UK Home Office Right to Rent Check Verification Process Explained

UK Home Office Right to Rent Check Verification Process Explained 

The U.K. Home Office’s “Right to Rent” check is a verification process that landlords must perform on their tenants to ensure they have the right to live in the property. These checks are mandatory for all properties in England and were introduced in 2014 as part of the government’s efforts to control immigration. 

The Right to Rent check involves verifying the tenant’s identity and immigration status. Landlords must take reasonable steps to ensure that the tenant has the right to live in the property, and they can be fined up to £3,000 if they fail to do so. https://www.gov.uk/check-tenant-right-to-rent-documents/how-to-check

 This Home Office check can be carried out quickly and affordably with our digital Right to Rent check service. MyVetting.com’s online Right to Rent check dashboard can send alerts to potential tenants in seconds, making your tenancy checks simple, fast and accurate.  

What is the Home Office Right to Rent Check? 

The Home Office Right to Rent Check is a document that landlords in England must check before renting out their property to tenants. Designed to make sure tenants have the right to live in the UK, it must be carried out on all new tenants aged 18 and over. 

As part of our Right to Rent check online check, the tenant’s original passport or other form of ID that proves they have the right to live in the UK, can be uploaded to our digital platform. The check is then carried out and a report returned in hours. 

If the tenant fails the check and does not have the right to live in the UK, the landlord must not let them rent their property. If they do, they could be fined up to £3,000.
 The check does not apply to properties in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. 

Who does the Right to Rent Check Affect? 

The Right to Rent Check requires all landlords to check the immigration status of their tenants.  

The main groups affected by this change are asylum seekers and refugees, as they are often not able to provide the required documentation. This can make it very difficult for them to find somewhere to live, as most landlords will not want to risk a fine. 

There are also concerns that the Right to Rent Check could be used to discriminate against certain groups of people. For example, if a landlord only wants to rent to British passport holders, they could use the Right to Rent Check as a way of excluding other groups of people. 

The government has said that the Right to Rent Check is not about immigration control, but about making sure that people who are in the UK illegally are not able to access housing.  

What Information is Required for the Right to Rent Check? 

The documents you will need to check include: 

• A passport or national ID card from a European Economic Area country or Switzerland 
• A biometric residence permit 
• A registration certificate or travel document 

If the tenant does not have any of the above documents, they may still be eligible to rent your property if they have:

• An immigrant’s status under the 1971 Immigration Act 
• Indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK 
• A certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen 

 How to Conduct a Right to Rent Check 

As a landlord, you are responsible for ensuring that your tenants have a legal Right to Rent your property. The Right to Rent check is a simple process that requires you to check your tenant’s documents to make sure they are eligible to live in the UK. 

To perform a home office check, landlords must send a completed form to the Home Office, along with a copy of the tenant’s passport or other acceptable ID. The Home Office will then return a verification letter within four weeks. 

It is important to note that landlords are not responsible for verifying the tenant’s immigration status; they are only responsible for ensuring that the tenant has the right to live in the property. If the tenant does not have the right to live in the property, it is their responsibility to leave voluntarily.

Once you have conducted the Right to Rent check, you need to make a note of the date that you checked the tenant’s documents. You must keep this record for at least 12 months after the tenancy has ended. 

What are the Requirements to Pass a Right to Rent Check? 

The Right to Rent check is a process that landlords in England must follow to make sure that their tenants have the right to live in the country. The checks are part of the government’s strategy to reduce illegal immigration. 

To pass a Right to Rent check, tenants must provide their landlord with documents that prove they have the right to live in the UK. For most people, this will be a passport or other form of photo ID. If the tenant does not have a passport, they can provide another form of ID, such as a birth certificate, national insurance card, or biometric residence permit. 

Asylum seekers are not currently included in the Right to Rent checks. This means that landlords do not need to check their status before renting to them. However, landlords should still check that asylum seekers have the right to live in the property, as this may be different from their right to live in the UK. 

How Long is a Right to Rent Check Valid For? 

In the United Kingdom, the Right to Rent check is a requirement for all new residential tenancy agreements. The Right to Rent check is valid for the duration of the tenancy agreement. However, if the tenant renews their tenancy agreement, or if there are changes to the occupancy of the property (e.g. a new tenant moves in), then a new Right to Rent check must be carried out. 

It is essential that landlords and agents ensure that they carry out Right to Rent checks on all new tenants and keep up to date with any changes to the occupancy of their property. 

Important Things to Remember About the Home Office Right to Rent Check 

Here are a few of the most important things to keep in mind about the Home Office Right to Rent check: 

1. All landlords must carry out the checks before renting out their property to tenants. 
2. The Right to Rent check is used to make sure that tenants have the right to live in the UK. This includes making sure that they have the right immigration status and are not an asylum seeker. 
3. The checks must be carried out on all tenants, regardless of their nationality or country of origin. 
4. Landlords who don’t carry out the checks can be fined up to £3,000. 
5. Tenants can be asked to provide proof of their Right to Rent, such as a passport or other immigration documents.