Right to Rent Check

Seven in ten landlords don't understand their obligations under the new “right to rent” rules that came into effect on 1 February 2016.

This basically means that landlords who let their property in England will have to carry out checks to make sure potential tenants have the right to rent property in the UK. 

You could be fined between £1,000 and £3,000 if you are found renting your property to someone who isn't allowed to rent in the UK, and can't prove you have done your checks. 

You can call the Landlords Helpline on 0300 069 9799 if you need help making a check. 

Some of the accepted legal documents include:

• A passport showing the holder is a British Citizen.
• A certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British Citizen.
• A biometric 'residence permit' card (either current or expired) issued by the Home Office to the holder indicating that the person has 'no time limit' on their stay in the UK.
• A passport or national identity card showing that the holder is a national of the EEA or Switzerland.