Right to Rent scheme to roll out across England from 1 February 2016

The Home Office has announced that from 1 February 2016, the Right to Rent scheme will be extended across England. This means all private landlords in England, including people who sublet or take in lodgers, will have to check their tenants have the right to be in the UK before renting a property.

The scheme is being extended following an evaluation of the first phase in the West Midlands (published on GOV.UK). The roll out has involved the input of a panel of industry experts, housing and homeless charities and local authorities. Right to Rent is one part of the government’s ongoing reforms to the immigration system to make it harder for people to live in the UK illegally.

What it means for the Private Rented Sector From 1 February 2016, anyone who rents out private property in England will need to see and make a copy of evidence that any new adult tenant has the right to rent in the UK (for example a passport or a biometric residence permit). The checks don’t apply to existing tenancy agreements. The process is straightforward and many landlords already make similar checks. In most cases, the checks can be carried out quickly. However, if a tenant has an outstanding immigration application or appeal with the Home Office, landlords can request a Home Office Right to Rent check. A yes or no answer will be provided within two working days.

You can read more about Right to Rent on GOV.UK. Register your details for updates on the roll out of the scheme.