Dorset is part of South West
Landlord register deadline in Dorset
Register by 14 November 2027
Registration opens on 15 August 2027, in 289 days. You can register early from 15 December 2026.
Email me before 14 November 2027
Subject to Parliament: the register's regulations were laid before Parliament on 9 September 2026 and still need approval. The dates and the £65 fee come from the government's announcements and could change. The draft regulations.
South West is the last of 9 English regions to register. See every region's dates.
How many rented homes in Dorset need registering?
Dorset had 27,612 privately rented homes at the 2021 Census, 16% of households, below England's 20%. That's the 7th lowest of 27 councils in South West. Each of those homes needs registering by 14 November 2027.
The average private rent in Dorset was £1,059 a month in September 2026, below the South West average of £1,251. It's the 13th most expensive of 26 councils in South West. Rents rose 4.2% over the year, against 4.2% across the region.
| 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms | 4 or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed £733 | 2 bed £969 | 3 bed £1,194 | 4+ bed £1,688 |
At that rent, the £65 yearly register fee works out at about 2 days' rent per property.
Of homes in Dorset with an EPC, 51% are rated C or above, below England's 53% and the 13th most efficient of 27 councils in South West. About 5 in 10 are D or below and would need work if the proposed EPC C rule for 2030 becomes law. EPC rules for landlords.
Sources: ONS Census 2021 (tenure), ONS Price Index of Private Rents, ONS EPC data for EPCs lodged in the 10 years to March 2025, all tenures.
Renting in Dorset? Check a rent increase against local rents, or see your rights as a renter.
Does Dorset have landlord licensing?
No. We found no selective or additional licensing in Dorset, checked 30 Oct 2026. Only larger HMOs need a licence.
What fines can Dorset give landlords?
Dorset can fine landlords who aren't registered once the deadline passes on 14 November 2027: up to £7,000, or £40,000 for false information or repeat breaches. How fines and enforcement work.
Dorset's civil penalty policy
Updated for the Renters' Rights Act, so it already sets out how Dorset will fine landlords under the new rules.
Get an email before your deadline
One email when registration opens for your area, then 30 and 7 days before the deadline. Nothing else.
Questions landlords ask
When do landlords in Dorset have to register?
By 14 November 2027. Properties in Dorset follow the South West timetable, which opens on 15 August 2027. The deadline follows the property, so it applies wherever you live.
Do I need a licence to rent out a property in Dorset?
Only for larger HMOs, as far as we've found. We haven't recorded a selective or additional licensing scheme in Dorset, so the national mandatory HMO licence (5 or more people from 2 or more households) is the one to check.
Has Dorset updated its fines policy for the Renters' Rights Act?
Yes. Dorset's Policy for Civil Penalties Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and Other Housing Legislation (adopted 29 July 2026) covers the Renters' Rights Act, including the landlord register.
What is the average rent in Dorset?
£1,059 a month in September 2026, according to the ONS. A two-bedroom home averaged £969. The £65 yearly register fee is about 2 days' average rent.
Councils like Dorset
Dorset's nearest matches in South West on rent and the share of homes rented privately. All share the 14 November 2027 deadline.
- South Hams £1,014 a month
- Wiltshire £1,091 a month
- Somerset £1,021 a month
- Stroud £1,047 a month
- East Devon £977 a month
- Tewkesbury £1,106 a month