Landlord's guide to right to rent checks
This guidance advises a landlord, letting agent or homeowner how to conduct a right to rent check when letting privately rented accommodation.
Documents
Details
This guidance explains what landlords and letting agents must do to comply with the Right to Rent Scheme.
Landlords and letting agents must carry out right to rent checks on people before entering into a tenancy agreement with them to make sure they are allowed to rent.
You should use this guidance to find out:
- what a right to rent check is
- why you need to do a right to rent check
- letting arrangements that fall within the scheme
- how to carry out checks
- when to carry out initial checks and follow-up checks
- what documents are acceptable for a manual right to rent check
We are aware this publication may have accessibility issues. We are reviewing it so that we can fix these.
Read more about our accessible documents policy.
Updates to this page
Last updated
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Updated the landlord's guide to right to rent checks. A full list of the changes can be found in the guide.
Update history
2025-06-26 10:14
Guidance updated. Details are in the ‘changes from last version of this guidance’ section.
2025-02-12 13:08
Updated the landlord’s guide to right to rent checks. A full list of the changes can be found in the guide.
2024-11-07 15:00
Added an accessible version.
2024-09-23 12:37
Landlord’s guide to right to rent checks has been updated.
2024-06-21 09:30
Updated the landlord’s guide to right to rent checks. A full list of changes can be found in the guidance.
2024-03-18 15:13
Easy read version added.
2024-02-14 15:24
An accessible version of the guidance has been added.
2024-02-08 18:40
Updates to the Landlord’s guide to right to rent checks document.
2023-10-18 17:42
Removed the requirement for landlords to verify a digital Certificate of Application (CoA) with the Landlord Checking Service (LCS) when conducting a right to rent online digital check involving an outstanding EU Settlement Scheme application made on or after 1 July 2021.
2023-03-23 15:24
Adjustments to right to rent checks introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic ended on 30 September 2022.
2023-02-28 17:07
Updated Landlord’s guide to right to rent checks guidance.
2022-09-27 14:23
Updated information for landlords carrying out right to work checks from 1 October.
2022-04-22 11:01
Added accessible version of Landlord’s guide to right to rent checks: 6 April 2022 and Ukrainian nationals and right to rent checks.
2022-04-12 17:00
Added ‘Ukrainian nationals and right to rent checks’ guide.
2022-04-06 14:20
Added new version of the landlord’s guide to right to rent checks, which came into force on 6 April 2022. A summary of the changes can be found in the guide.
2022-03-11 16:20
Added accessible version of 9 February guidance, and draft version of guidance which will come into force on 6 April 2022.