Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Property118. Read the original article for full details.

Property118: PRS Database Fee Could Add Around £6 a Month to Rents

Property118 has published a commentary arguing that a new government charge, a £65-a-year fee for each property registered on the PRS Database, is likely to be passed on to tenants through higher rents.

The site states that landlords would need a rent increase of around £6 per month just to cover the new annual registration fee, and frames the charge as a cost created by rules intended to protect tenants.

What the report says

Writing directly to tenants, the Property118 piece describes the £65-a-year, per-property registration fee as "yet another charge" introduced by the government under rules meant to protect renters. It argues the practical effect will be a rent increase of roughly £6 per month to cover the cost.

The article also questions the duplication of information requirements, stating that the information needed for the property database is already held by the council for selective licensing purposes.

Why it matters for agents and clerks

For UK letting agents and inventory clerks, the report highlights two points worth monitoring: the introduction of a per-property PRS Database registration fee, and the suggestion that database requirements may overlap with information already collected under selective licensing schemes. Agents operating in selective licensing areas may wish to follow the debate over whether these requirements can be simplified.

The Property AI Newsroom has not independently verified the figures cited and presents them as reported by Property118. Readers should consult the original article for the full argument and any subsequent official guidance on PRS Database fees.