15 Feb New Right to Rent Checks

After trialing the programme in the West Midlands, the compulsory immigration ‘Right to Rent’ checks are now being implemented across the whole of the country. As of 1 February 2016, landlords are responsible for checking the immigration status of any adults over the age of 18 who are living at their rental properties. This applies to all adults living in the property, not just those who have signed lease agreements or who pay rent.

These new regulations were part of the 2014 Immigration Act which was brought in to crack down on the number of illegal immigrants living in the UK. The six month pilot programme held in the West Midlands found 109 people who were living illegally in the country.

The Home Office has released information on the checks landlords are now required to undertake. This includes viewing and making copies of original documentation showing the tenant’s right to stay in the UK. You must retain the copies of these documents for the length of the tenancy plus one year. If you find that your tenant does not have the right to remain in the country, you must inform the Home Office. Failure to conduct these checks can result in fines of up to £3000. For further details about the Right to Rent checks and the steps that you must undertake as a landlord, visit the Home Office website.

Don’t have the time to undertake these additional checks? Let Kaytons do it for you. As part of our services, we will complete all necessary checks to ensure that your tenants have the right to rent in the UK.

Please contact Kaytons for a free property valuation in Manchester