Guidance

Right to rent immigration checks: landlords' code of practice

Guidance for landlords, homeowners and letting agents affected by the introduction of right to rent immigration checks.

From:
Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration
Published
3 September 2014
Last updated
27 March 2024 — See all updates

Documents

Code of practice on right to rent: Right to Rent Scheme for landlords and their agents, 13 February 2024 (accessible version)

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Code of practice on right to rent: Right to Rent Scheme for landlords and their agents, 13 February 2024

PDF, 604 KB, 37 pages

Code of practice on right to rent: civil penalty scheme for landlords and their agents: 6 April 2022 (accessible version)

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Code of practice on right to rent: civil penalty scheme for landlords and their agents: 6 April 2022

PDF, 1.14 MB, 42 pages

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Code of practice for landlords: avoiding unlawful discrimination when conducting ‘right to rent’ checks in the private rented residential sector: 6 April 2022 (accessible version)

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Code of practice for landlords: avoiding unlawful discrimination when conducting ‘right to rent’ checks in the private rented residential sector: 6 April 2022

PDF, 185 KB, 15 pages

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Request an accessible format.
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You can view previous versions of these codes of practice at the National Archives

https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20220329170020/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-rent-landlords-code-of-practice

Details

Landlords must carry out the prescribed checks set out in the Landlords guide to right to rent checks.

The code of practice explains:

  • if your property is affected
  • if any exemptions apply
  • how to carry out a right to rent check
  • what documents individuals can show you as evidence of their right to rent
  • when and how to request a right to rent check from the Home Office
  • how to avoid unlawful discrimination when conducting immigration right to rent checks
  • how the civil penalty scheme works

Landlords of properties throughout England should check that someone has the right to rent before letting them a property.

Read an overview of right to rent checks and the civil penalties landlords can face for illegal renting.

Check that a tenant or lodger can legally rent your residential property.

If you’re a tenant, find out how right to rent affects you in our guide to private renting.

A collection of guidance is also available to help landlords, homeowners and letting agents carry out correct right to rent checks and avoid civil penalties.

We are aware this publication may have accessibility issues. We are reviewing it so that we can fix these.

Read more about our accessible documents policy.

Updates to this page

Published 3 September 2014
Last updated 27 March 2024 + show all updates

  1. Added code of practice for landlords: avoiding unlawful discrimination when conducting ‘right to rent’ checks in the private rented residential sector (in force from 6 April 2022).

  2. Archived 'Right to rent immigration checks: landlords' code of practice' April 2022 and November 2023 versions.

  3. Published the code of practice on right to rent: Right to Rent Scheme for landlords and their agents. The code comes into force on 13 February 2024.

  4. Updated draft guidance published.

  5. Adjustments to right to rent checks introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic ended on 30 September 2022.

  6. Added accessible version of code of practice on right to rent and code of practice for landlords: avoiding unlawful discrimination when conducting ‘right to rent’ checks in the private rented residential sector, in force from 6 April 2022.

  7. Added final versions of the code of practice on right to rent: civil penalty scheme for landlords and their agents (in force from 6 April 2022) and code of practice for landlords: avoiding unlawful discrimination when conducting ‘right to rent’ checks in the private rented residential sector (in force from 6 April 2022).

  8. Added draft version of the code of practice on right to rent: civil penalty scheme for landlords and their agents: March 2022 and draft version of the code of practice for landlords: avoiding unlawful discrimination when conducting ‘right to rent’ checks in the private rented residential sector: March 2022.

  9. The 'Code of practice for landlords: avoiding unlawful discrimination when conducting 'right to rent' checks in the private residential sector' is being reviewed and will be updated shortly.

  10. Uploaded new pdf version of Code of practice on right to rent: Civil penalty scheme for landlords and their agents.

  11. Updated draft to current version of the code of practice on right to rent: civil penalty scheme for landlords and their agents.

  12. Draft code updated to reflect that from 1 July 2021, EEA citizens and their family members require immigration status in the UK, in the same way as other foreign nationals.

  13. Updated code of practice on right to rent: civil penalty scheme for landlords and their agents to add revised links for the online service.

  14. Updated code of practice for landlords and their agents published.

  15. Added the revised code of practice.

  16. Because of coronavirus (COVID-19) there are temporary changes to the way you can check documents. Added a link to guidance about the adjusted process.

  17. PDF version of the code of practice on illegal immigrants and private rented accommodation added.

  18. Annex A of 'Code of practice on illegal immigrants and private rented accommodation' updated.

  19. Updated to reflect the England-wide roll out of right to rent.

  20. Updated details on page to reflect roll-out of the scheme in England.

  21. Updated draft code of practice.

  22. Added draft code of practice to the page (intended to come into force on 1 February 2016)

  23. Updated right to rent information leaflet

  24. Added new version of leaflet - makes clear that checks apply to landlords who own property in the affected areas, not necessarily landlords who live in those areas.

  25. added link to new online employer checking service form

  26. Added new document

  27. Updated codes of practice

  28. Updated draft codes of practice.

  29. Updated code of practice

  30. added information leaflet

  31. First published.

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