Changes have been made to the Right to Rent Scheme, to make it easier for landlords and letting agents to carry out checks and simpler for individuals to prove their right to rent. These changes will come into force on 2 November. The Right to Rent Scheme is currently in force in England only.

The changes enable landlords and letting agents to use a new Home Office online checking service, available from 25 November, on GOV.UK, to undertake right to rent checks. Furthermore, the list of documents a landlord or letting agent can accept as proof of right to rent has been updated to include a short UK birth and adoption certificate and documents issued to non-EEA family members under the EU Settlement Scheme.

The legislation and Code of Practice have been updated in line with guidance published in July 2019 for visitor nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA (known as B5JSSK nationals). Since May 2019, B5JSSK nationals have been able to use their passport and evidence of arrival in the UK within the preceding six months (physical or electronic copy of ticket or boarding pass) to evidence their right to rent.

Further information can be found on Landlords: immigration right to rent checks on GOV.UK.

A factsheet detailing the legislative changes can be found here

A Q&A document can be found here

You can sign up to receive updates about the Right to Rent Scheme on GOV.UK.

Finally, queries about the Right to Rent Scheme can be sent to: RighttoRentandRighttoWork@homeoffice.gov.uk