Who must be checked
Every adult who will live in the property as their only or main home, before the tenancy agreement is entered into. That includes adults who are not named on the agreement.
Three ways to check
- A manual check of original documents from the Home Office lists (List A for an unlimited right to rent, List B for a time-limited right).
- The Home Office online check. The applicant gives you a share code and their date of birth, and you view the result on GOV.UK yourself. For anyone who holds only an eVisa, this is the only way.
- A certified digital verification service provider, which can do the identity part of the check for British and Irish passport holders. Using one is optional.
What changed on 1 October 2026
- A new landlord's guide and revised codes of practice apply to checks made on or after 1 October 2026.
- The lists of acceptable documents were updated, including provision for digital versions of documents.
- Visa vignettes have not been issued as evidence of permission since 1 July 2026.
- A manual check of an original, expired biometric residence permit (BRP) is not acceptable proof of right to rent in England.
Treat every applicant the same way
The Home Office guide says the best way to avoid discrimination is to apply the same checking process to every prospective adult occupier. You cannot require a person to prove their right to rent using a particular method or document, and each applicant should get a reasonable opportunity to use any valid route open to them. Don't assume anything from a name, accent or appearance.
Repeat checks and records
- For someone with time-limited permission, do the first check no earlier than 28 days before the tenancy agreement is entered into, and a follow-up check before your statutory excuse runs out if they still live there.
- Keep a dated copy of each check (for an online check, the result page with the photo) for the whole tenancy and at least one year after it ends, stored securely, then destroyed.
Penalties
Without a valid check you may face a civil penalty of up to £10,000 per occupier for a first breach, or £20,000 for a repeat breach within three years (£5,000 and £10,000 for a lodger). Knowingly renting to someone who has no right to rent can be a criminal offence.
How SYND checks when we find your tenant
When we find your tenant, every adult is checked the same way, and each applicant can use any valid route. For online checks we enter the share code ourselves on the Home Office service and never accept a screenshot. "Verified" in our tenant-find service means three things: identity checked, Right to Rent checked, and full referencing (credit history, income and a previous landlord reference). We are a letting agent, not part of the Home Office.
Questions landlords ask
Can I ask a tenant for their passport?
You can accept a passport if they choose to show one, but you cannot require a person to prove their right to rent using a particular method. Let each applicant use any valid route open to them.
Is a screenshot of a share code result enough?
No. The Home Office guide says landlords must view the online right to rent service directly, using the share code and date of birth the applicant gives you. Keep a copy of the result page with the photo and the date you checked.
How long must I keep Right to Rent records?
For the whole tenancy and at least one year after it ends, stored securely, then destroyed.
Is an expired biometric residence permit (BRP) acceptable?
Not in a manual check. The Home Office guide says a manual check of an original, expired BRP is not acceptable proof of right to rent in England.
Sources
- Landlord's guide to right to rent checks: 1 October 2026 (Home Office, GOV.UK)
- SI 2026/700 (legislation.gov.uk)
SYND Properties is a trading name of SYND LTD, a member of Property Redress (no. PRS044043). General guidance, not legal advice. Check the latest guide on GOV.UK.