October 2026 is preparation time for Solihull landlords – whether you own a terraced house in Shirley, a flat in Olton or a family home in Cheswick Green. The December PRS database launch is ahead, followed by the West Midlands registration deadline in March.
The PRS database launches on 15 December 2026, with the West Midlands first in the regional rollout. It is not live in October. Covered rented properties across Solihull and the surrounding West Midlands areas must be registered by the regional deadline.
Here’s everything you need to know – and exactly what to do before the deadline.
What is the PRS database?
The PRS database is a national landlord and property register introduced under the Renters’ Rights Act. It covers assured and regulated tenancies, subject to exemptions; the initial rollout concerns properties currently let or becoming let during the rollout period.
The West Midlands is the first rollout region. Registration opens in December; use October to prepare rather than assuming registration is already due.
Once the database goes live on 15 December 2026, you’ll have until 14 March 2027 to complete your registration. That’s a relatively short window, so it’s worth getting ahead of it now rather than leaving it to the last minute.
Why this matters more than you might think
It’s easy to file this under ‘admin’ to deal with later. ‘Don’t.
The consequences of failing to register aren’t just financial – though the penalties are serious enough. Non-compliant landlords can face fines of up to £40,000 for repeat offences.
Database compliance will matter for possession as the relevant rules take effect. Do not assume non-registration simply prevents serving every Section 8 notice: the statutory conditions concern possession orders on specified grounds and include exceptions. Obtain advice on the ground, commencement rules and registration status before beginning proceedings.
Accurate registration records will support compliance, but they do not replace valid possession grounds, correct notice or a court order where the tenant remains.
For landlords in Solihull managing one property or an entire portfolio across Shirley and Wythall, this is a non-negotiable compliance step.
What you’ll need to register
Registration will use the government’s service when it opens. In October, prepare the following information for each covered property so you can follow the official process at launch:
Property details
You’ll need to provide the full address and basic details of each rental property you own. If you manage multiple properties across areas like Acocks Green, Sheldon or Hall Green, you’ll need to submit information for each one individually.
Compliance documents
For each property, you’ll need to upload:
- A valid Gas Safety certificate (required annually for any property with gas appliances)
- An EICR or appropriate Electrical Installation Certificate, with the expiry date; inspections are generally at least every five years, or sooner if the report requires
- The applicable EPC information and certificate, including any registered MEES exemption where the rating is below the current minimum
Review missing or expired records now. Requirements differ where there is no gas supply or an exemption applies; follow the published service instructions rather than assuming every property needs an identical certificate set.
The cost
Registration costs £65 per property, per year. For landlords with larger portfolios – say, five properties across Solihull and the surrounding areas – that’s £325 annually. Factor this into your running costs now.
What letting agents can and can’t do
This is a point of genuine confusion, and it’s worth being clear.
Landlords must start and finish registration themselves and remain responsible for providing all required information. Agents can support them and provide certain information on their behalf under the service’s permitted process.
Agree on what your agent will prepare, then follow the official agent-access guidance published before launch. Do not assume a particular account-sharing or authorisation process before those instructions are available.
If you’re unsure how this works in practice, speak to the team at Hunters Solihull. They can walk you through the process and help ensure your documents are in order before you submit.
How to register: a step-by-step overview
When the portal opens on 15 December 2026, here’s the process you’ll follow:
Step 1: create your account
Prepare to use GOV.UK One Login and follow the service’s identity and account instructions when it opens.
Step 2: add your properties
Enter the details for each rental property you own. This includes the full address and basic property information.
Step 3: upload your compliance documents
Provide the applicable gas, electrical and EPC records under the official service instructions. Agents may supply certain information through the permitted process; keep your personal sign-in credentials private.
Step 4: pay the registration fee
Budget for the annual £65 fee per property. Fees will be adjusted during rollout for early registrants; follow the service’s payment and renewal instructions.
Step 5: keep your details up to date
If you acquire new properties, change agents, or your compliance certificates are renewed, update the database accordingly. Keeping your record current is part of your ongoing legal obligation.
What Solihull landlords should do right now
You’ve got time – but not much margin for error. Here’s how to use it wisely.
Start by auditing your compliance documents for every property you own. Check expiry dates on your Gas Safety certificates and EICRs in particular, as these have fixed renewal windows. If anything is due to expire before March 2027, book the relevant inspection now.
Landlords across Shirley, Olton and Cheswick Green who use a managing agent should have a conversation with them about the authorisation process. Agree now who will be uploading documents once the portal is live, so there’s no confusion in December.
If you own properties across multiple postcodes – for example, a mix of Solihull and Wythall addresses – remember that each property needs its own registration and its own set of documents.
How Hunters Solihull can help
Hunters Solihull works with landlords across the area every day – from single-property landlords to those managing larger portfolios across Acocks Green, Hall Green, Sheldon and beyond.
The team can help you organise property information and compliance documents and flag renewals. Landlords remain responsible for starting and finishing registration, with agents able to supply certain information through the service’s permitted process.
Staying compliant isn’t just about avoiding fines. It’s about protecting your investment and your ability to manage your tenancy effectively under the new legal framework.
Don’t wait until December
The 15 December 2026 launch date will come around quickly. Landlords who leave their compliance documents to the last minute risk scrambling to book Gas Safety checks or EICRs at short notice – and inspectors get busy fast.
The landlords who’ll navigate this change most smoothly are the ones acting now: auditing their documents, speaking to their agents, and making sure everything is in place well before the deadline.
If you’re a landlord in Solihull, Shirley, Olton, Cheswick Green, Sheldon, Hall Green, Acocks Green or Wythall, now is the time to get ahead of this.
Get in touch with the team at Hunters Solihull today to talk through your compliance position and make sure you’re ready for the West Midlands PRS database launch.
Book a valuation for your rental property and find out how Hunters Solihull can help you manage your portfolio with confidence – here to get you there.
