Nottingham PRS Database Registration for Landlords 2027

What the PRS Database Is

The Private Rented Sector Database is a national landlord register being introduced under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Landlords of assured or regulated tenancies in England will be required to register themselves and each property, except landlords of supported exempt accommodation. During the initial regional rollout, this requirement applies to properties that are let or become occupied during the rollout. A later phase will require registration of unoccupied properties before they are marketed for let.

This is separate from and in addition to local council property licensing. A Nottingham landlord with a selective licence will still need PRS Database registration. The two systems run in parallel — one is local (Nottingham City Council licensing under the Housing Act 2004), the other is national (PRS Database under the Renters' Rights Act).

The government plans a public interface so tenants can check landlords' compliance with key requirements. The exact information that will be publicly searchable has not yet been finalized.

The East Midlands Registration Window

The PRS Database is rolling out regionally. The East Midlands registration window — which covers Nottingham — runs from 15 February to 14 May 2027. Landlords with properties in Nottingham must register by the end of this three-month period, unless an exemption applies.

Registration costs £65 per property per year. The government says the fee will be pro-rated during the rollout. Unlike Nottingham's local licence fees (which cover the full scheme term of up to five years), the PRS Database fee is annual and recurring.

Missing the deadline does not remove the registration requirement. Local councils can impose a civil penalty of up to £7,000 for an initial or minor breach; serious or repeated breaches can lead to a penalty of up to £40,000 or prosecution. The Act also restricts a court from granting a possession order while the landlord lacks an active database entry, except for possession grounds 7A and 14.

How It Interacts with Nottingham Licensing

The PRS Database does not replace Nottingham City Council's licensing schemes. Both systems operate under different statutes and serve different purposes:

• Local licensing (Housing Act 2004) — the council assesses the property, the licence holder, and the management arrangements against local conditions. It attaches specific conditions to the licence (waste management, ASB procedures, safety certificates, inspections) and enforces them locally.
• PRS Database (Renters' Rights Act) — a national register that confirms the landlord has registered, the property exists on the system, and basic compliance markers are in place. It gives tenants a single place to check any landlord in England.

In practical terms, a Nottingham landlord operating a property in a selective licensing ward will need:

1. A valid selective licence from Nottingham City Council
2. PRS Database registration for each property
3. All the underlying safety certificates that both systems require (gas safety, EICR, EPC)

Some documents overlap: the government says the database will ask for gas, electrical, and energy performance certificates, which Nottingham licensing also requests. The database has its own information requirements, so do not assume that local licensing documents such as floor plans or proof of ownership are also required there.

What to Do Now

The East Midlands window does not open until February 2027, so there is no portal to register on yet. But there are things worth doing now:

• Get your Nottingham licensing in order first. If your property needs a selective or HMO licence and you have not applied, the local licence is the more urgent obligation — the council is actively enforcing, and unlicensed operation carries penalties of up to £40,000 per offence plus rent repayment orders.
• Keep your safety certificates current. Both systems will need them. An expired gas safety record or EICR is a problem for your existing licence and a barrier to PRS Database registration.
• Budget for the annual cost. At the full annual rate of £65 per property, a landlord with two properties would pay £130 on top of local licensing fees; rollout fees will be pro-rated. Factor this into your running costs from 2027 onwards.

The Nottingham landlord licensing guide covers the PRS Database registration timeline alongside the local licensing workflow, including a compliance horizon map that tracks both systems' deadlines in one place.

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