Do company lets and student accommodation need registering?

A let to a company is not an assured tenancy, so the owner does not register for it, but a company that lets to individuals must. Most purpose-built student halls are outside the register, while ordinary student houses and flats are in scope.

The detail

• An assured tenancy has to be to an individual, so a let to a company is not one. If the company then lets the home to individuals on assured tenancies, the company is their landlord and must register.

  Note: The register rules do not mention this by name. This follows from tenancy law, because the register covers landlords of assured and regulated tenancies only. The government could widen it later.

  Source: Housing Act 1988, section 1 (assured tenancies) (opens in a new tab). Last checked 21 October 2026.

• Most purpose-built student accommodation run by a university or college, or by a provider signed up to a government-approved code, cannot be an assured tenancy, so it is outside the register. Ordinary student houses and flats let on assured tenancies must be registered.

  Note: The register rules do not mention this by name. This follows from tenancy law, because the register covers landlords of assured and regulated tenancies only. The government could widen it later.

  Sources: Housing Act 1988, Schedule 1 (tenancies which cannot be assured) (opens in a new tab); Assured periodic tenancies: a guide for landlords (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab). Last checked 21 October 2026.

• The duty to register applies to private landlords of assured tenancies and regulated (Rent Act 1977) tenancies in England. Social housing is not included.

  Sources: Renters' Rights Act 2025, section 63 (who counts as a residential landlord) (opens in a new tab); Get ready: 'Register your rental property' service (government Housing Hub) (opens in a new tab). Last checked 21 October 2026.

Check your deadline by postcode or see what you need to have ready.

Other questions

• Do I need to register an empty property?
• Can my letting agent register my property for me?
• How much does it cost to register a rental property?
• What happens if I don't register my rental property?
• Is my deadline based on where I live or where the property is?
• Can I register before my region's date?
• Does the register cover Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland?
• Do I need to register an HMO?
• We own the property jointly. Who has to register?
• Do I need to register if I rent a room to a lodger?
• Do holiday lets and Airbnb need to be registered?
• Do I register once, or for every property?
• I live abroad. Do I still need to register?
• When does my registration need renewing?
• Do I need to register a regulated (Rent Act) tenancy?
• What happens to my registration if I sell or stop letting?