{"id":1504,"date":"2025-12-01T17:00:20","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T17:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/right-to-rent-checks\/"},"modified":"2025-12-01T17:00:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T17:00:22","slug":"right-to-rent-checks","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/right-to-rent-checks\/","title":{"rendered":"Right to rent checks \u2013 how to verify a tenant\u2019s immigration status"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the right to rent scheme, landlords must verify the immigration status of tenants before they move into their property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Failure to do so could result in a fine or custodial sentence. And with research showing <a href=\"#surge\">the number and value of fines has increased significantly<\/a> in recent years, understanding your responsibilities is more important than ever.<br>Find out how immigration status can impact the length of time a tenant can rent for, which documents you can accept, and what could happen if you don\u2019t comply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-right-to-rent-checks\">What are right to rent checks?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The right to rent scheme was introduced as part of the Immigration Act 2014. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Put simply, it aims to make sure that all private tenants in England have the \u2018right\u2019 to rent their landlord\u2019s property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A tenant\u2019s right to rent could be permanent, or it could be for a limited time due to their immigration status. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s up to landlords (or letting agents acting on their behalf) to check the immigration of all prospective tenants before they move in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-did-right-to-rent-checks-start\">When did right to rent checks start?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Right to rent first started as a pilot scheme in the West Midlands in December 2014. It was rolled out nationally in February 2016. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since then, the scheme\u2019s guidance has been updated regularly. The most recent version was published in June 2025 and you can <a href=\"https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/media\/6878ea540263c35f52e4dd75\/270625_Landlords_guide_to_Right_To_Rent_Checks-.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">read it on the government website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-do-right-to-rent-checks-in-4-steps\">How to do right to rent checks in 4 steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting your immigration checks right is a crucial part of the pre-tenancy process. Read on for an overview of the steps you need to take. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-check-the-immigration-status-of-every-tenant\"><strong>1. Check the immigration status of every tenant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a tenant applies to rent your property, it\u2019s a legal requirement to check their immigration status before you allow them to move in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll need to carry out a right to rent check for all prospective tenants over the age of 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some tenants will have an unlimited right to rent, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">British or Irish citizens<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">citizens with an EU Settled Status<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">people with the \u2018right of abode\u2019 or \u2018indefinite leave to remain\u2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">people with no limit on the time they can stay in the UK<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other tenants will have a time limit on their right to rent in the UK. When checking their immigration status, you\u2019ll need to take a note of how long they\u2019re allowed to stay for and then complete a follow-up check before the end of that time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s important that landlords don\u2019t discriminate by only checking the immigration status of tenants they believe not to be British citizens. If you\u2019re found to discriminate when completing immigration checks, you could face legal action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-001\">\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-rules-for-ukrainian-tenants\">What are the rules for Ukrainian tenants?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In response to the war in Ukraine, the government launched the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/register-interest-homes-ukraine\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Homes for Ukraine Scheme<\/a> in March 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The scheme allowed Ukrainian nationals to stay with British residents for up to three years, allowing landlords to provide accommodation to those in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Homes for Ukraine closed in February 2025 and replaced with a Ukrainian Permission Extension Scheme (UPES).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The UPES provides Ukrainian nationals and eligible family members who have been living in the UK to apply for 18 months further permission to remain in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are more details on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/landlords-guide-to-right-to-rent-checks\/ukrainian-nationals-and-right-to-rent-checks-accessible-version\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">how the scheme works and the rules landlords need to follow<\/a> on the government website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Right to rent checks are sometimes complex and the consequences can be serious if you don\u2019t do them properly. If you\u2019re unsure about any part of the process, you should get professional legal advice.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-check-the-right-documents\">2. Check the right documents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are several documents you can accept from tenants to complete a right to rent check. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">a valid passport or travel document that shows the holder is allowed to stay in the UK<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">a valid immigration status document issued by the Home Office<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">a certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">a birth or adoption certificate issued in the UK<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This list isn\u2019t exhaustive. There are plenty more documents you can accept that are outlined in the government guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-documents-can-t-be-accepted\">What documents can\u2019t be accepted?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Biometric Residence Cards, Biometric Residence Permits, and Frontier Worker Permits were removed from the list of accepted documents for immigration checks in April 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a prospective tenant presents one of these documents, you\u2019ll need to use the Home Office\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/view-right-to-rent\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">online portal<\/a> to check their immigration status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To use this service, tenants will need to enter their details. They\u2019ll then be provided with a \u2018share code\u2019 to give to their landlord. The landlord then enters this into the portal to check their immigration status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile if your prospective tenant has an outstanding case with the Home Office, you can use the <a href=\"https:\/\/eforms.homeoffice.gov.uk\/outreach\/lcs-application.ofml\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">landlord\u2019s checking service<\/a> to see if they have the right to rent in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-complete-immigration-checks-in-person-or-online\"><strong>3. Complete immigration checks in person or online<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before the Covid-19 pandemic, all right to rent checks needed to be completed in person. However, the success of temporary measures introduced during the pandemic means checks can now be done via video call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These documents must then be checked against the tenant\u2019s identity, either in person or on a video call. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you need to use the landlord checking service or online portal, you\u2019ll still need to do this in the presence of the prospective tenant (either in person or online).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"683\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/landlord-immigration-check.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Immigration check video call\" class=\"wp-image-3390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/landlord-immigration-check.jpg 6720w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/landlord-immigration-check.