What is the PRS Database?

The Private Rented Sector Database is a national register of private landlords and rental properties launching in late 2026 under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Every private landlord in England will be required to register, and tenants will be able to look up the landlord and property to verify legal compliance before signing a tenancy.

How do I check my landlord today, before the PRS Database is live?

Six free checks: (1) Is the EPC valid and rated E or above? (2) Is the deposit in DPS, MyDeposits or TDS? (3) Is HMO/selective licensing registered with the council? (4) Is the gas safety certificate current? (5) Is the EICR within 5 years? (6) Does the Land Registry title match the seller's name? PostcodeCheck Renter Report (£4.99) cross-references all six in one PDF, plus damp risk and fair rent.

What if my landlord refuses to provide compliance documents?

It's a red flag. Don't sign the tenancy. After 2026 PRS Database launch, refusal to engage with compliance is grounds for a council fine up to £30,000 plus possible Rent Repayment Orders. Today, you can report missing documents to local Trading Standards (deposit/EPC), the council Environmental Health team (HHSRS hazards), or the HSE (gas safety).

Will my landlord know I checked them?

No. All free public registers are searchable anonymously. The PostcodeCheck Renter Report doesn't notify the landlord either; the report is private to you. Useful before signing AND if you're already in dispute and need evidence to take to the council or county court.

PRS Database Check: How to Verify Your Landlord Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (UK 2026)

Q: When does the PRS Database go live?

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent in October 2025, and the PRS Database is part of the staged 2026-2027 rollout. MHCLG's implementation roadmap targets late 2026 for the public-facing tenant lookup. Until it's live, tenants verify landlords using existing public registers (HMO, selective licensing, deposit schemes, EPC, Land Registry title).

The Private Rented Sector Database is the most significant change to UK renting in 30 years. From late 2026, every private landlord will be required to register and tenants will be able to verify landlords directly. Until the public lookup goes live, here's how to verify your landlord today using the existing free registers.

Quick answer

From late 2026: the PRS Database lookup goes public — one URL, one search, one verdict. Today: verify using six free public registers (EPC, deposit scheme, HMO, gas, EICR, Land Registry title). The PostcodeCheck Renter Report (£4.99) cross-references all six in one PDF, plus damp risk and fair rent. After the PRS Database launches, the Renter Report incorporates the new lookup automatically.

What the PRS Database will do

Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (Royal Assent October 2025), every private landlord in England will be required to register on a national database. The database will record:

Landlord identity and contact details
Each rental property they own
Compliance status (gas, EICR, EPC, deposit scheme)
HMO licensing status
Past enforcement actions and unspent breaches

Tenants will be able to look up any rental property and see the landlord's compliance history before signing. Failure to register is grounds for a council fine up to £30,000 plus possible Rent Repayment Orders for the tenant.

When does it go live?

MHCLG's implementation roadmap targets late 2026 for the public-facing tenant lookup. The Act's other provisions (Section 21 abolition, Awaab's Law extension) phase in across 2026-2027. The exact public launch date will be confirmed by MHCLG closer to the time. Until then, the existing public registers are what you use.

The 6 free checks every renter should run today

1. EPC valid and rated E or above

Required by law for all rented properties since 2020. Search the address at find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk. A property without a valid EPC, or rated F or G, can't legally be let. Reportable to local Trading Standards.

2. Deposit in DPS, MyDeposits or TDS

By law, deposits must be in a government-backed scheme within 30 days. Each scheme has a free online checker. If your deposit is not protected, you can claim 1-3x the deposit through the County Court, and your landlord cannot serve a Section 21 eviction.

3. HMO / selective licensing

If three or more unrelated tenants share, an HMO licence is usually required. Some councils run additional or selective licensing schemes that cover smaller HMOs or even single lets. Search your council's public register; an unlicensed HMO is grounds for a Rent Repayment Order claim.

4. Gas safety certificate (CP12)

Required annually for any property with gas appliances. Your landlord must give you a copy before move-in and at every renewal. No certificate = a criminal offence punishable by up to 6 months in prison.

5. Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

5-yearly inspection required since 2020. You should receive a copy within 28 days of the inspection. Council fines up to £30,000 for non-compliance.

6. Land Registry title in landlord's name

Order the title register from gov.uk for £3. The named owner must match the landlord on the tenancy agreement. If it doesn't, the "landlord" may be sub-letting without permission — your tenancy is at risk if the real owner finds out.

Run all 6 checks in one £4.99 Renter Report

Damp risk from EPC, landlord compliance (EICR, deposit, HMO), fair rent vs local median, full monthly bills, broadband, noise. £4.99, instant PDF.

✓Damp + mould risk✓Landlord compliance✓Fair rent check✓PDF in 60 seconds

What the £4.99 Renter Address Report adds

EPC + deposit + HMO + gas/EICR + Land Registry title (all 6 free checks bundled)
Damp risk score derived from EPC data (heating type, ventilation, insulation, build year)
Fair rent check vs local median for the property type
Full monthly bills breakdown (council tax, energy estimate, water, broadband)
Ofcom broadband + mobile signal at the address
Noise assessment (road, rail, aircraft from DEFRA)
Commute check to your work postcode
Composite Safety Score (0-100)
One PDF, instant after payment, sharable as evidence

Useful before you sign (decision-making), shortly after move-in (baseline the property condition), or during a dispute (contemporaneous evidence pulled from publicly verifiable government data).

After PRS Database launches

The Renter Report will incorporate the PRS Database lookup automatically once the public API is available, so one report continues to give you the full compliance picture without extra steps.

If you're already in dispute

Damp / mould / disrepair: council Environmental Health (HHSRS), Awaab's Law applies from 2026
Deposit not protected: County Court small claim for 1-3x the deposit
HMO unlicensed: First-Tier Tribunal Rent Repayment Order (1-12 months of rent back)
Section 21 served after a complaint: almost certainly invalid; consult Shelter / Citizens Advice
EPC F or G: Trading Standards complaint, council fine up to £5,000

Check this address before you sign the tenancy

Damp risk from EPC, landlord compliance (EICR, deposit, HMO), fair rent vs local median, full monthly bills, broadband, noise. £4.99, instant PDF.

✓Damp + mould risk✓Landlord compliance✓Fair rent check✓PDF in 60 seconds

Run the £4.99 Renter Report on your tenancy

All 6 compliance checks + damp risk + fair rent + full bills. One PDF, instant.