Initial details of the impact of Right to Rent published

12th January 2017

Parliamentary minutes have revealed that 75 initial civil penalties were issued to landlords under the Right to Rent scheme in the year to October 31, 2016 .

The scheme has also seen 31 illegal immigrants deported from the UK.

Right to Rent, introduced nationwide in February 2016, requires landlords and their managing agents to ensure that all tenants over the age of 18 are legally entitled to live or remain in the UK.

Similarly if you offer a Finder’s Service, you as the agent will be responsible for undertaking the Right to Rent check. Critically the scheme requires all those over the age of 18 to be checked, not just people suspected of being an illegal immigrant.

In addition to civil penalties with fines of up to £3,000 per illegal immigrant, an update to The immigration Act which introduced the Right to Rent regime, now criminalises persistent failure to comply.

From 1st December 2016 “rogue landlords who are intent on flouting the law” may now fines and/or up to five years imprisonment; and in some cases further sanctions under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The Act will also make it easier to evict tenants in the event that they are found to be illegal migrants; such as in cases where the tenancy started before the Right to Rent regime and tenants whose visas have now expired.

For more information about how to comply, including the correct documentation and checks to obtain, CLICK HERE to read our Guide to Right to Rent.

Sign up below to start using Right to Rent checks today

 

Compliance in a Box is the industry recognised compliance solution developed in conjunction with the NAEA; adopted by Relocation Agent Network, The Guild of Property Professionals and Fine & Country. Right to Rent checks are available through Compliance in a Box and enable you to;

• verify the validity of any ID
• check whether you need further evidence such as a visa or biometric residency permit
• confirm whether this supporting documentation is genuine
• store checks and copies of all documents that are checked with a time stamped audit trail

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