PRS Database Letting Agent Delegation: What Agents Can and Can't Do

What Your Agent Can Do

Under Regulation 7(2) of the published draft PRS Database Regulations 2026, you can authorise a managing or letting agent to update specified dwelling information and documents on your behalf:

• Update the dwelling's letting status and provide specified Schedule 3 Part 2 tenancy and health-and-safety information and documents
• Submit tenancy and rent data updates within the 28-day reporting window
• Make changes to dwelling entries when tenancies, rents, or occupants change

GOV.UK says landlords must start and end registration themselves, while an agent can provide certain information on their behalf. Further guidance on the agent process is due before the service opens.

What Only You Can Do

Section 82(3) of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 puts the active-entry duty on the residential landlord. GOV.UK also says the landlord remains responsible for providing all required information, including information supplied by an agent. You remain responsible for:

• Starting and ending registration — an agent can provide certain information, but the landlord is responsible for these steps
• Providing all required information — you remain responsible for information an agent submits on your behalf
• Paying the £65 annual fee per property
• Ensuring entries stay active — an agent's administrative delay still puts the penalty on you

If an agent uploads incorrect information or misses a 28-day update window, the landlord remains responsible for complying with the registration duty. An initial breach can carry a civil penalty of up to £7,000; serious or repeat breaches can lead to a penalty of up to £40,000 or prosecution.

The Cost of Over-Delegating

Letting agents are quoting £100–£250 per property for "registration assistance" packages. These typically cover the administrative data entry and document uploads — work the agent is authorised to do.

The problem comes when landlords treat these packages as full delegation. The landlord must start and end registration and remains responsible for the information provided. Agree with the agent which information they will supply, then check it against your records.

Audit Your Agent's Work

If you use a managed service, build a verification step into your routine:

1. Log in after your agent completes the dwelling entry
2. Check that the property address, tenancy details, and rent amount match your records
3. Confirm the safety certificates uploaded are current (not expired versions)
4. Verify the entry status shows "Active" with the correct activation date

The PRS Database Registration Guide includes an agent delegation audit checklist that maps every task to whether it's delegable or landlord-only, so you know exactly what to verify.

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