Changes to the Right to Rent Scheme

October 31, 2020

Right to RentThe government have brought in some changes to the right to rent scheme, designed to make things easier.

The changes which are due to come into force on 2 November are as follows:

Summary of changes

  • Landlords and agents will, from 25 November 2020, be able to use a new, free, Home Office online checking service, which allows checks to be carried out by video call.  You will not need to see the documents as the right to rent information is provided in real-time directly from Home Office systems.
  • The Home Office has also made it easier for British-born UK nationals without British
    passports to demonstrate right to rent by enabling them to use short birth or adoption
    certificates
  • The right to rent Code of Practice and guidance have been revised.

The guidance and code have been updated to take into account guidance published in July 2019 for visitor nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA (known as B5JSSK nationals).

Since May 2019, B5JSSK nationals have been able to use their passport and evidence of arrival in the UK within the preceding six months (physical or electronic copy of ticket or boarding pass) to evidence their right to rent.

You will find a factsheet here and a Q&A document here.

New rules on right to rent will come into effect from 2 November with a new checking system available from 25 November. #landlordlaw

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