New Right to Rent Guidance Takes Effect for Landlords Across England

The updated Home Office guidance introduces changes concerning digital verification service providers and the technology used to conduct digital Right to Rent checks.

Landlords remain responsible for checking that adult occupiers have the legal right to rent in England before allowing them to occupy a property.

The updated guidance also provides for digital versions of certain documents that can be verified by landlords.

For time-limited permission to rent, landlords may need to carry out follow-up checks to maintain their statutory excuse against a civil penalty.

The rules apply to landlords and agents operating within the English private rented sector. The Right to Rent scheme does not apply across the whole of the UK in the same way; its statutory operation is specific to England.

The changes make compliance an important administrative issue for landlords and letting agents, particularly those using digital verification systems.

Landlords should ensure that staff or agents responsible for tenant onboarding are using the current guidance and approved procedures rather than relying on older versions of Right to Rent information.

The latest update is part of a wider period of regulatory change in the private rented sector, making accurate record-keeping and compliance increasingly important for property businesses.