Four nations, four systems

England's new database covers homes in England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland already had their own landlord registration schemes, and they stay separate. A landlord with property in more than one nation registers in each.

Nation	Scheme	Key points	Official site
England	Private Rented Sector Database	£65 per property per year; opens 15 December 2026	GOV.UK Housing Hub
Scotland	Landlord Registration Scotland	£85 principal fee plus £20 per property; renew every 3 years	landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk
Wales	Rent Smart Wales	registration and licence each valid for 5 years; licence needs approved training	rentsmart.gov.wales
Northern Ireland	Landlord Registration Scheme	one fee covers all properties: £70 online or £80 on paper; valid for 3 years	nidirect

Scotland

Private landlords in Scotland register with each council where they let property, through the national service. Registration lasts three years. The official fees when we checked (Landlord Registration Scotland):

Fee	Amount
Principal fee, one council	£85
Principal fee per council, two or more councils (online)	£42.50
Each property let	£20
Late application	£170
HMO properties, Scottish registered charities	no fee

Joint owners: only the lead owner pays the principal fee; the others register free.

Example: three flats in one council cost £85 + 3 × £20 = £145 for three years. If you let in two councils, the principal fee is £42.50 in each.

Wales

Wales separates registration (the landlord) from licensing (whoever manages the letting). If you manage your own property you need both; if an agent manages it, the agent needs the licence. Registration and licences are each valid for five years, and a licence needs approved training first. Fees depend on the application type, and applying online is cheapest (Rent Smart Wales, registration and licensing leaflet).

Northern Ireland

All landlords letting property under a private tenancy must register. Registration lasts three years, and the scheme reminds you eight weeks before it expires. Landlords who registered an HMO under the HMO scheme don't pay again but must give the HMO number (nidirect).

Properties in England too?

Use the deadline finder for England's regional windows.