Before a tenancy starts in England, landlords must check that every adult tenant has the right to rent in England under the Immigration Act 2014. This tool helps you find out whether you have the right to rent and what documents your landlord will need to see. Select your nationality and immigration status below.
Note: This tool provides guidance based on the rules in the Immigration Act 2014. It cannot access Home Office records or verify your immigration status. If your situation is unclear or complex, seek advice from a registered immigration adviser or solicitor.
How to use this tool
- Select your nationality from the options below.
- If prompted, select your immigration or visa status.
- Your results will show your right to rent status and the documents you can provide.
Understanding your results
An unlimited right to rent means your landlord can carry out a one-time check with no expiry date. A time-limited right to rent means your right expires when your leave expires. Your landlord is legally required to re-check your status before that date. No right to rent means your landlord cannot legally rent to you at this time. The tool will direct you to relevant advice services. For most non-UK and non-Irish nationals, your landlord must verify your right to rent using the Home Office online service using a share code you generate from the Home Office website.
How right to rent checks work in England
The right to rent scheme came into force in England under the Immigration Act 2014. It requires private landlords in England to check that adult tenants have leave to remain in the UK before granting a tenancy. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are not covered by these provisions. The scheme applies to all new residential tenancy agreements. Landlords who rent to someone without the right to rent face civil penalties. For EU nationals with digital immigration status, landlords must use the Home Office online verification service and cannot require physical documents — demanding a physical passport or card when a digital share code exists is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010. Tenants who need guidance can contact Shelter, Citizens Advice, or a registered immigration adviser.
Related tools
Legal context
Under the Immigration Act 2014, landlords in England must check that all adult occupiers have the right to rent before the start of the tenancy. Landlords who fail to carry out checks or allow someone without the right to rent to occupy can face a civil penalty of up to £3,000 per occupier, or criminal liability if they had reasonable cause to believe the occupier had no right to rent. The Home Office sets the prescribed documents that satisfy a right to rent check.
Frequently asked questions
Who must carry out a right to rent check in England?
Under the Immigration Act 2014, private landlords in England must verify that every adult tenant has the right to rent before granting a residential tenancy. The duty applies to landlords and can be delegated to a letting agent, but the landlord remains liable if the agent fails to conduct the check. The scheme applies to all new residential tenancy agreements in England only.
How does a landlord check a tenant’s right to rent?
For most non-UK and non-Irish nationals, the landlord must use the Home Office online verification service. The tenant generates a share code from the UK Visas and Immigration section of GOV.UK and provides it to the landlord along with their date of birth. The landlord enters these details into the online service to receive a confirmation. For British and Irish citizens, the landlord can check an original passport or other acceptable document from List A in the Home Office guidance.
Who can conduct a right to rent check?
The landlord can conduct the check directly or delegate it to a letting agent in writing. An agent who carries out the check on the landlord’s behalf takes on the statutory responsibility for that check. If neither the landlord nor the agent conducts a check, the landlord is exposed to the civil penalty. Only the landlord (or their authorised agent) can conduct the check. Tenants cannot carry it out themselves.
What is the difference between unlimited and time-limited right to rent?
An unlimited right to rent applies to British and Irish citizens and some other individuals whose leave to remain has no expiry date. A time-limited right to rent applies to individuals whose immigration status has an expiry date, such as visa holders. If a tenant has a time-limited right, the landlord must carry out a follow-up check before the expiry date shown in the original verification.
When must a landlord carry out a follow-up check for a time-limited right to rent?
The landlord must carry out a follow-up check before the expiry date shown in the initial right to rent check. The Home Office guidance recommends conducting the follow-up check as close to the expiry date as practicable. If the tenant’ leave has expired and the landlord has not conducted a follow-up check, the landlord loses their statutory excuse and becomes liable for the civil penalty.
What is the penalty for renting to someone without the right to rent?
Under the Immigration Act 2014 (as amended by the Immigration Act 2016), landlords who rent to someone without the right to rent face a civil penalty of up to £3,000 per occupant. Repeat breaches or knowing breaches can result in a higher penalty or criminal prosecution. Landlords who follow the prescribed checking process and obtain a valid statutory excuse before the tenancy starts are protected from the civil penalty even if the tenant later turns out not to have the right to rent.
Can a landlord demand a physical passport from an EU national?
No. EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals with digital immigration status under the EU Settlement Scheme have no physical document showing their right to remain. Their status is verified only through the Home Office online service using a share code. A landlord who demands a physical passport or biometric card from an individual who has only digital status is in breach of the Equality Act 2010 and may be acting in a discriminatory manner.
Does the right to rent scheme apply in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
No. The right to rent scheme under the Immigration Act 2014 applies to private residential tenancies in England only. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are not covered by these provisions. Landlords in those nations do not have a legal obligation to carry out right to rent checks, though they remain subject to anti-discrimination law.
Does a right to rent check apply to all adults in the property?
Yes. The check applies to every adult who will occupy the property as their only or main home, including all joint tenants and any adult permitted occupiers named in the agreement. Children under 18 are exempt. On a joint tenancy, the landlord must verify the right to rent of every adult occupant individually, not just the lead tenant.
What should a tenant do if a landlord refuses to rent to them because of their nationality?
Refusing to rent to someone on the basis of nationality rather than an actual failure of the right to rent check is unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. Tenants who believe they have been unlawfully refused a tenancy on grounds of nationality can contact the Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) or seek advice from Citizens Advice. The Equality and Human Rights Commission can investigate complaints of discriminatory landlord behaviour.