New rules on Right to Rent
New rules on digital Right to Rent checks are being introduced this autumn.
Landlords with properties in England have to check that all tenants over the age of 18 have a legal right to rent before they sign a tenancy agreement – with penalties of up to five years in prison for getting it wrong.
Secondary legislation introduced today will make it mandatory to use a registered digital verification provider, known as a RtR DVSP, if you opt to carry out the checks electronically.
Right to Rent checks were introduced in England in 2014 to ensure only those lawfully present in the UK can access the private rented sector.
Landlords have a number of options when it comes to carrying out the checks and can either carry out a manual right to rent check, using hard copy documents, a Home Office online right to rent check or a virtual right to rent check using a RtR DVSP.
The Government is keen to move to a fully digital immigration system, and started issuing eVisas in 2018. Landlords whose tenants have eVisas are able to evidence their right to rent using the Home Office online service.
The new changes will come into force in 1st October
For a step-by-step guide you can read the Governments’ guide to right to rent checks.
More information
- Our award-winning training academy runs an immigration and right to rent course. For more information and to book click here.
- To read the NRLA guide to conducting Right to Rent checks click here.
