The Government’s new ‘Register your rental property’ service is set to change how councils access information about England’s private rented sector, giving officers greater visibility of landlords and rented properties and helping support more effective enforcement.

Launching regionally from 15 December 2026, the service forms a key part of the next phase of the Renters’ Rights Act reforms, alongside measures designed to give tenants stronger protections and greater confidence in the homes they rent.

The new national Private Rented Sector Database will require landlords to register themselves and their properties through the ‘Register your rental property’ service.

Councils will have access to a separate ‘Check a rental property or landlord’ service, allowing officers to review information provided by landlords, identify potential non-compliance and take action where necessary. Over time, tenants will also be able to check whether their landlord or prospective landlord is registered.

It represents a significant step towards creating a more transparent private rented sector and giving local authorities better information to support their work.

But better information is only part of the picture.

Turning intelligence into action

For local authorities, the opportunity isn’t only about having greater visibility of the private rented sector, but how that information can be used to support effective enforcement.

The introduction of the register creates a new and potentially significant area of enforcement in its own right. Failure to meet registration requirements can result in financial penalties, giving councils an opportunity to identify and act on non-compliance without this necessarily being linked to the condition of a property.

The information provided through the register can then help officers go further. Councils will be able to check the details supplied by landlords, identify where further investigation may be needed and follow up accordingly.

Where concerns relate to housing conditions, officers will still need to inspect properties, assess hazards, gather evidence and determine the appropriate course of action.

And all of this is happening against a backdrop of significant regulatory change.

As the Renters’ Rights Act is implemented, housing teams will need to keep pace with new requirements while continuing to manage existing workloads and increasing expectations from residents.

That makes the systems, information and processes supporting frontline officers increasingly important.

Supporting effective housing enforcement

Technology has an important role to play in helping councils turn information into action.

The Housing App supports officers throughout the housing inspection and enforcement process, helping teams carry out inspections, complete assessments, capture evidence and maintain clear digital records.

As councils gain access to more information about the private rented sector, having effective tools available to officers can help ensure that intelligence doesn't simply create more data to manage, but supports meaningful intervention where it is needed.

Keeping regulatory knowledge up to date

Legislative change also needs to translate into consistent practice.

Register Your Rental Property’  Service will be introduced gradually across England, while further elements of the Renters’ Rights reforms will continue to develop.

For officers, understanding what has changed is only the first step. They also need to understand what those changes mean for their day-to-day work.

RIAMS helps Environmental Health and regulatory teams access trusted technical information, guidance and procedures, supporting officers as legislation and regulatory practice evolve.

When the regulatory landscape is moving quickly, providing teams with reliable and accessible knowledge can help authorities maintain consistency and confidence in their decision-making.

Making it easier for residents to provide evidence

Stronger protections also need to be accessible to the people they are designed to protect.

Digital services can make it easier for residents to engage with their local authority and provide useful information when problems arise.

The Noise App is one example of how technology can simplify evidence gathering. Residents can record and submit noise directly to investigating officers, giving councils information that can help them assess complaints and determine appropriate next steps.

While noise complaints extend far beyond the private rented sector, the principle is the same: better digital routes between residents and regulatory teams can help councils investigate problems more efficiently.

Building the infrastructure behind better regulation

The Renters’ Rights reforms represent more than a new set of requirements for landlords.

They are part of a wider shift towards a private rented sector that is more transparent, data-led and accountable, with local authorities playing a crucial role in making that ambition work in practice.

A national register can provide better intelligence. Stronger legislation can give councils greater powers. Digital services can make regulatory systems easier to navigate.

But delivering better outcomes depends on connecting those elements with the officers responsible for putting regulation into practice.

Across The Housing App, RIAMS and The Noise App, RHE Global works with local authorities to support that wider regulatory ecosystem, combining technology, regulatory knowledge and practical tools that help officers move from information to investigation, evidence and action.

Because the measure of successful regulatory reform isn't simply how much information becomes available.

It's what councils are able to do with it.