All private landlords in the UK will have to check their tenants' immigration status from February 1 next year before renting out their property, the government announced today as it unveiled a new law to reform the country's immigration system.
Under the new rules, landlords who fail to check a potential tenant's 'Right to Rent' will face penalties of up to 3,000 pound per tenant.
The new law will mean that private landlords, including those who sub-let or take in lodgers, must check the right of prospective tenants to be in the country to avoid being hit with a penalty.
Right to Rent was introduced in the Immigration Act 2014 as part of the government's reforms to build a fairer and more effective immigration system.
The first phase was launched in parts of the West Midlands, and today's announcement is the next stage of the scheme's national roll out.
"Right to Rent checks are quick and simple, and many responsible landlords already do them as a matter of routine. We are providing landlords in England with all the advice and support they need before the checks go live on February 1, 2016," said Immigration Minister James Brokenshire.
"The new rules are part of the Immigration Act 2014 which introduced measures to reform the immigration system. Right to Rent is about deterring those who are illegally resident from remaining in the UK. Those with a legitimate right to be here will be able to prove this easily and will not be adversely affected," Brokenshire said.
He said the government's new Immigration Bill builds on the reforms in last year's Act, making it harder for people to live and work in the UK illegally.
The bill proposes new measures to make it easier for landlords to evict illegal tenants as well as a new criminal offence targeted at unscrupulous landlords who repeatedly fail to carry out Right to Rent checks.
Under Right to Rent, landlords should check identity documents for all new tenants and take copies.
The scheme has been designed to make it straightforward for people to evidence their right.
If a potential tenant has an outstanding immigration application or appeal with the Home Office, landlords can conduct a check on that person's 'right to rent' via the Landlords Checking Service.
The Immigration Act of 2014 made it harder for people to live in the UK illegally by restricting access to public services and benefits.
Nearly 36,000 immigration offenders were removed from the UK last year.
The new Immigration Bill includes a range of new powers to tackle illegal employment, including a new offence of illegal working, stop providing support to migrants who do not return home once all claims to asylum have failed.
