The controversial Immigration Bill, under which letting agents and landlords are legally obliged to record the migrant status of tenants, has now received Royal Assent.
The government says it ensures our immigration system is fairer to British citizens and legitimate migrants and tougher on those with no right to be here but the obligation on agents and landlords, backed up by the threat of a £3,000 fine for non-compliance, has raised eyebrows in the PRS.
The RICS has already described the proposals as unacceptable because agents and landlords are used to deliver [the government's] immigration policy while the Residential Landlords Association has warned that the policy will force up agents' fees. The Belvoir agency has been more outspoken, saying simply the proposal will not work in practice.
Despite having Royal Assent no details have yet been released of the exact date at which this measure - which is now a law - comes into force. A commencement order is likely to be made before Parliament breaks up for the summer on 22 July.
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Comments
@ Guest (Croydon Agent)
Thank you
We do apply this to every applicant.
If they do not have a passport or EU ID card, we use driving licences as a 2nd source of ID.
The only tenants who do not usually have passports are Born in the UK and it shows on the driving licence.
@ Guest (Croydon Agent)
Do you apply this test to EVERY prospective tenant If not how do you decide who
Would this not be a case of just checking the tenants Visa
We ask tenants to provide passports as proof of ID already, and usually copy the visa with their consent.