Welcome to our Newsround, let’s see what has been trending in the news this week.
Landlord Database – dates & details now published
The government has now announced details of the landlord database that all landlords will need to register with. It launches on a roll-out basis on December 15th this year in the West Midlands first. Each region has its own deadline date for registering, with a three month window to sign up.
Registration is a legal requirement, and fines will be issued for those that fail to register. Only properties currently let will need to register, but unoccupied properties will need to be registered prior to advertising. The cost will be £66 per property, renewable each year.
Matthew Pennycook, Housing Minister, said
Rollout of a national landlord registration service is an important first step toward establishing our new innovative database of private rented sector properties which will empower tenants, support responsible landlords
You can read more here along with rollout dates and other industry-leading views.
Court delays are not improving
It appears that the delays in the court system are not improving. A Landlord has called out the court system as ‘a fallacy’ when the courts ordered his tenant to leave by 21st August this year, but his solicitor did not receive the notification until the 4th September. Furthermore, the order was dated 27th August – six days after the tenant should have vacated the property.
The Ministry of Justice has released new figures stating that possession claims were down from 98,766 to 91,093 in 2025. However, claims are taking even longer to process. The average repossession claim is taking up to 27 weeks; this is up from 25 weeks in the previous year. This now stands at the longest wait time in 20 years.
The government announced this week that the HMRC Valuation Office will take over rent challenges and rent increases, which they say will free up the tribunals. You can read more on this here.
Landlords of short lets: new registration scheme
The government has announced this week that landlords in England who manage short-term lets such as holiday lets will have to sign up to a national register from March next year. They will need to provide information on themselves and their accommodation along with a fee.
Lisa Nandy, Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, said that this will enable councils to strike the right balance between tourism and local housing whilst enabling councils to carry out enforcement on non-compliant short let accommodation.
Scotland already has a similar scheme in place, and Wales short let landlords will have to start registering with the Welsh Revenue Authority from October this year.
Trade body issues warning over licensing requirements
Propertymark, the lettings agent trade body, is reminding all letting agents and landlords to keep up to date with their local councils’ licensing requirements as penalties have risen substantially since the commencement of the Renters’ Rights Act.
They say agents and landlords need to watch not only licences but also any other Article 4 Directions a council may bring into force. It is not only civil penalties that can be incurred but also rent repayment orders demanding anything up to two years’ rent.
They are calling for more coherence between national and regional regulations, as regulation becomes more and more complex Tim Thomas, Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer said
Agents and landlords need to be absolutely clear about whether a property requires a licence, what conditions apply and who carries responsibility within the ownership and management structure.
Propertymark ask that their members engage fully with council consultations to ensure it benefits both landlords and tenants and does not just keep increasing the regulatory burden.
Note that Landlord Law members will find comprehensive information and guidance on local authority powers and how to deal with the new rules in our Dealing with Local Authority Enforcement Kit.
Snippets
Council slams rogue landlords who are ‘quick to collect their rent’
Government defends Making Tax Digital for landlords
Future landlords will be younger, female and more diverse
England’s housing courts at breaking point as renters battle no-fault evictions
See also our Quick News Updates on Landlord Law
Newsround will be back again next week
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