The UK private rented sector is entering a new era of regulation. For landlords, the next 12–18 months are set to bring significant changes to the way rental properties are registered, managed and reported. From the introduction of the new Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database and changes to rent review processes, to HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) requirements, landlords will face more administration and greater responsibility for keeping accurate records and meeting regulatory deadlines. For landlords who self-manage their properties, keeping on top of these changes can quickly become time-consuming and difficult to navigate. At Castle Homes, our role goes beyond finding tenants.

Our Fully Managed Property Management Service is designed to take the day-to-day responsibility, administration and compliance burden away from landlords, helping you stay organised and prepared as the regulatory landscape changes. Here’s what landlords need to know about three key changes and how a fully managed service can help.

1. The New PRS Database: Registering Your Rental Property

One of the major upcoming changes is the introduction of a mandatory national Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database, known as “Register your rental property.”

Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, landlords of qualifying privately rented properties in England will be required to register their properties.

This means landlords will need to provide detailed information about themselves and their rental properties and ensure their records remain accurate and up to date.

When will landlords need to register?

The registration service is scheduled to open on 15 December 2026, with the rollout taking place region by region.

Importantly, the deadline is determined by where the rental property is located, rather than where the landlord lives.

Important: If you own properties across different regions, each property will be subject to the relevant regional registration deadline.

What information will landlords need to provide?

Registration will involve providing detailed information, which may include:

Landlord details: Full name, date of birth and residential or company address.
Property and tenancy information: Property address, number of rooms, ownership details, rent amount, payment frequency and number of tenants.
Licensing information: Details of any applicable local authority licences.
Compliance information: Relevant EPCs, Gas Safety Certificates, EICRs and other required documentation.

There is also a mandatory statutory registration fee of £65 per property per year, based on the information provided.

What happens if you don't register?

Failure to comply with the registration requirements could result in significant financial penalties. Serious or repeated breaches may result in fines of up to £40,000, while non-compliance could also affect a landlord's ability to use certain possession procedures through the courts.

For landlords with multiple properties, keeping track of registration dates, documentation and property information could become a substantial administrative task.

How can Castle Homes help?

For our Fully Managed landlords, Castle Homes intends to handle the end-to-end PRS registration process on your behalf, subject to any Government restrictions, requirements and processes that are announced.

We already maintain compliance records for the properties we manage, helping ensure the necessary information is organised and readily available when registration is required.

Our aim is simple: you shouldn't have to spend your evenings working out which property needs to be registered and when.

2. Rent Reviews and the Move Towards VOA Valuations

Another important change for landlords concerns the way statutory rent reviews and appeals are handled.

The Government has announced plans for jurisdiction over statutory rent reviews and appeals to move away from tribunal courts and transfer to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

The exact implementation date is still to be confirmed.

What could this mean for landlords?

Under the new system, landlords may need to provide robust evidence to support proposed rent increases, including appropriate market evidence and comparable rental information.

This makes it increasingly important for landlords to understand the local rental market and ensure that rent reviews are handled correctly.

Simply increasing the rent without considering comparable properties, market conditions and the relevant legal requirements could create unnecessary disputes.

How Castle Homes can help

Our Fully Managed Service includes professional rent review support.

We monitor local rental markets and comparable properties to help ensure rents remain competitive while protecting the rental income potential of your investment.

When a rent review is required, our team can manage the process on your behalf, including the relevant notices and communication with your tenant.

The result? A professional, evidence-led approach without you having to deal with the administration yourself.

3. Making Tax Digital: Preparing for New HMRC Requirements

Tax reporting is also changing.

Under Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, affected landlords will need to maintain digital financial records and submit information to HMRC through approved software rather than relying solely on an annual tax return.

For landlords managing their own properties, this could mean regularly recording:

Rental income
Maintenance costs
Contractor invoices
Property expenses
Receipts
Other allowable expenditure

Trying to keep everything updated manually can quickly become a burden, particularly for landlords with several properties.

Introducing Nexus by Landlord Studio

To make this process easier for our Fully Managed landlords, Castle Homes has partnered with Landlord Studio to offer Nexus, a digital tax management solution designed to help landlords organise their property finances.

Nexus provides:

Automated income and expense syncing – Rent collected and expenses managed by Castle Homes can flow into your digital tax records.
A centralised hub – Keep receipts, invoices and financial documents organised in one place.
HMRC-recognised submissions – Submit required updates directly to HMRC using approved software.
Accountant integration – Give your accountant or tax adviser access to the relevant information.
Affordable pricing – £12 per month + VAT or £120 per year + VAT, including a 14-day free trial.

Less paperwork. Less chasing. Less stress.

Because Castle Homes records rental income and property expenses as part of our Fully Managed Service, the information needed for digital tax reporting can be much easier to organise.

Instead of spending hours maintaining spreadsheets and searching for receipts, landlords can have their property finances managed through a dedicated digital system.

It's another way we make being a landlord simpler.

Why Are More Landlords Choosing Fully Managed Property Management?

Being a landlord has always involved more than collecting rent.

Today, landlords need to stay on top of legislation, compliance certificates, licensing requirements, tenant communication, maintenance, rent reviews and financial records.

As regulation becomes more complex, the risks associated with getting something wrong can increase too.

That's where professional property management can make a real difference.

With Castle Homes Fully Managed, you benefit from:

🛡️ Compliance Management
We keep track of important requirements such as EPCs, Gas Safety Certificates, EICRs and applicable property licences.

📋 PRS Registration Support
We intend to manage the registration process for Fully Managed landlords, subject to the final Government requirements and processes.

📊 Digital Tax Management
Our Nexus solution helps streamline the organisation of rental income and property expenses for MTD reporting.

🔧 Maintenance & Tenant Management
From routine repairs to tenant queries and emergencies, our team manages the day-to-day responsibilities of your property.

💰 Professional Rent Reviews
We monitor local market conditions and comparable properties to help ensure your rental income remains competitive.

⏰ Time Back for You
Perhaps most importantly, you don't have to spend your evenings dealing with tenant issues, paperwork, compliance dates and property administration.

Is Now the Right Time to Switch to Fully Managed?

For landlords who currently self-manage their properties, the upcoming reforms are a good opportunity to review how their portfolio is being managed.

You may have started with one property and found that managing it yourself was straightforward. But as your portfolio grows, and as regulation becomes more demanding, the time and responsibility involved can quickly increase.

A professional property management service gives you access to a team that deals with these responsibilities every day.

At Castle Homes, we don't simply manage properties. We help landlords protect their investment, reduce the administrative burden and stay prepared for what's coming next.

Already a Castle Homes Landlord?

If you're already using our Fully Managed Service, we'll contact you ahead of your property's regional PRS registration window with further information about the registration process.

If you would like to use Nexus for your MTD tax reporting, simply reply to our latest email or contact our team for more information.

Thinking About Switching Property Management Agents?

Whether you currently self-manage your rental properties or you're considering changing letting agents, now is a great time to review your current arrangements.

Let Castle Homes take the weight off your shoulders.

Our team can provide a free, no-obligation Portfolio Health Check, giving you the opportunity to review your current compliance position, discuss our Fully Managed Service and understand how we could help you manage your portfolio more efficiently.

Ready to make landlord life easier?

Get in touch with Castle Homes today.

📞 Call us: 03301248889
✉️ Email: info@castlehomesproperty.co.uk
🌐 Website: www.castlehomesproperty.co.uk

Castle Homes Property Management. Less stress. More confidence.