The Renters Rights Bill looks like it will shake up the property sector as we currently know it. A major factor coming with this change is the “Private Rental Sector Database”.
Set out in Chapter 3 of the Bill, this database aims to create a centralised portal for information regarding those who “are, or intend to become, residential landlords” and “entries in respect of dwellings which are, or are intended to be, let under residential tenancies”.
What exact information will be required of Landlords is not yet confirmed but there is still enough information to get to grips with what is to come, such as:
- The requirement to keep entries up to date – the prescribed information must be attended to; information will only be removed by an operator if an entry has been inactive throughout a continuous period of 5 years; at the end of the period of 10 years beginning with the day on which the entry is made; in the case of an entry made in respect of a relevant banning order, the ban imposed by the order continues after the end of the period and the entry will only be removed when the ban ends.
- Restrictions on marketing, advertising and letting dwellings – the database doesn`t just affect the landlords aiming to create a tenancy but those wanting to market a dwelling; section 80 prescribes that a person must not market a dwelling for a residential tenancy if the landlord and dwelling do not have active entries
- Restriction on gaining possession – The Renters Rights Bill aims to abolish the no fault eviction and to change the remaining s8 possession order. In other articles I mentioned the addition of more burdens for the landlord; supplying information and following protocols in order to apply for the once simple s8 possession order. One of these burdens will be having the landlord and the domiciles registered to the Private Rental Database; this gives tenants another potential defence against any attempted claims.
- Financial penalties – The burden the database will give landlords does not stop at restrictions on marketing and getting possession orders, it will also include not having entered the required content or knowingly or recklessly supplying misinformation which could result in liability to local housing authorities who will have the ability to impose a financial penalty; these penalties will be upwards of £7,000 and might be as much as £40,000.
Once the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes effective, the government will be able to pass secondary legislation to launch the database. Until then, it might be best to prepare whilst being wary, the legislation is still subject to change before coming into force.
10/11/2025 Jack Wilson, trainee solicitor