Brighton PRS Database Registration 2027

A national Private Rented Sector Database is coming, and Brighton & Hove landlords are in one of the earlier registration waves. If you rent out an in-scope property in the city, you'll need to register — and your local council licence number is part of what you'll be asked to provide where a local licence applies.

The Registration Window

The PRS Database was established under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 as part of the broader reforms that came into force on 1 May 2026. Registration is being rolled out regionally, and the South East region — which includes Brighton and Hove — has a mandatory registration window of 15 March 2027 to 14 June 2027.

Voluntary registration opens earlier, from 15 December 2026, so landlords who want to get ahead can register before the mandatory window starts.

What the Database Requires

The PRS Database is a national register that sits alongside (not replacing) local council licensing. When you register, you'll need to provide property details, landlord identification and — critically — your local authority licence number where one applies.

That last point is where things connect to Brighton's licensing schemes. If your property requires a selective, additional HMO or mandatory HMO licence from Brighton & Hove City Council, you'll need that licence to be granted and the licence number in hand before you can complete your PRS Database registration accurately.

Operating without the required local licence means you can't truthfully complete the national registration. Letting or advertising an in-scope property before it is registered can trigger a civil penalty of up to £7,000 for an initial breach; repeated breaches or false information can lead to a penalty of up to £40,000 or prosecution.

How It Sits Alongside Council Licensing

The PRS Database and Brighton's local licensing schemes are legally separate obligations. Registration on the national database does not replace or satisfy the requirement to hold a local council property licence. And holding a local licence doesn't automatically register you on the national database — you need to do both.

Think of it as two layers:

1. Local layer: Brighton & Hove City Council licensing (selective in four wards, additional HMO city-wide, mandatory HMO city-wide)
2. National layer: PRS Database registration for in-scope private rented properties

During the rollout, a property let under an assured periodic or regulated tenancy on the South East registration deadline, or first let after that deadline, must be registered. Supported exempt accommodation is excluded. Local licensing is a separate requirement, so a property subject to both rules needs both.

Why This Matters Now

The March 2027 registration window is less than six months away. If your property needs a Brighton council licence and you haven't applied yet, the processing time for the application, the Part B payment window and the licence grant all need to happen before you can register on the PRS Database with a valid licence number.

Brighton & Hove council applications go through the online Mendix portal, with Part A paid at submission and Part B due within 10 working days of the draft approval. Processing times vary, but leaving it until February 2027 to start a fresh licence application could mean you're still waiting for a licence number when the PRS registration deadline passes.

Preparing Now

The practical steps:

1. Check whether your property needs a Brighton council licence (selective licensing applies in Kemptown, Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Queens Park and Whitehawk & Marina; additional HMO licensing applies city-wide to properties with 3–4 occupants from 2+ households sharing basic amenities across 2+ storeys; mandatory HMO licensing applies city-wide to 5+ occupants from 2+ households sharing basic amenities)
2. If it does, submit the application with all required documents — gas safety certificate, EICR, EPC, floor plan, tenancy agreement and inspection logs
3. Get the licence granted and note the licence number
4. Register on the PRS Database during the South East window (15 March – 14 June 2027)

Our Brighton & Hove Landlord Licensing guide covers the full decision sequence, document checklist and application process — everything you need to get your local licence sorted well before the PRS Database window opens.

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