House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Online right to rent checks
29 September 2020 · Home Office
Proposed by Chris Philp Con Croydon South
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- The Home Office is launching a new online right-to-rent checking service in November.
- The minister has laid before Parliament an amendment order to support the new online service for landlords and letting agents.
- Changes include enabling landlords to rely on the online service for non-EEA citizens with biometric residence permits or cards, and EEA citizens with status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
Issue summary
The statement discusses the launch of an online right-to-rent checking service for landlords and letting agents, alongside legislative changes to support this new system.
Action requested
The Home Office is launching a new online right to rent checking service in November. The minister has laid before Parliament the Immigration (Residential Accommodation) (Prescribed Requirements and Codes of Practice) (Amendment) Order 2020, which makes changes to the Right to Rent Scheme, including enabling landlords to rely on the new online service for non-EEA citizens with biometric residence permits or cards, and EEA citizens with status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
Key facts
- The Court of Appeal ruling in April confirmed the Right to Rent Scheme's lawfulness.
- The Home Office is launching a new online right-to-rent checking service for landlords and letting agents in November.
- Landlords will be able to undertake real-time checks for non-EEA citizens with valid biometric residence permits/cards or EEA citizens with status under the EU Settlement Scheme using an online service.
- The Order updates the list of prescribed documents, including short UK birth and adoption certificates as acceptable evidence.
- A draft revised Code of Practice reflecting these changes has been laid before Parliament.