Coronavirus (COVID-19): landlord right to rent checks
Advice for landlords carrying out right to rent checks during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
This update replaces previous guidance issued on 6 April 2022.
The adjustments to right to rent checks introduced on 30 March 2020 as part of the response to COVID-19 ended on 30 September 2022.
The end date for the temporary adjusted checks had previously been deferred to 30 September 2022 (inclusive). The date was deferred following the government’s announcement that landlords could use Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT) from 6 April 2022 to carry out digital checks on British and Irish citizens who hold a valid passport.
See further information on digital identity checks.
Deferring the end date ensured that landlords had sufficient time to develop commercial relationships with identity service providers, make the necessary changes to their pre tenancy checking processes and carry out responsible on-boarding of their chosen provider.
It has also ensured that the Right to Rent Scheme has continued to support long-term, post-pandemic working practices, providing sufficient time to put measures in place to enable face to face document checks if landlords do not wish to adopt digital checks for British and Irish citizens with a valid passport (or Irish passport card).
As of 1 October 2022, landlords must carry out the prescribed checks as set out in the guidance:
1. a manual right to rent check (all)
2. a right to rent check using IDVT via the services of an IDSP (British and Irish only)
3. a Home Office online right to rent check (non-British or Irish)
Conducting any of these checks will provide landlords with a statutory excuse – their defence against a civil penalty.
Further information on how to conduct these checks can be found GOV.UK at Landlords guide to right to rent checks.
Online right to rent service
Where a right to rent check has been conducted using the Home Office right to rent online service, the information is provided in real time directly from Home Office systems and there is no requirement for landlords to see or check individual documents.
Landlords cannot insist individuals use this service or discriminate against those who choose to use accepted documents to prove their right to rent. The list of acceptable documents can be found in Annex A of the guidance on GOV.UK at Landlords guide to right to rent checks.
Retrospective checks
Landlords do not need to carry out retrospective checks on those who had a COVID-19 adjusted check between 30 March 2020 and 30 September 2022 (inclusive). This reflects the length of time the adjusted checks have been in place and supports landlords during this difficult time.
Landlords will maintain a defence against a civil penalty if the check they have undertaken during this period was done in the prescribed standard manner or as set out in the COVID-19 adjusted checks guidance.
It remains an offence to knowingly rent to a person who does not have the right to rent in England.
If a tenant does not have the right documents
Landlords must contact the Home Office Landlord Checking Service if the tenant cannot provide the right documents. Once you have submitted your request to the Landlord Checking Service you will get an answer within 2 working days. You must keep this response to protect against a civil penalty.
Updates to this page
Last updated 23 March 2023 + show all updates
-
Adjustments to right to rent checks introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic ended on 30 September 2022.
-
Updated information for landlords carrying out right to work checks from 1 October.
-
Guidance updated to reflect the extended end date for the temporary adjusted checking process is now 30 September 2022.
-
Guidance updated to reflect new end date of 5 April 2022.
-
Updated as the end date for the temporary adjusted checking processes is now 31 August 2021.
-
Updated as the end date for the temporary adjusted checking processes is now 21 June.
-
Updated as the temporary adjustments introduced because of coronavirus end on 16 May 2021.
-
First published.