Collection

Landlords: immigration right to rent checks

A collection of guidance to help landlords, homeowners and letting agents carry out correct right to rent checks and avoid civil penalties.

The adjustments to right to rent checks introduced on 30 March 2020 as part of the response to COVID-19, ended on 30 September 2022. See guidance about the adjusted process.

As of 1 October 2022, landlords must carry out the prescribed checks set out in the Landlords guide to right to rent checks.

This collection provides information to make sure landlords, homeowners and letting agents carry out the necessary right to rent checks. It includes guidance on acceptable documents.

Landlords of properties throughout England must check that someone has the right to rent before letting them a property.

Read an overview of right to rent checks and the civil penalties landlords can face for illegal renting.

If you’re a tenant, find out how right to rent affects you in our guide to private renting.

Documents

Published 21 October 2014
Last updated 23 March 2023 + show all updates
  1. Adjustments to right to rent checks introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic ended on 30 September 2022.

  2. Updated information for landlords carrying out right to work checks from 1 October.

  3. Removed call to action boxes.

  4. Added landlord's guide to right to rent checks to this collection.

  5. Because of coronavirus (COVID-19) there are temporary changes to the way you can check documents. Added a link to guidance about the adjusted process.

  6. Updated "a short guide on right to rent" to include right to rent checks for nationals from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the United States who are visiting the UK for up to 6 months.

  7. Added information on right to rent checks for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens now and after Brexit.

  8. Added a link to new guidance for landlords on right to rent checks on undocumented Commonwealth citizens.

  9. 'How to make a right to rent check: video' added to collection.

  10. Updated page text to reflect England-wide roll out of right to rent on 1 February 2016.

  11. New Right to rent document checks: a user guide.

  12. Updated guidance.

  13. New 3 step guide on how to make a right to rent check, December 2015.

  14. This guidance applies across England from 1 February 2016.

  15. added link to 'Return home voluntarily if you're in the UK unlawfully'

  16. First published.