The government has confirmed that just 51 rogue landlords and letting agents are listed on the official national database eight years after its launch. In response to a parliamentary question, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, revealed the Database of Rogue Landlords and Property Agents has only 51 active entries. The database, launched in 2018, is accessible only to councils and includes those who have received banning orders or multiple serious penalties. “The Database of Rogue Landlords and Property Agents has 51 active entries,” Baroness Taylor said. “The database does not distinguish between landlord and property agent entries.”
Need the wider database picture? Read Landlord Knowledge’s PRS Database guide for registration risk, enforcement concerns and the key compliance issues landlords should watch.
Enforcement remains patchy across England
The low figure raises questions about enforcement consistency across local authorities. This follows Landlord Knowledge’s reporting on how councils collect just 25 percent of landlord fines, with many penalties going unpaid as rogues dodge enforcement action. In 2019, the government consulted on extending the rogue landlord database to allow public access, but no response has been published. The Mayor of London operates a separate rogue landlord checker, but campaign group Generation Rent has noted that 14 of London’s 32 boroughs are not listed on that register – highlighting uneven enforcement even within the capital. The data also suggests the overwhelming majority of Britain’s 2.3 million private landlords operate within the law, despite frequent political rhetoric about widespread problems in the sector.
New PRS database will capture all landlords
Under the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force on 1 May, all landlords must register on a new Private Rented Sector database. Unlike the current rogue landlord register, this will be publicly accessible and include information about properties that tenants can view. Landlords who fail to register on the new PRS database or who advertise properties without registration will face civil penalties of up to £7,000. Those providing fraudulent information could be fined up to £40,000. The contrast between the two systems is stark. Where the current database relies on councils to add entries after serious enforcement action, the new register will require proactive compliance from every landlord – shifting the burden onto property owners rather than local authorities.
What this means for landlords
- If you’re compliant: The 51-entry figure shows the vast majority of landlords operate lawfully – but the new PRS database will still require your registration from 1 May
- Watch for: Registration requirements and deadlines for the mandatory PRS database once final guidance is published
- Bottom line: Low numbers on the rogue database suggest enforcement has been limited, but the RRA signals a shift toward proactive monitoring of all landlords
Editor’s view
Fifty-one entries in eight years tells us one of two things – either the overwhelming majority of landlords are compliant, or enforcement has been patchy at best. The answer is likely both. The new universal register marks a shift from reactive punishment to proactive oversight.
Author: Editorial Team – UK landlord & buy-to-let news, policy, and finance
Published: 30 March 2026
Sources: Parliamentary written question HL15220, Greater London Authority, Ministry of Housing
Related reading: Councils collect just 25% of landlord fines as rogues dodge penalties
📘 Renters’ Rights Act: Complete Landlord Guide
Everything you need to know about the new rules – 1 May 2026
