Date Published 09 April 2020
The Right to Rent scheme requires landlords or their agent ito check that all tenants who occupy their properties have legal status to live in the UK. This means that before a tenant can rent a home in England, a landlord or letting agent must undertake passport and immigration checks prior to letting out the property.
You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for renting your property to someone who is not allowed to stay in England.
As we are now living in unprecedented times due to Coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak , the Government brought in an emergency law around the Right to Rent checks to limit person's exposure.
Right to Rent checks have been temporarily adjusted to make it easier for landlords or agents to carry them out during the coronavirus outbreak.
The adjustments mean that until further notice, landlords do not need to see original documents and can complete checks over video calls.
The copies of documents have to be emailed by the tenants (either scan or smart phone readable photograhps) and date of video check has to be recorded.
Once the Government lifts restrictive measures, the retrospective check must be carried out within 8 weeks of the COVID-19 measures ending. Both checks should be kept for your records.
Our clients are covered as we do all the right to rent checks for them, however if you are not our client and have any query with regards to Covid-19 Right to Rent checks policy or any other query, please do contact me on 01608 695252 or hello@distinctpropertyconsultants.co.uk .
Stay safe.
Best wishes,
Sarka Wilde
Managing Director
