Right to Rent Checks
Immigration verification
What are Right to Rent Checks?
Right to Rent checks verify that prospective tenants have a legal right to rent property in the UK. Landlords must conduct these checks before allowing anyone to occupy their property.
Current Requirements
Under the Immigration Act 2014 (as amended), landlords must:
- Verify that all adult occupiers have a legal right to rent before the tenancy begins
- Conduct follow-up checks for tenants with time-limited immigration status
- Keep copies of documents for the duration of the tenancy and at least one year after
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Current penalties (since February 2024):
- First breach: up to £10,000 per tenant
- Repeat breach: up to £20,000 per tenant
- Criminal prosecution in serious cases - up to 5 years imprisonment
- Disqualification from being a landlord
The Complexity
Right to Rent checks require understanding which documents are acceptable, identifying fraudulent documents, calculating follow-up check dates, and maintaining compliant records. The penalties for getting it wrong are substantial.
Need Help With Right to Rent?
Immigration checks remain mandatory with penalties up to £20,000 per tenant. Our trained staff conduct thorough Right to Rent checks while complying with the new anti-discrimination provisions. Get in touch to learn more.