‘We will asses potential benefits and risks’ – Minister

With the new PRS landlord database due to begin roll-out next month, the government has admitted the information submitted could be shared with other agencies, including HMRC.

In a written answer to a Parliamentary question, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, said: “The government is considering how different agencies and organisations, including HM Revenue and Customs and local authorities, will be able to access the relevant data collected on the landlord registration service to support their statutory functions.

“We will carefully assess the potential benefits and risks to the different parties of sharing different data points and will ensure that any sharing of information is proportionate and is in accordance with data protection and landlord privacy rights.

“Details of the data sharing arrangements with other organisations will be set out in future legislation which will be announced after the initial rollout of the service is completed.

“Local authorities will have access to the full range of information in order to carry out relevant enforcement duties.”

The answer was in response to a question from Conservative MP Andrew Snowden.

Once landlords have registered on the database, letting agents will be able to update entries on the database on behalf of landlord clients.