Propertymark is advising agents to prepare for substantial changes to the Right To Rent process arriving in just two months time.

As part of the digitisation of elements of the immigration system – which kicks in on April 6 – landlords and lettings agents operating in England must determine the immigration status of all prospective adult tenants by checking ID before the start of a tenancy. 

Checks do not need to be carried out on tenants in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

The temporary adjustments to Right to Rent checks due to the pandemic will end on April 5 – until this date, checks can continue to be carried out over video calls. 

Additionally, tenants can send scanned documents or a photo of documents for checks using email or a mobile app. If a prospective or existing tenant cannot provide any of the accepted documents landlords and letting agents should use the Home Office Landlord Checking Service.

Letting agents and landlords can use the Right to Rent Online Checking Service on Gov.UK to view the immigration status of existing and prospective tenants. 

There is no need to check physical documents when using the online checking service, as information about an individual’s Right to Rent is provided in real time directly from Home Office systems.

However, from April 6 landlords and letting agents will need to use the Right to Rent Online Checking Service for Biometric Residence Card / Permit holders. 

After this date it will no longer be possible to use an individual’s Biometric Residence Card / Permit for a manual Right to Rent check. 

A Biometric Residence Permit is proof of the holder’s right to stay, work or study in the UK.

Retrospective checks will not be required on Biometric Residence Card holders who, before April 6, used a physical document to demonstrate their Right to Rent. 

However, if landlords and letting agents choose to undertake a retrospective online check and identify that an existing tenant no longer has a Right to Rent, landlords and letting agents must make a report to the Home Office using the online form, to maintain a statutory excuse against prosecution and comply with the rules. 

In addition, from April 6 landlords and letting agents will be able to use certified Identification Document Validation Technology service providers to conduct digital checks on behalf of British and Irish citizens who hold a valid passport – including an Irish passport.

Timothy Douglas, Propertymark’s new head of policy and campaigns, says: “The immigration system is digitising and letting agents operating in England need to be aware that the UK Government is moving away from a system reliant on individuals proving their Right to Rent through physical documents to a more streamlined, digital system. 

“The changes are three months away and agents are urged to get ahead of the game and take the time now to understand how it will impact them going forward.”