Right to Rent Checks: A Plain-English Guide
Landlords and agents in England must check that every adult who will live in a rented home has the right to rent, before the tenancy starts. Checks must be done in the same way for everyone, so that nobody is treated differently because of their race or nationality.
This guide explains who needs a check, how to carry it out, and what to do about time-limited permission.
General information about private renting, mainly in England, checked against the official sources listed below. It is not legal advice. If you have court papers, a bailiff date or a health risk at home, contact Shelter, Citizens Advice or a housing solicitor now.
Who needs a check
Check every adult aged 18 or over who will live in the property as their only or main home, whether or not they are named on the agreement. You are responsible as the landlord unless an agent has agreed in writing to do it. Some types of accommodation are excluded, so check the Home Office code of practice if you are unsure.
How to carry out a check
Use original documents with the person present, or use the Home Office online checking service with a share code. Make sure that photos and dates of birth match, and that documents have not expired where this matters. Keep a dated copy of what you saw for as long as the tenancy lasts and for at least one year after that.
Follow-up checks
If someone’s permission is time-limited, you should carry out a follow-up check before it ends. If they no longer have the right to rent, you must report this to the Home Office. Put the date in your diary when you make the first check, so that it is not forgotten.
Treat everyone the same
Check all applicants, and not just people you think may not be British. Choosing whom to check based on someone’s name, accent or appearance can be unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. A simple written process, used for every applicant, is the best way to stay fair.
What happens if you get it wrong
Letting to someone who does not have the right to rent can lead to a civil penalty of up to £10,000 per occupier for a first breach, and up to £20,000 per occupier for repeat breaches. A landlord who knowingly lets to someone without the right to rent may also commit a criminal offence. Correct checks give you a statutory excuse.
Sources
These are the official and specialist pages this guide is checked against. Rules and forms change, so check the live page before you act.
Questions people ask
Do I need to check British citizens?
Yes. Every adult occupier must be checked, so that all applicants are treated in the same way. Apply the same lawful process consistently and keep the required record securely. Do not choose who to check based on a name, accent, appearance or an assumption about nationality.
Can I check by video call?
Only in the ways the Home Office allows, such as with its online service. Check the current guidance before relying on a remote check. Follow the approved process for the evidence the applicant provides and retain the required dated record. An ordinary video call or emailed document photograph is not automatically equivalent to an authorised check.
Tools and guides that go with this
Practical guidance · checked 31 October 2026
Use the correct checking route, then keep the evidence
The Home Office updated its landlord guidance on 1 October 2026. An online check means using the landlord-facing service with the occupier’s right-to-rent share code and date of birth. A screenshot supplied by the applicant is not the same check. Confirm that the result belongs to the person who will occupy the home and retain the dated result securely.
An eVisa-only holder normally needs the online route. Where an accepted original-document route is available, follow that route’s checks rather than demanding a share code from everyone. British and Irish citizens cannot obtain one. If the prescribed evidence is unavailable, consult the official Landlord Checking Service guidance before making a decision. Apply the process consistently to prospective adult occupiers; an accent or surname is not evidence of immigration status.
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