If you let a home anywhere in Worcestershire or Herefordshire, you are in the first group of landlords in England who will have to sign up to the government's new "Register your rental property" service. It opens on 15 December 2026, starting with the West Midlands, and landlords there have until 14 March 2027 to register. Each property entry asks for copies of your safety certificates, so the paperwork you sort out now is what you will be uploading in December.
What has been confirmed
On 9 September 2026 the government announced the next phase of the Renters' Rights Act reforms. Its announcement says landlords in each region "will be gradually asked to sign up" and that registering "will be a legal requirement and risks a fine if not completed."
The key points from the announcement and the government's Housing Hub guidance are:
- The service launches on 15 December 2026, starting in the West Midlands and moving through the other regions over 12 months.
- When a region is called forward, landlords with properties there have three months to register. After that deadline, councils in the region can start enforcement.
- All landlords actively letting property must be registered by 14 November 2027.
- There is an annual fee of £65 per property, renewed each year. The government says the fee will be pro-rated during the rollout "so that those signing up first don't have to pay more."
- It applies to landlords of assured or regulated tenancies. Landlords of supported exempt accommodation are excluded.
The dates for our three counties
Worcestershire and Herefordshire are both in the West Midlands region, so they go first. Gloucestershire is in the South West, which is the last region in the rollout.
| Property in | Starts | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Worcestershire (West Midlands) | 15 Dec 2026 | 14 Mar 2027 |
| Herefordshire (West Midlands) | 15 Dec 2026 | 14 Mar 2027 |
| Gloucestershire (South West) | 15 Aug 2027 | 14 Nov 2027 |
The guidance is clear that the deadline follows the property, not where you live. If you live in Cheltenham but let a flat in Worcester or a cottage near Ledbury, those homes fall under the West Midlands deadline. You can also choose to register early, which may suit landlords with homes in more than one region who would rather do everything at once.
What each property entry asks for
You will need a GOV.UK One Login. For each home, the government lists details such as the address, the type of property, the number of bedrooms, occupants and households, any HMO or selective licence numbers, whether it is furnished, and the rent charged.
The part that catches people out is the health and safety section. According to the Housing Hub guidance, you should provide:
- Gas: if the home has a gas supply, a copy of the gas safety record and its issue date.
- Electrical: a copy of the EICR (or an appropriate Electrical Installation Certificate) and its expiry date.
- Energy: if you were required to give your current tenant an EPC, a copy of the most recent EPC. If it has since expired, you give the date the current tenancy started. If the rating is below the minimum standard, you say whether a minimum energy efficiency exemption is registered.
In other words, the register makes your certificates visible to your council. The government says that in future tenants will also be able to check whether a landlord is compliant with key legal requirements, although the exact public information has not yet been published.
Using a letting agent? You still have to start it
The guidance says landlords are responsible for starting and ending registration. An agent or property manager can upload certain information on your behalf, but "you as a landlord will remain responsible for providing all required information." If your agent holds your certificates, now is a good time to ask for copies and check the dates.
What about empty properties?
For now, you only need to register homes that are let, or that become let during the rollout. The government says future legislation will require empty properties to be registered before they are marketed, and adverts will then need to show the landlord and property registration numbers.
Local councils are already preparing
Councils across the two counties have been gearing up. Wychavon and Malvern Hills ran free drop-in sessions for private landlords on 13 and 14 October in Pershore and Malvern. Malvern Hills District Council said the sessions covered the new "Register your rental property" service alongside HMO licensing and property standards. Speaking to the Malvern Observer, Wychavon's Cllr Rick Deller said: "The changes to renting rules are significant, and we know many landlords will have questions about what they mean in practice."
In April, Worcester City Council welcomed £70,746 of government funding to support its role in enforcing the new renters' rights, saying it would mean more housing officers and help with "taking enforcement action against landlords who break the rules." Herefordshire Council has also reminded landlords that its Environmental Health team can inspect properties, issue improvement or emergency notices, and carry out works and recover the costs.
A simple plan for the next eight weeks
- List every let property and note which region it is in. Anything in Worcestershire or Herefordshire is due by 14 March 2027.
- Check each certificate date. Make sure the gas safety record, EICR and EPC are current and that you have copies you can upload.
- Book anything missing or close to expiry now, before the pre-Christmas rush and the January rush that will follow the launch.
- Gather tenancy and rent details and any licence numbers in one place.
- Set up your GOV.UK One Login ahead of 15 December.
Our PRS Database guide has the full regional timetable, and our landlord compliance checklist covers the wider legal basics, including smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
How Severn LetSafe helps
We arrange the certificates the register asks for across Worcester, Malvern, Pershore, Hereford and the rest of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, using vetted, independent registered engineers. Prices are a gas safety certificate for £70, an EICR from £140, an EPC for £70, and a smoke and CO alarm check for £15. Certificates are emailed to you, ready to upload. Our Register-Ready Pack (£249) covers gas, EICR and EPC for one standard home in a single booking. Book now.
Book now
Gas safety certificates £70 · EICRs from £140 · EPCs £70 · alarm checks £15 · Register-Ready Pack £249. Across Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
Book now See the serviceQuestions
When do Worcestershire and Herefordshire landlords have to register?
Both counties are in the West Midlands region, where the requirement starts on 15 December 2026. The government's published deadline to register is 14 March 2027.
When do Gloucestershire landlords have to register?
Gloucestershire is in the South West region, which is last in the rollout. The requirement starts on 15 August 2027 and the deadline is 14 November 2027. You can register earlier if you want to.
How much does registration cost?
The government says there is an annual fee of £65 per property, renewed each year. It says the fee will be pro-rated during the rollout so that early registrants do not pay more.
Which certificates do I need to upload?
Where the home has gas, a copy of the gas safety record and its issue date. A copy of the EICR (or EIC) and its expiry date. Where you had to give the tenant an EPC, a copy of the most recent EPC, plus details of any registered minimum energy efficiency exemption if it is rated below the minimum.
Does my deadline depend on where I live?
No. It depends on where the rental property is. A landlord living in Gloucester with a let house in Worcester must meet the West Midlands deadline for that house.
Do I need to register an empty property?
Not yet. The government says the requirement currently applies to properties that are let, or become let during the rollout. Future legislation will require empty properties to be registered before they are marketed.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: Stronger protections and greater confidence for renters (9 September 2026)
- GOV.UK Housing Hub: Get ready for the 'Register your rental property' service
- Malvern Hills District Council: Advice for landlords (free drop-in session, 14 October 2026)
- Malvern Observer: Wychavon offering free advice sessions to landlords (1 October 2026)
- Worcester City Council: Council Leader welcomes funding to boost renters' rights (30 April 2026)
- Herefordshire Council: Council's enforcement powers highlighted as new legislation for private rented accommodation comes into force (30 April 2026)
Checked 21 October 2026. General guidance for England, not legal advice. See also all regulations & official sources.
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