Landlords face having their private financial information and rental history exposed to public scrutiny under controversial proposals put forward by Generation Rent for the forthcoming national landlord database.

Although the Government has confirmed the proposed database, which forms part of the Renters’ Rights Bill, will include basic landlord and property details, Generation Rent is demanding it goes much further.

It says the database should include landlords’ contact details, copies of safety certificates, records of any previous eviction notices, the exact amount of rent they are charging on all their properties and the details of any past enforcement actions or deposit disputes.

Unprecedented levels of transparency

The group argues this unprecedented level of transparency is necessary to prevent misuse of the rules and will allow renters to identify cases where landlords may have attempted to “exploit loopholes.”

In its survey of private renters, which was conducted in April 2025, Generation Rent claims 93% of participants said additional information about potential homes would help them make better decisions and 66% stated it would help them ‘greatly.’ The group insists this therefore justifies their extensive disclosure demands.

Under government plans already announced, landlords will face penalties of up to £7,000 for failing to register before marketing or letting a property, with fines rising to £40,000 for repeated breaches. The database will be accessible to tenants, local authorities and enforcement agencies.

We are committed to raising standards and driving rogue landlords out of the sector, but this must be balanced with landlords’ right to privacy.”

While industry bodies like the National Residential Landlords Association have broadly supported measures to raise standards, concerns remain about the proportionality of information disclosure and landlords’ right to privacy.

Meera Chindooroy, Deputy Director for Campaigns, Public Affairs and Policy at the NRLA, says: “We are committed to raising standards and driving rogue landlords out of the sector, but this must be balanced with landlords’ right to privacy.

“The database should be implemented in a way that doesn’t create unnecessary bureaucracy for responsible landlords.”

The Government has not yet specifically addressed Generation Rent’s demands, but the group says it will continue to campaign to “make sure that the database is as powerful and as useful for renters in England as possible.”