Right to rent

Before renting out their property, all private landlords in England are required to check new tenants have the right to be in the UK.

Right to rent was introduced in the Immigration Act 2014 as part of the government’s reforms to build a fairer and more effective immigration system.

The law means that private landlords and landlords' agents, including those who sub-let or take in lodgers, must check the right of prospective tenants to be in the country to avoid the possibility of being fined with a civil penalty of up to £3000 per tenant.

Landlords are required to check identity documents for all new tenants and take copies. A wide range of documents can be used for the checks, and the government has worked closely with housing and homelessness charities to design a right to rent document checks: user guide (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk) (PDF) which can accommodate different individual circumstances. This includes where people do not have traditional identity documents, such as a passport.

Illegal renting could, on conviction, result in a custodial sentence of up to five years, to an unlimited fine or both. A conviction also allows a local authority to apply for a banning order. 

For more information about making the checks, go to check your tenants right to rent (GOV.UK) 

Last updated: 11/03/2024 15:14