Rent Smart Wales Public Register — Check If a Landlord Is Registered

How to Search the Register

Rent Smart Wales maintains a statutory public register that anyone can search for free at rentsmart.gov.wales. No account or login is needed.

You can search by:

• Property address — enter the postcode or street address of the rental property
• Landlord name — search by the landlord's name as it appears on the register
• Registration number — if you have the landlord's RSW registration reference
• Agent name or licence number — to verify a letting agent's credentials

The search returns whether the landlord is currently registered, which properties are linked to their registration, and whether a licensed agent is assigned to the property. For agents, you can see their licence number, status and expiry date.

What the Public Register Shows (and Doesn't Show)

Publicly visible:

• Property street addresses linked to the registration
• Landlord registration status and registration number
• Licensed agent assigned to each property
• Agent licence number, status and expiry date

Not publicly visible:

• Landlord phone numbers, email addresses or home addresses
• Dates of birth, National Insurance numbers or passport numbers
• Criminal conviction disclosures or financial information
• Corporate financial data

The register is designed for transparency without compromising personal data. A tenant can confirm that their landlord is legally registered and that any appointed agent holds a valid licence, but they cannot access the landlord's personal contact details.

Why Checking Matters

For tenants, checking the register is the simplest way to verify that your landlord is operating legally. An unregistered or unlicensed landlord:

• Cannot serve a valid Section 173 (no-fault) possession notice
• Is liable for Fixed Penalty Notices and prosecution
• If unlicensed, may be subject to a Rent Repayment Order — meaning the contract-holder can apply to a tribunal to recover up to 12 months' rent

If a search reveals that your landlord is not registered, or that you are dealing with an unlicensed agent, you can report non-compliance directly to Rent Smart Wales or to your local housing authority.

For landlords, the register is also a practical tool. Before appointing a letting agent, search the register to confirm the agent holds an active Rent Smart Wales agent licence. An agent whose licence has expired or been revoked cannot legally carry out management work on your behalf — and if they do, you bear the legal consequences alongside them.

Verifying Your Own Registration

If you are a landlord, log in to your RSW portal account to check your own registration and licence status, expiry dates, and linked properties. The public register only shows a snapshot — your portal account shows the full picture, including renewal deadlines.

A common problem: landlords assume their status is current because they registered years ago, without realising the five-year registration or licence has expired. If your registration has lapsed, any Section 173 notices you issued while unregistered are invalid.

What Landlords Must Display

Under the Code of Practice, all property advertisements, portal listings and marketing material for a Welsh rental property must display:

• The landlord's Rent Smart Wales registration number (or a statement that an application is pending)
• The licence number of either the self-managing landlord or the appointed licensed agent

Commercial agents must also display their RSW licence logo, licence number and fee schedule on their business premises and website. Failure to comply with these advertising requirements is a breach of licence conditions.

For a complete compliance system including an agent verification log and a compliance record formatted for court use, see our Rent Smart Wales guide.

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