From 1st Feb 2016, all private Landlords in England will need to make Right to Rent checks.
That means checking that your new adult tenants (18 years old and over, whether they’re named in the tenancies or not) have the right to be in the UK if their tenancy starts on or after 1st February 2016. Checks need to be carried out within 28 days of the start of the tenancy. Landlords must:
– Check your property will be the tenants main and only home
– Ask your tenant for the original document(s) that show they can live in the UK i.e passport or birth certificate
– Check the documents are valid while the tenant is with you – check name, photo and any expiry dates
– Make copies of documents and record the date you made the check – you might need to carry out more checks in the future if the tenant is only allowed to be in the UK temporarily
Failure to comply with the above will mean you can be fined up to £3,000 for renting your property to someone who isn’t allowed to rent property in England.
JM
