A prominent think tank is calling on the government to introduce a £46 annual fee for landlords to be included in a new mandatory database. This registry is part of a wider package of reforms proposed under the Renters’ Rights Bill, which is expected to be rolled out in the near future.
The proposal comes from the New Economics Foundation (NEF), which argues that the fee would be a small but vital contribution to improving enforcement in the private rented sector. The organisation suggests that local councils, which will be granted access to this database, are already under considerable pressure and lack sufficient resources to effectively regulate housing standards.
Introducing a modest annual fee paid by landlords could make a big difference. According to the NEF, the £46 charge could fund enough staffing to ensure that no single enforcement officer would be responsible for overseeing more than 1,000 properties. This would significantly lighten the load for local authorities.
The foundation believes that this funding model would not only improve enforcement but also come at minimal cost to landlords. In fact, they estimate that the annual charge would reduce landlord yields by less than 0.03 percentage points—even in areas with the lowest average rents.
Such a small cost, they argue, is a fair trade-off for the improvement in housing quality and safety it would help bring about. The NEF stresses that tenants across the country are being forced to live in poor conditions because councils lack the capacity to monitor and enforce existing housing rules.
At present, enforcement levels vary drastically between local authorities. In some areas, landlords are barely monitored due to extreme staff shortages. In Huntingdonshire, for example, a single officer may be responsible for overseeing nearly 25,000 privately rented properties.
On the other hand, cities like Nottingham represent what’s possible when councils are better resourced. There, one officer is assigned to approximately 267 properties—a far more manageable number that allows for regular checks and faster responses to tenant complaints.
These regional disparities mean that some tenants enjoy a far better level of protection and housing quality than others. The NEF claims that this “postcode lottery” in enforcement leaves many renters vulnerable, especially in areas where council oversight is stretched thin.
In areas with inadequate enforcement, problems like black mould, damp, pest infestations, and other health hazards are often left unaddressed for long periods. Without consistent inspections or the means to take action, local authorities are unable to uphold basic housing standards.
According to the NEF, the situation is not just bad for tenants—it also tarnishes the reputation of responsible landlords who do play by the rules. The proposed landlord database, if well-funded and managed, could help separate good landlords from rogue operators.
Christian Jaccarini, a senior economist at the New Economics Foundation, said that too many tenants are living in dangerous, insecure conditions while irresponsible landlords go unchecked. He believes the solution lies in empowering councils to properly enforce existing laws.
Jaccarini added that the £46 registration fee is a practical step forward. He likened the cost to the price of a meal for two, stating that for such a small outlay, councils could finally provide a consistent level of enforcement across the country.
He also noted that there is widespread support for such a registry, not just among renters but among landlords and local authorities too. More than half of landlords surveyed believe the private rental sector needs tighter regulation to weed out bad actors and raise standards.
The proposed landlord register is intended to form part of a broader private rented sector database being introduced by the government. If implemented properly, it could serve as a powerful tool for both tenants and councils to track, regulate, and improve rental housing.
Ultimately, the NEF sees the landlord fee as a fair and sensible investment that could have a significant impact on the lives of millions of renters. With better enforcement and clearer oversight, the hope is to make decent, safe housing the standard—not the exception—in the UK’s rental market.
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