Housing

Right to rent checks

In England, landlords must carry out right to rent checks to confirm that adults have the legal right to rent a property before granting a tenancy or licence. This applies when a property is rented or sub let, and when a person is a paying lodger. In some circumstances, housing associations may also be required to carry out checks.

A person will have either an unlimited right to rent, a time limited right to rent, or no right to rent, depending on their immigration status. In some cases, a person without a right to rent may be granted permission to rent by the Home Office.

Landlords can establish a person’s right to rent by:

• checking original documents
• using the Home Office online service (for digital status)
• contacting the Home Office to carry out a check

Some types of accommodation are exempt from the right to rent scheme.

The scheme applies only in England and does not apply in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Who has the right to rent?

Unlimited right to rent

A person will have an unlimited right to rent if they have:

• British or Irish citizenship
• the right of abode
• indefinite leave to remain, settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or no time limit on their stay

Time limited right to rent

A person will have a time limited right to rent if they have:

• limited leave to enter or remain
• pre settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• a pending immigration application, appeal, or administrative review
• a Certificate of Application (including some alternative evidence in EUSS cases)
• permission to rent granted by the Home Office

Where a person has a time limited right to rent, the landlord must carry out a follow up check either:

• after 12 months, or
• just before their permission expires, if later

If a follow up check shows that a person no longer has a right to rent, the landlord must report this to the Home Office.

No right to rent

A person will not have a right to rent if they do not have immigration permission and do not have an outstanding immigration application with the Home Office. In some cases, the Home Office may still grant permission to rent. The Home Office guidance for landlords provides information on how to request permission to rent.

Exempt accommodation

The following types of accommodation are exempt from right to rent checks:

• hostels and refuges
• care homes, hospitals and hospices
• accommodation arranged by a local authority under statutory duties (for example, under the Children Act 1989 or Care Act 2014)
• accommodation provided under homelessness duties (Part 7 Housing Act 1996)
• allocation of social housing (Part 6 Housing Act 1996)
• asylum support accommodation (sections 4 or 95 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999)

The full list of exemptions is set out in Schedule 3 of the Immigration Act 2014 and in the Home Office landlord guidance on right to rent checks.

For more information about the right to rent scheme, see the Home Office guidance collection on right to rent checks.

Page updated: 02 June 2026