Compliance & Safety7 min readLast reviewed 2 July 2026
Right to Rent Checks for Landlords and Agents in England
Landlords must verify every adult occupier has the right to rent in England before a tenancy starts. Understand document checks and civil penalties.
England only. This guide applies to private rented property in England. Wales and Scotland have separate legal frameworks — dedicated guides will be published separately.
Key takeaways
- All landlords in England must check that every adult aged 18+ living in the property has the right to rent in the UK.
- Checks must be completed before the tenancy agreement is signed.
- Acceptable documents include UK passports, biometric residence permits, and eVisa share codes.
- Civil penalties reach £5,000 per occupier for a first breach and £10,000 for repeat breaches.
- Agents acting on the landlord's behalf can be held liable if checks are not done.
What is Right to Rent?
The Immigration Act 2014 requires landlords in England to check that all adult occupiers have the legal right to rent residential property. Checks must be completed before the tenancy begins and repeated for tenants with time-limited permission. Integrate Right to Rent into your tenant referencing workflow.