Legislation – Renters’ Rights Act 2025
Part 2Residential landlords
Chapter 3The Private Rented Sector Database
Landlord and dwelling entries
81Fees for landlord and dwelling entries
(1)
This section applies where regulations under section 77 or 79 require payment of a fee.
(2)
The regulations must—
(a)
specify the amount or amounts of the fee, or
(b)
provide for the amount or amounts of the fee to be determined by the database operator by reference to such of the relevant costs as may be specified in the regulations.
(3)
The amount or amounts specified in the regulations under subsection (2)(a) may be calculated by reference to the relevant costs.
(4)
The “relevant costs” are the costs (whether or not connected with a fee-payer) that are incurred in or associated with, or likely to be incurred in or associated with—
(a)
the establishment and operation of the database;
(b)
the enforcement of requirements imposed by or under this Chapter;
(c)
the performance of any other functions under this Chapter;
(d)
the enforcement of any other requirements imposed by or under this Act or otherwise in relation to the private rented sector.
(5)
The amount or amounts specified in the regulations under subsection (2)(a) or determined in accordance with subsection (2)(b) may, in the case of a fee charged for an entry in the database to become active again after becoming inactive as a result of provision made by virtue of section 79(2)(a), be higher than the fee that would otherwise be charged had the entry remained active.
(6)
The fees are to be payable to the database operator by such persons and in such circumstances as the regulations may provide.
(7)
The Secretary of State may direct the database operator to pay to local housing authorities or into the Consolidated Fund the amount it receives in respect of the fees it charges, or any part of that amount.
(8)
If the Secretary of State is the database operator—
(a)
subsection (7) does not apply, and
(b)
the Secretary of State may pay to local housing authorities the amount it receives in respect of fees it charges, or any part of that amount.
(9)
For the purposes of this section—
requirements “in relation to the private rented sector” means requirements relating to—
(a)
residential premises in England that are let, or intended to be let, under a tenancy;
(b)
the common parts of such premises;
(c)
the activities of a landlord under a tenancy of residential premises in England;
(d)
the activities of a superior landlord in relation to such a tenancy;
(e)
the activities of a person carrying on English letting agency work within the meaning of section 54 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 in relation to such premises;
(f)
the activities of a person carrying on English property management work within the meaning of section 55 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 in relation to such premises;
“residential premises” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Housing Act 2004 except that it does not include social housing within the meaning of Part 2 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008;
“tenancy” includes a licence to occupy.