Guidance issued for landlords’ right to rent checks

The Home Office has issued guidance on how landlords are to carry out their new obligations. Landlords are now required to conduct document checks to establish whether a person has the right to rent in the UK, in accordance with the Immigration Act 2014. This ‘right to rent’ scheme is to be piloted in the Midlands from 1 December 2014 before being rolled out across the country during 2015.

Three guidance documents have now been issued covering all aspects of the checks and are as follows:

How do I make right to rent checks?

This document explains the checking process from the initial checking steps right through to follow-up checks and reporting back to the Home Office.

Landlords’ guide to checking immigration documents

In this guide landlords can find information on acceptable documents proving a right to reside and rent in the UK, how to check the validity of these documents and how to retain this evidence.

Avoiding unlawful discrimination when conducting right to rent checks

This document sets out a code of practise which aims to help landlords avoid and differentiate between direct and indirect discrimination whilst making their right to rent checks.

Click here for Home Office summary guidance and information on the penalties to be faced if the checks are not carried out.