PRS Database (Property Portal) Readiness Checklist for UK Landlords — 2026

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduces a mandatory Property Portal (the PRS Database) for every privately rented home in England. Here is the 8-point checklist landlords should run today, and the documents you'll need ready before MHCLG opens registration.

<pThe <strongRenters' Rights Act 2025</strong creates a statutory <strongProperty Portal</strong — often called the <strongPRS Database</strong — that every private landlord in England will have to register on before they can let a property. Under the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renters-rights-act-2025-implementation-roadmap" target="blank" rel="noopener"GOV.UK Implementation Roadmap</a, the Property Portal is a <strongPhase 2</strong measure with a regional rollout expected from <stronglate 2026</strong onwards. Operating an unregistered property after the live date will be a civil offence carrying financial penalties.</p

<pThe full specification hasn't been published yet, but the Act and the consultation papers make clear what data the portal will require. This checklist mirrors the <a href="/property-portal-readiness"free Property Portal Readiness audit</a built into LetSentry, so you can fix the gaps now rather than scramble later.</p

<h2The 8-point PRS Database readiness checklist</h2

<h31. Gas Safety Certificate (CP12)</h3 <pA current, in-date <strongLandlord's Gas Safety Record</strong issued by a Gas Safe registered engineer is required for any property with gas appliances. The portal will almost certainly require the certificate reference, issue date and expiry. <a href="/gas-safety-guide"In-depth gas safety guide →</a</p

<h32. Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)</h3 <pAn EICR must be carried out at least every <strong5 years</strong and rated <emSatisfactory</em. Any C1, C2 or FI codes must be remedied within 28 days. <a href="/eicr-guide"EICR guide →</a</p

<h33. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)</h3 <pYou need a valid EPC with a minimum rating of <strongE</strong under the current <emMinimum Energy Efficiency Standards</em. <a href="/mees-guide"MEES guide →</a</p

<h34. Smoke &amp; Carbon Monoxide alarms</h3 <pWorking smoke alarms on <strongevery storey</strong, and a CO alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (other than a gas cooker). Test on the first day of every tenancy and log it. <a href="/smoke-co-alarm-guide"Alarm rules guide →</a</p

<h35. Active tenancy registered</h3 <pThe portal is expected to require the current tenancy's start date, parties and the property's occupancy status. If you're between tenants, the property must still be on the portal — it just won't have an active tenancy line.</p

<h36. Deposit protection</h3 <pIf you take a deposit, it must be lodged with <strongDPS</strong, <strongMyDeposits</strong or <strongTDS</strong within <strong30 days</strong, and the Prescribed Information served on the tenant. Since Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026, missing or late deposit protection no longer affects a Section 21 notice — but it can prevent reliance on Ground 1 / Ground 1A under Section 8 and will flag on the portal once it goes live. <a href="/deposit-protection-guide"Deposit protection guide →</a</p

<h37. Full property address (UPRN-ready)</h3 <pSounds obvious — but the portal will key off a <strongUnique Property Reference Number (UPRN)</strong derived from your full address line, town and postcode. Half-filled address records will fail validation. Check every property has line 1, town and postcode populated.</p

<h38. HMO status declared</h3 <pIf the property is an HMO — and especially a <stronglicensable HMO</strong (5+ unrelated occupants forming 2+ households) — that needs to be flagged. Local authority licensing records will likely be cross-referenced. <a href="/hmo-licensing-guide"HMO licensing guide →</a</p

<h2What the portal almost certainly won't require</h2 <ul <liYour <emtenants'</em personal data beyond names and tenancy dates (Right to Rent stays separate).</li <liBank or payment details — the portal is a compliance register, not a payments system.</li <liPhotographs of the property.</li </ul

<h2Penalties for non-compliance</h2 <pThe Act allows civil penalties of up to <strong£7,000</strong for failing to register, and up to <strong£40,000</strong or criminal prosecution for repeat or serious breaches. Local authorities will be the enforcement body and can retain the penalties to fund enforcement teams.</p

<h2How to audit your portfolio in 60 seconds</h2 <pLetSentry's free <a href="/property-portal-readiness"<strongProperty Portal Readiness checker</strong</a runs all 8 checks across every property in your portfolio and shows you the missing items per property, with direct links to fix them. A portfolio-wide score updates as you upload certificates and complete tenancy details.</p

<pThe same checklist is now pinned to your <a href="/"dashboard</a so missing items surface the moment you log in.</p

<h2What to do this week</h2 <ol <liRun the readiness audit and note any red (blocker) items.</li <liBook any expiring Gas Safety or EICR inspections.</li <liUpload missing EPCs — order new ones for any rated F or G immediately.</li <liConfirm every active deposit is in a scheme and Prescribed Information was served.</li <liVerify every property record has a complete address with postcode.</li </ol

<p<emThis article is general guidance, not legal advice. The PRS Database specification will be confirmed by Statutory Instrument under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 ahead of go-live; LetSentry will update the checklist as MHCLG publishes the final field list.</em</p

Sources: - https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3764 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-renters-rights-bill - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/1/contents/enacted

Published: 2026-05-17.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-30.

General summary; not legal advice.