Right to Rent clarified | Discuss

The Government has addressed the confusion over rules regarding Right to Rent checks on foreign students coming to start courses in the UK.

It has confirmed that where a person has a no time-limit to stay in the UK, such as UK citizens and EU nationals, checks can be undertaken at any point before the residential tenancy agreement is granted, for example when they originally sign up.

However, where a person has a time-limited right to remain in the UK, checks should be undertaken no more than 28 days before the residential tenancy agreement comes into effect. In this latter situation follow up checks are required.

In the case of students with time-limited right to remain, landlords can arrange tenancies in principle in advance, but must carry out the checks within the specified 28 day period as immigration status can change over time. In addition to this, migrants coming from abroad may not have the documentation to pass a check until they have arrived in the UK.

Furthermore, a landlord can ask any agents that manage or let their property to carry out the check for them but they should have this agreement in writing.

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