Since 2015, before entering into a tenancy agreement, landlords have been obliged to check that their existing or prospective tenants can legally rent their property in England. Failure to do so could incur a civil penalty.

The immigration system is digitising and moving away from a system reliant on people proving their rights through physical documents that are sometimes decades old, to a streamlined system that is digital by default. As part of this, the Home Office are making some changes.

From 6 April 2022, the right to rent online checking service must be used for biometric residence card and permit (BRC/P) holders, as they will no longer be able to use their BRC/P for a manual right to rent check.

Also from 6 April 2022, landlords will be able to use certified Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT) service providers to carry out digital checks on behalf of British and Irish Citizens who hold a valid passport (or Irish passport card).

For further information see the Gov.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/check-tenant-right-to-rent-documents

You can also keep up to date about the policy by signing up for email alerts on the above webpage

There is also a factsheet for Landlords here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-rent-checks-from-july-2021-important-information-for-landlords