Important changes to right to rent for landlords
With rental legislation constantly changing, it can be difficult to keep up with all of the requirements.
As market experts, we keep our customers informed every step of the way. And working alongside landlords allows us to help make sure all the boxes are checked.
On the 1st February this year, the government introduced new legislation changing the way landlords and letting agents carry out checks on new tenants. This blog series will break down what the legislation means for us as agents and landlords, and what action we need to take to comply.
So, what is the right to rent scheme and what’s new?
The right to rent scheme has been developed as a part of the Immigration Act 2014 in order to create a fairer immigration system.
Changes to right to rent now make it a legal requirement for landlords to check that their prospective tenant is legally able to rent a home in the UK.
Many landlords will already be doing this, however the changes mean that citizenship checks are compulsory, and documentation should be copied and recorded. Landlords who don’t carry out these checks could face penalties of up to £3,000, as well as risking the eviction of their tenants.
In the face of such large penalties, it’s important to be vigilant. In our next blog will be covering the circumstances where the new rules apply, as well as looking at exemptions.
For more information on how we work with landlords, visit the webpage or get in touch.
