make a possession order while the landlord is in breach, except on the grounds for serious anti-social behaviour.
- It goes on the record
- Banning orders, offences and financial penalties are recorded on the database itself.
What you can do
- Check the date. If your region’s deadline hasn’t passed, there is nothing to report yet.
- Ask the landlord or agent. After the deadline they should be able to give you the entry’s identifiers, which must also appear on any advert.
- Report it to the council. The private housing team at your council enforces this and can issue penalties.
- Keep your evidence. Your tenancy agreement, rent receipts, messages and a copy of the advert.
- Get advice before acting. Shelter, Citizens Advice or your council can advise you, particularly if you’re worried about how the landlord will react.
Not legal advice. If you’re facing eviction or harassment, get help from a housing adviser straight away.
Questions renters ask
Can a landlord evict me if they are not registered?
A court cannot make a possession order while the landlord is in breach of the duty to have an active database entry for the property, except on the grounds for serious anti-social behaviour. The landlord must put their registration right before they can seek possession on other grounds.
Can a landlord use section 8 if they are not on the database?
Only for serious anti-social behaviour, which is Ground 7A or Ground 14. For every other ground, the court cannot make a possession order while the landlord is in breach.
What fines do landlords face for not registering?
A council can issue a civil penalty of up to £7,000 for marketing, advertising or letting a property without an active entry, and up to £40,000 where an offence is committed, such as giving false information or continuing to breach. Serious cases can be prosecuted instead.
What can I do if my landlord isn’t registered?
First check whether their region’s deadline has passed, because registration is being rolled out region by region through 2027. If it has, you can report it to the council’s private housing team, which enforces the rules and can issue penalties. Keep your tenancy agreement, rent receipts and any adverts for the property.
Do I still have to pay rent if my landlord isn’t registered?
Yes. Not being registered doesn’t cancel the tenancy or the rent. It exposes the landlord to penalties and blocks most possession claims until they put it right.
Can I get my rent back?
Rent repayment orders apply to specific offences, such as letting an unlicensed property or unlawful eviction, and tenants can claim up to two years’ rent for offences from 1 May 2026. Whether a database offence is included is worth checking with your council or a housing adviser.
What you can check today
You don’t have to wait for the database to check a home before you sign. The free property check covers the energy rating, flood risk, planning designations, crime nearby and past sales. See what you can find out about a landlord today, or check whether a council licensing scheme covers the home.
Check a property freeSources: sections 82, 90, 91 and 92 of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and the implementation roadmap.