What is confirmed and what is not
| Item | Position at 28 Sep 2026 | Source |
|---|
| Legal duty to join | Created by the Act; applies to landlords of assured and regulated tenancies | GOV.UK guide |
| Start date | Expected 2028, after the database is introduced | Implementation roadmap (Nov 2025) |
| Fee | Not set. Expected to be "a small annual fee per PRS property" | GOV.UK guide |
| Penalty for not joining | Up to £7,000; up to £40,000 or prosecution for repeat breaches | GOV.UK guide |
| Operator | Not announced | — |
Be careful with any site selling "ombudsman registration" today. There is nothing to join yet. We will update this page when the government announces the scheme.
Landlord ombudsman UK: how it fits with other schemes
- Landlord database comes first: 15 December 2026 to 14 November 2027 by region. Register your rental property
- Letting agents already have to belong to a redress scheme; that continues.
- Deposit disputes go to your deposit scheme's free dispute service, not the ombudsman. Deposit protection
- Rent disputes about a section 13 increase go to the First-tier Tribunal.
What to do now
- Set up a simple complaints process: an email address, a log, and reply times.
- Keep records of repairs requests and pet requests (you must reply to a pet request within 28 days).
- Prepare for the database in your region; the ombudsman will follow it.
Questions landlords ask
Is there a rental ombudsman for private landlords?
Not yet for private landlords in general. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 creates a Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman that all private landlords of assured or regulated tenancies will have to join. The government’s roadmap expects membership to become mandatory in 2028, after the landlord database.
How much will the landlord ombudsman cost?
No fee has been announced. The GOV.UK guide says it is expected to be a small annual fee per property, set by the ombudsman service. Figures quoted elsewhere are unofficial.
What will the landlord ombudsman do?
Handle tenants’ complaints about their landlord, including complaints about unreasonable refusal of pet requests, and require landlords to put things right. The GOV.UK guide says tenants can escalate some disputes to it.
What happens if a landlord does not join?
The GOV.UK guide says councils can fine landlords up to £7,000 for an initial breach, and up to £40,000 or prosecute for repeat breaches.
Is this the same as the Property Ombudsman or the Housing Ombudsman?
No. Letting agents already have to belong to a redress scheme (The Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme). The Housing Ombudsman covers social landlords. The new service is for private landlords themselves.
Sources
Last checked 28 Sep 2026. Information, not legal advice. Official pages change; follow the source link before you act.