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/landlord-immigration-check.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/landlord-immigration-check.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/landlord-immigration-check.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/landlord-immigration-check.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/landlord-immigration-check.jpg?resize=150,100 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>djile\/stock.adobe.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-checking-identity-documents-what-to-look-out-for\">Checking identity documents \u2013 what to look out for<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When checking your prospective tenants\u2019 identity documents, it can sometimes be difficult to work out whether they\u2019re genuine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some of the key things to look out for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>matching names<\/strong> \u2013 if they don\u2019t, the tenant will need to provide a valid reason<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>damaged documents<\/strong> \u2013 if the identity document is or looks like it\u2019s been changed, it could be fraudulent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>matching birth dates<\/strong> \u2013 make sure the birth dates on the tenant\u2019s application and identity document are the same<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>realistic dates<\/strong> \u2013 if a tenant looks a lot younger than their document suggests, they may be being fraudulent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-make-copies-of-identity-documents\"><strong>4. Make copies of identity documents<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After you\u2019ve checked prospective tenants\u2019 documents, you\u2019ll need to make a copy of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The copy needs to be something that can\u2019t be changed, such as a photocopy or high quality photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s important to keep a record of the date you made the copy. Copies of documents should be kept for as long as the tenant lives in your property and a year after they leave.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember to follow <a href=\"\/knowledge\/business-structure\/data-protection-act-principles-for-small-business\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1011\">GDPR regulations<\/a> when making copies of documents and speak to an expert if you\u2019re worried about data protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-penalties-for-non-compliance-with-the-right-to-rent-scheme\">What are the penalties for non-compliance with the right to rent scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You could receive a five-year prison sentence or fine up to \u00a320,000 if the Home Office suspects you had \u2018reasonable cause\u2019 to believe one of your tenants didn\u2019t have a legal right to rent in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This could include letting to the tenant even though:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">they weren\u2019t allowed to stay in the UK<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">their permission to stay in the UK had expired<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">the identity documents they provided were fake or included false information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You could also be fined if you can\u2019t prove that you completed a right to rent check. This is why it\u2019s so important to complete checks in the presence of the tenant and keep records of the documents you\u2019ve checked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The right to rent penalties are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">for a first breach, the civil penalty for landlords will be raised from \u00a31,000 per occupier to up to \u00a310,000 per occupier<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">any repeat breaches will be up to \u00a320,000 per occupier (previously \u00a33,000)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"surge\">Right to rent fines surge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since late 2024, there\u2019s been a surge in rent to rent fines as enforcement increases. Right to rent fines have increased to \u00a34.2 million between the end of 2024 and October 2025, according to analysis of Home Office figures by identity verification software Credas. This is up from \u00a3596,400 in the preceding period.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were 375 civil penalties for right to rent offences between late 2024 and October 2025, up from 235 in the preceding year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the number and value of fines on the rise, it\u2019s more important than ever for landlords to make sure they\u2019re compliant with the right to rent scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-guides-for-landlords\">More guides for landlords<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1006\" href=\"\/knowledge\/tenants\/pre-tenancy-landlord-checklist\/\">Landlord checklist \u2013 what to do before renting out a property<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1151\" href=\"\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/new-epc-rules-for-landlords\/\">Revealed: the challenges of new EPC rules for landlords<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1358\" href=\"\/knowledge\/landlord-tax\/buy-to-let-mortgage-rates-explained\/\">Buy-to-let mortgage rates explained<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/landlord-insurance\/faq\/what-is-the-difference-between-buildings-and-contents-insurance\/\">What is the difference between buildings and contents insurance?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-94e519ba wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-access-a-legal-advice-helpline\">Access a legal advice helpline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><br>If you have <a href=\"\/landlord-insurance\/landlord-legal-expenses-insurance\/\">legal expenses insurance<\/a> as part of your Simply Business policy, you have access to a legal advice helpline through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dasbusinesslaw.co.uk\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Arag<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aragbusinesslaw.co.uk\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> Businesslaw<\/a>. You\u2019ll just need your voucher code found in your policy documents to register.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/landlord-insurance\/landlord-legal-expenses-insurance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Find out more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-end\">\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> What are the right to rent documents landlords can accept?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3389,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sb_hreflang":"","sb_hreflang_url":"","disable_breadcrumbs":false,"sb_breadcrumbs":[],"sb_reviewed_by":"","sb_review_date":"","sb_enable_content_gating":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[334],"hidden-category":[],"coauthors":[20],"class_list":["post-1504","knowledge","type-knowledge","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-landlord-regulation"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Right to rent checks UK \u2013 a simple guide for landlords<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How can landlords complete immigration checks on prospective tenants and what are the right to rent documents they can accept?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/right-to-rent-checks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Right to rent: what do landlords need to do?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Read our right to rent guide to make sure you\u2019re compliant with Home Office rules.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/right-to-rent-checks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Simply Business UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-01T17:00:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/right-to-rent-checks-uk.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Right to rent checks \u2013 how to verify a tenant\u2019s immigration status\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"Conor Shilling\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/right-to-rent-checks\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/right-to-rent-checks\/\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Conor Shilling\",\"description\":\"Conor Shilling is a professional writer with over 10 years\u2019 experience across the property, small business, and insurance sectors. A trained journalist, Conor\u2019s previous experience includes writing for several leading online property trade publications. Conor has worked at Simply Business as a Copywriter for three years, specialising in the buy-to-let market, landlords, and small business finance. <a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/conor-shilling-b646632a\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">Connect with Conor on LinkedIn.<\/a>\"},\"headline\":\"Right to rent checks \u2013 how to verify a tenant\u2019s immigration 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