Renters’ Rights Act: Leeds landlords must register every property on the new government database
Landlords · Renters’ Rights Act
I’ll be straight with you. Most of the landlords we work for in Leeds are good landlords. They fix things, they answer the phone and they look after their tenants. But the Renters’ Rights Act is changing the paperwork side of letting in a big way, and the biggest change of all is a brand new government register. Every landlord, every property, every certificate. Here’s what it means for you in plain English, and how to get ahead of it without the stress.
So what actually is it?
The government has named it the Register Your Rental Property service. Think of it as a national list of every privately rented home in England, who owns it, and whether it’s safe to live in. It goes live on 15 December 2026, and the duty to sign up is being rolled out across the country one region at a time.
You’ll need a landlord entry for yourself, and then a separate entry for every property you let. Got one flat in Bramley? That’s one entry. Got six terraces spread across Armley, Pudsey and Beeston? That’s six.
The dates that matter in Leeds
Leeds falls in the Yorkshire and the Humber region, which is about halfway down the government’s list. That gives you a bit of breathing space, but not as much as it sounds.
- 15 December 2026: the register opens
- 15 April 2027: the legal duty to register starts for Yorkshire landlords
- 14 July 2027 (midnight): your registration has to be done
- 14 November 2027: every landlord in England must be on it
The landlords who find next July easy will be the ones who sorted their certificates out this winter.
What it’ll cost
£65 per property, per year. It renews every year, so it becomes a running cost of letting, a bit like your insurance. It isn’t going to break anyone, but on a portfolio of ten it’s £650 a year, so it’s worth budgeting for now.
What you’ll need to hand
This is the part that matters to us, because it’s our world. Alongside your own details and the basics about the property and tenancy, the register asks for the property’s safety and energy paperwork:
- Gas safety record (CP12): the latest one and the date it was done, if the property has gas
- Electrical safety: a current EICR (or EIC) and when it runs out
- EPC: the latest Energy Performance Certificate, and whether your tenant has had a copy
- Any energy efficiency exemptions you’ve registered
The bit that catches people out
Registering once isn’t the end of it. When something changes, you generally have 28 days to update your entry. And something always changes, because your gas safety certificate gets renewed every single year.
So if you’ve got five properties, that’s at least five updates a year just for gas, before we even get to electrics, new tenants or rent changes. Miss a renewal, and your register entry is showing an out-of-date certificate for everyone to see.
Make one simple list today: each property, when its gas safety is due, when the EICR runs out, and when the EPC expires. If you can’t fill that list in from one folder, that’s your little job for this winter. Future you will thank you.
Why you really don’t want to skip it
The government has given this register some proper teeth:
- Councils can fine you up to £7,000, and up to £40,000 for repeated breaches or for giving false information
- Tenants may be able to claim rent back through a rent repayment order in some cases
- Courts won’t normally give you a possession order unless you and the property are actively registered
That last point is the big one. Section 21 “no fault” notices ended on 1 May 2026. If you ever need a property back now, you have to go through the proper grounds, and an unregistered property makes that very hard indeed.
Where we come in
We’re a local firm based on Broad Lane in Stanningley, and a big part of what we do every week is keeping rental properties safe and legal for landlords and letting agents across Leeds. When it comes to the new register, we can take a lot of the weight off you:
- Landlord gas safety certificates (CP12) by our Gas Safe engineers
- Boiler servicing at the same visit, so your tenant only has to let us in once
- A reminder from us before each certificate is due, so it never lapses
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms fitted and tested
- Heating, plumbing and damp repairs sorted properly
- We can arrange access with your tenants directly
Send us your list of properties and when things are due, and we’ll put a simple plan together to keep every one of them compliant, so registering in 2027 is a ten-minute job rather than a panic.
Any questions, give us a ring. We’re always happy to talk it through.
Steve, Director, White Rose Property Maintenance & Compliance Ltd
This is a plain-English summary of the rules as they stand in October 2026, not legal advice. Things can change, so check GOV.UK or a landlord association for your own situation.
Quick answers
Do I need to register a property that’s empty?
At the moment, a property only needs registering once it’s let on an assured tenancy. A future rule is planned to stop properties being advertised without a registration, so it’s best to get ready anyway.
Can my letting agent do it for me?
Agents can add some of the information, but the landlord has to start the registration themselves.
How often does a gas safety certificate need renewing?
Every 12 months. Your tenant needs a copy within 28 days of the check, and your register entry will need the new date.
Do you cover my area?
We cover the whole of Leeds from Stanningley. Have a look at areas we cover.
Let’s get your properties register-ready
One local team for gas safety, servicing, alarms and repairs. Call 0113 532 7670 or drop us a message.
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