Changes to the Right to Rent process have now come into force, introducing new requirements for landlords and letting agents carrying out digital immigration checks.
From today, digital Right to Rent checks must be completed through a registered Digital Verification Service Provider (DVSP).
Checks completed through providers that are not registered will no longer provide the statutory excuse that can protect landlords and agents from civil penalties.
What Landlords Need To Know
The Right to Rent scheme requires landlords and their agents to establish whether prospective tenants have the legal right to rent a property in England.
Digital checks are one of the methods available for verifying a tenant’s status. Under the updated rules, landlords and agents using digital verification must make sure they are working with an approved DVSP.
Failing to complete the required checks correctly can result in significant penalties. Landlords or agents can face fines of up to £20,000 per occupier where Right to Rent requirements are breached.
Updated Right to Rent Guidance
The changes also come alongside an updated Right to Rent code of practice.
The revised guidance explains:
- Which types of residential tenancy are covered by the Right to Rent scheme
- Who is permitted to occupy residential accommodation
- How landlords and agents can establish and keep a statutory excuse against civil penalties
- How compliance will be assessed if a breach of the scheme is identified
Landlords should ensure their procedures reflect the latest requirements and that records of the relevant checks are properly retained.
What Is IDVT?
Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) is another government-approved method used to verify identity.
The process can use information such as biometric data and the chip contained within a passport, alongside other checks, to help confirm an individual’s identity.
Where digital verification is used, landlords and agents need to make sure the process meets the requirements of the updated Right to Rent system.
Tenancy Fraud Concerns
The changes come amid concerns about the scale of tenancy fraud in the private rented sector.
Research from Goodlord estimated that tenancy fraud could be costing the UK’s private rented sector as much as £4.1 billion each year.
The analysis also found that suspected tenancy fraud increased by 40% during 2025 compared with the previous year.
The figures highlight why accurate identity and immigration status checks remain an important part of the rental process.
Landlords Should Review Their Procedures
With the new requirements now in place, landlords and letting agents should review how they carry out digital Right to Rent checks.
Using an appropriate verification provider and following the updated code of practice can help ensure the required statutory excuse is maintained.
The Home Office provides detailed guidance on the Right to Rent process, including the checks landlords need to complete and the documents they may need to review.
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