Right to Rent checks are compulsory checks every tenant has to undergo by either their Landlord or Letting Agent. The checks take place if you’re renting in England, but not if you’re renting in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Essentially the checks were put in place to ensure any adults renting accommodation were in the UK legally before being able to rent.
Right to Rent was introduced under the Immigration Act 2014 and it’s key for tenants to understand how this impacts them.
Who has the right to rent?
You have the right to rent in England if any of the following apply:
You're a British or Irish citizen
You have indefinite leave to remain (ILR)
You have refugee status or humanitarian protection
You have settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme
You have permission to be in the UK, for example, on a work or student visa
The Home Office has granted you a time limited right to rent
How do the checks take place?
Historically, checks were done face to face until Covid-19 hit. Temporary adjustments were introduced due to the pandemic. Tenants were asked to submit a scanned copy or a photo of their Right to Rent documents and follow this up with a video call. If you’ve rented a new property in the past two years it's likely this is how your checks were carried out.
If you’re a British or Irish citizen, you can continue to prove your Right to Rent by showing your passport.
For non British or Irish citizens, there are a range of ways that the checks can take place and your landlord or agent should discuss these with you.
More information can be found on the Government website which will tell you how much you could borrow.
Delay in changes
Changes were due to come in from April 6th 2022 which would have meant a number of Right to Rent checks were to be carried out using a Government digital service - these have now been delayed until September 2022.
Don't be alarmed!
As a tenant if you’re asked to provide evidence of your Right to Rent, then don’t be alarmed. The checks are compulsory and if they don’t take place, landlords and agents can be fined thousands of pounds!
Improve your credit score
If you want to improve your credit position by reporting your rent payments, CreditLadder is the only way to improve your credit score and position across all four of the main Credit Reference Agencies in the UK, namely Experian, Equifax, TransUnion and Crediva. Building up a high credit score has a lot of benefits, including helping you access finance at better rates - this can also help save you money.
CreditLadder also runs a free mortgage application service which will tell you how much you could borrow.
Remember the information provided in this article is for information purposes only and should not be considered as advice.
