Registration
Landlord ombudsman (redress scheme) membership: expected 2028, not yet required
Private landlords will have to join a government-approved landlord redress scheme (the PRS Landlord Ombudsman). The government expects mandatory sign-up in 2028; no start date has been set in law.
- Status
- Not yet in force: confirmed, no start date
- Penalty
- Civil penalty up to £7,000, Criminal offence, Rent repayment
- Topic
- Registration
We hold this rule at medium confidence. Read the linked law before you rely on it.
Who it applies to
Residential landlords in England, once regulations under RRA s.64(1) are made.
What you will need to do
No action yet. When membership regulations are made, join an approved or designated scheme (possibly before marketing) and keep property information up to date with the scheme.
- Deadline
Ongoing
Government roadmap (13 November 2025) expects mandatory sign-up in 2028.
If you do not comply
- Civil penalty
- Up to £7,000, once this rule is in force
- Criminal offence
- Yes, once this rule is in force
- Rent repayment
- A rent repayment order can be made
- Other consequences
- Once commenced: civil penalty up to £7,000 for breach of membership regulations, up to £40,000 for continuing-breach offences (RRA ss.66-67); RRO for s.67 offences. None of these are in force yet.
The law
- Renters' Rights Act 2025, s.64 (landlord redress schemes: power to require membership)legislation.gov.uk
- Renters' Rights Act 2025, s.66 (financial penalties)legislation.gov.uk
- Private Landlord Redress Schemes (Approval and Designation) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/1033), in force 17 September 2026legislation.gov.uk
Official guidance
- Renters' Rights Act 2025: Implementation roadmapgov.uk
- Get on top of the renting changes (MHCLG landlord campaign page)housinghub.campaign.gov.uk
Notes
SI 2026/1033 only sets the conditions for approving or designating a scheme; it places no duty on landlords. Penalties under s.66 were expressly excluded from commencement by SI 2026/421 reg 3(i).
Other registration rules
3 rules- Register yourself and each let property on the PRS Database ('Register your rental property')Not yet in force: confirmed from 15 December 2026Fine up to £7,000
From 15 December 2026, region by region, landlords of assured and regulated tenancies must register themselves and every let property on the government's 'Register your rental property' service, pay £65 per property per year, and keep entries up to date.
- London properties: PRS Database registration window 15 July to 14 October 2027Not yet in force: confirmed from 15 July 2027Fine up to £7,000
For let properties in Greater London (the 32 boroughs and the City of London), the registration requirement starts on 15 July 2027 and registration must be completed by 14 October 2027.
- No possession order while you lack an active PRS Database entry (except Grounds 7A/14)Not yet in force: confirmed, no start date
Once commenced, a court cannot make a possession order while the landlord (or any joint landlord) does not have active landlord and property entries on the PRS Database, except for anti-social behaviour Grounds 7A and 14.