What is the private rented sector landlord ombudsman?

It is a new complaints service for private tenants in England, created under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Joining will be compulsory for nearly all private landlords, which the government expects from 2028.

The government says private renters frequently struggle to get adequate redress when they complain about hazards. The new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman is meant to give them an independent route that is less adversarial and costly than going to court. This page sets out what is known as at 16 October 2026. It is general information for landlords in England. For your own case, check GOV.UK or get help from a solicitor or housing adviser.

Where it stands

The roadmap describes two stages. First the government picks a scheme administrator, at least 12 to 18 months before landlords must join, so it has time to scale up. Then membership becomes compulsory, which it expects in 2028 once the Secretary of State is confident the service is ready.

What it will do

The ombudsman will investigate complaints from prospective, current and former tenants about their landlord's actions or behaviour, including standards and repairs. A complaint is decided by an independent individual. The Act says the scheme must be able to require a landlord to:

• give an apology or explanation
• pay compensation
• take other action in the tenant's interests

The scheme rules must also allow time for the landlord to put things right before a complaint is accepted. Complaints about breaking any code of practice for landlords issued or approved by the Secretary of State must be covered. Once Awaab's Law reaches private lets, tenants could use the ombudsman as an alternative to court for missed repair deadlines.

What the Act lets the rules require

The regulations can require you to be a member before you market a home to let, to give the scheme information about your lettings, and to stay a member for a set period after you stop letting. Councils will be able to fine up to £7,000 for breaching the membership rules. Carrying on more than 28 days after a penalty, or a different breach within 5 years, is an offence: councils can fine up to £40,000 for it, or it can be prosecuted. These penalties cannot be used until the membership regulations are made and the offence provisions are brought into force.

What this means for you

There is nothing to join yet. The Housing Ombudsman Service runs a voluntary scheme now for landlords who are not required to join it, at £9.64 per unit for 2026-27, but it says its application form is not an application for the new ombudsman, and its membership team cannot answer questions about it.

Your timetable as a landlord in England looks like this:

Say you let 3 flats and handle tenants yourself. A written complaints process, with dates, will help you resolve problems before they reach the ombudsman, and show what you did if one does.

Steps to get ready

1. Register each property on the landlord database by your region's deadline. Our guide on how to register on the PRS database covers it, and the register deadline checker gives your date.
2. Write down how tenants should raise a complaint and how fast you will reply.
3. Keep a dated record of every complaint, repair request and what you did.
4. Expect to pay towards the ombudsman once membership starts. The amount is not known yet.
5. Watch GOV.UK for the regulations and the joining date, and join when told to.

The landlord section has more on the Renters' Rights Act. The free MTD check shows when Making Tax Digital starts for you.