020 8150 6119

Right to Rent checks

As of 6th April 2022, under the Home Office code of practice, new rules state; hard copy forms of biometric cards and permits will not be accepted.

Checks will now be completed via a digital share code to demonstrate real time Right to Rent statuses on the Home Office Online Checking platform. The applicant is to provide the agent or landlord with their unique share code and their date of birth before referencing can begin (this along with their ID verification). The agent/landlord then inputs the details into the government website page which generates a Right to Rent status with the date for a follow up check, if applicable. These documents are then saved to the tenancy file.

Please note share codes expire after 28 days but applicants can request a new code on demand. 

Since February 2016, all landlords or agents of private rental accommodation in England have been required to carry out Right to Rent checks for new tenancy agreements to determine whether occupiers aged 18 and over have the right to live in the UK legally.

A landlord must not authorise an adult to occupy property in England as their only or main home under a residential tenancy agreement unless the adult has a Right to Rent in the UK.

The list of acceptable documents for manual Right to Rent checks was updated on 1st July 2021 and no longer includes the national identity documents of EEA, EU and Swiss citizens.

If a tenant fails any required follow up checks, agents/landlords are required to make a report to the Home Office.