Writing in Inside Housing, Ellie Brown reports that Council enforcement staff could see their patch sizes shrink by up to a third under proposals to introduce landlord registration fees for a new national database of privately rented homes, according to sector analysis released this week.

The fee-based system — which would require all landlords in England to register properties and declare compliance with legal standards — is expected to generate substantial revenue. Proponents argue that this funding could help councils scale up their under-resourced enforcement teams, easing workloads and enabling more targeted interventions in poorly managed or unsafe rental housing.

The new register forms part of the Renters (Reform) Bill, currently making its way through Parliament. Ministers have committed to creating a digital property portal to improve transparency in the private rented sector (PRS), alongside long-awaited reforms such as abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions and introducing a Decent Homes Standard for private tenants.

Workload Relief for Frontline Officers

Analysis by the Local Government Association (LGA) and housing campaigners suggests that if landlords pay a modest annual registration fee — estimated at £50–£75 per property — local authorities could redirect millions into PRS enforcement. This would allow councils to reduce the size of enforcement officers’ patches by around 30%, enabling more proactive inspections and faster response to tenant complaints.

Currently, many environmental health and housing standards officers are stretched thin. In some areas, a single officer may be responsible for thousands of rental properties, limiting their ability to detect non-compliance or intervene before issues escalate. “A properly funded database would be a game-changer,” said Cllr Darren Rodwell, housing spokesperson for the LGA. “It would give councils the resources to go after rogue landlords — not just react to the worst cases, but get ahead of them.”

From Patchy to Proactive

Landlord registration already exists in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but England has lagged behind — relying instead on selective licensing schemes introduced at borough level. These local schemes have proven effective but are costly to administer and require approval from central government when implemented at scale.

A universal national register would not only streamline enforcement, campaigners say, but would also help tenants make more informed choices and expose repeat offenders who operate across borough boundaries.

Ben Twomey, Chief Executive of Generation Rent, said: “The private rented sector is one of the least regulated parts of the housing system. A national landlord register would lift the lid on who is renting what, and where. Crucially, the fees paid by landlords could finally give councils the tools they need to enforce the law properly.”

Industry Response

Some landlord groups remain cautious about the proposed fees, warning that additional costs — particularly for small portfolio landlords — could be passed on to tenants. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has called for assurances that registration will remain “light-touch” and not duplicate existing licensing burdens.

NRLA Chief Executive Ben Beadle said: “We support greater transparency and enforcement against rogue operators, but the government must ensure that good landlords are not penalised with another layer of red tape.”

Next Steps

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is expected to consult on the design of the landlord database in the coming months. While legislation provides for the creation of the register, operational details — including the level and use of any registration fees — have not yet been finalised.

With local authority budgets under severe strain and enforcement gaps growing, many in the sector see the proposed database as a long-overdue opportunity to rebalance power in the PRS — provided it is funded properly and implemented with local needs in mind.