Immigration checks and the 'right to rent'

You must check that a tenant or lodger can legally rent your residential property.

The Government requires you to check all adults using the property as their only or main home, even if they are not named on the tenancy agreement. To avoid discrimination you should check all prospective tenants and lodgers.

If you rent to an illegal migrant and have not carried out a correct right to rent check, you could be fined up to £3,000 per tenant.

You are required to carry out checks for all new tenancies starting on or since February 1.

You can transfer liability for carrying out checks to a letting agent in writing.

Check someone’s right to rent

Make your checks using these tools from GOV.UK

General advice

Contact the Landlords Helpline here. This helpline can’t verify individual documents or give out details of individual cases.