Prove your right to rent in England

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Using other documents

You may be able to use 2 documents together to prove your right to rent.

You can use any 2 of the following if you have them:

  • a current UK driving licence (full or provisional)

  • a full birth or adoption certificate from the UK, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man or Ireland

  • a letter from your employer

  • a letter from a British passport holder in an ‘accepted profession’

  • a letter from a UK government department or local council

  • proof that you currently get benefits

  • a letter from a British school, college, or university that you currently go to

  • a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate

  • proof that you’ve served in the UK armed forces

  • a letter from a private rented sector access scheme or a voluntary organisation that’s helping you with housing

  • a letter confirming you’ve been released from prison within the past 6 months

  • a letter confirming you’re on probation from your offender manager

  • a letter from the UK police about the theft of your passport

Anyone can use these documents to prove their right to rent - you do not have to be a British or Irish citizen.

If the document is a letter, email or DBS certificate, it usually needs to be dated within the last 3 months.

Check you can use a document

There are rules on what some of these documents must show and how old they can be. Check what the rules are before showing them to your landlord.

Using a birth or adoption certificate

You can use a full birth or adoption certificate from Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.

It must list at least one birth or adoptive parent.

Using a letter from your employer

The letter must be dated within the last 3 months. It needs to show:

  • your National Insurance number or employee number

  • your employer’s name

  • your employer’s signature

  • your company address

Using a letter from a British passport holder

The letter must be dated within the last 3 months. It needs to include the passport holder’s name, address, signature, passport number, job, and most recent work address.

It should also explain how long they’ve known you and how you know each other - for example you met at work.

The passport holder must be in an ‘accepted profession’.

Using a letter from a UK government department or local council

The letter must be dated within the last 3 months. It needs to show the signature and work address of a named official.

Using proof you get benefits

You can use a letter or a screenshot of an email about your benefits as one of your two documents. It must be dated within the last 3 months.

It must show the type of benefits you’re currently getting, and come from one of the following:

  • the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

  • Jobcentre Plus

  • HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

  • a local council

  • the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland

Using a DBS certificate

The DBS certificate must be dated within the last 3 months.

Using a letter from a British school, college, or university

The letter needs to show:

  • that you’re currently enrolled to study there

  • how long you’ve been studying for

  • what you’re studying - for example, your course name

Using proof you’ve served in the UK armed forces

You can use evidence that you’re currently serving or have served in the past as one of your 2 documents.

This could be an identity card or document.

Using a letter from a housing scheme or charity

If you’re getting help with housing through a private rented sector access scheme or a voluntary organisation, you can use a letter from the scheme provider or organisation as one of your 2 documents.

The letter needs to confirm the address of the property you’re renting or about to rent and explain the kind of support you’re getting. It must also be dated within the last 3 months.

Using a letter confirming you’ve been released from prison

The letter must be from HM, Scottish or Northern Ireland Prison Service and show that you’ve been released from prison within the past 6 months. It also needs to show your date of birth.

Using a letter confirming you’re on probation

The letter from your offender manager needs to be dated within the last 3 months.

Using a letter from the UK police about the theft of your passport

The letter needs to:

  • say that your passport was stolen

  • have a crime reference number on it

  • be dated within the last 3 months

If you cannot prove your right to rent

If you’re not a British or Irish citizen, your landlord can ask for a Home Office right to rent check to see if you can rent in England.

If you’re a Commonwealth citizen, you may be able to get documents to show that you can rent in the UK through the Windrush Scheme.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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