The Immigration Act 2014 introduced the ‘right to rent’ scheme. This meant all adults in the UK who require permission to enter or remain in the UK, but do not have it, are not allowed to rent a property from a private landlord if that property will be used as their main home. People do not need a right to rent if their housing is provided by a local authority.

Landlords have to check that someone has a right to rent before they can rent a property out. If landlords do not carry out these checks, they risk being fined or even imprisoned.

From 1 February 2016, right to rent requirements apply to the whole of England. They do not yet apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

The organisation Law for Life have produced an information guide about right to rent. The guide includes information about who has a right to rent, when you need to prove this right and when you don’t, how to prove a right to rent, changes as a result of Brexit and Covid-19, what you can do if you are discriminated against in this process and more.