British or Irish Nationals
British and Irish citizens have an unlimited right to rent in the UK. You can conduct checks on those with an unlimited right to rent at any time before the start of a tenancy agreement. You must retain the evidence of the check with the date of when the check was carried out, for the duration of the tenancy agreement and for at least one year thereafter. You do not need to conduct any further checks.
Step 1
Obtain
You must obtain original documents to conduct the check; either one from List A Group 1 or two from List A Group 2 of the acceptable document list.
Step 2
Check
In the presence of the prospective tenant or tenants you must check that the:
- documents are genuine
- documents have not been tampered with
- person presenting them is the prospective or existing tenant and the rightful holder
- photographs and dates of birth are consistent across documents and with the person’s appearance in order to detect impersonation
- reasons for any difference in names across documents can be explained by providing evidence (for example original marriage certificate, divorce decree absolute, deed poll)
- immigration Permission to Enter or Stay in the UK has not expired
Government-Certified Digital Right to Rent Checks Now Available
With our digitised Right to Rent checks, we use facial biometrics and Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) to verify the authenticity of your applicant’s ID document and ensure your tenant is the rightful owner of the document.
Find out more
For Tenant Authenticate customers please access this service here.
Guidance on examining documents
Guidance on examining identity documents can be found on GOV.UK.
If you are provided with a false document or a genuine document that does not belong to them, you should report the individual to the Home Office online, or call their helpline on 0300 790 6268, Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4:45pm Friday, 9am to 4:30pm.
Step 3
Copy
You must make a clear copy of each document in a format which cannot be altered later and retain the copy securely: electronically or in hardcopy.
You must also retain a secure record of the date on which you made the check. Simply writing a date on the copy document does not, in itself, confirm that this is the actual date when the check was undertaken. If you write a date on the copy document, you must also record that this is the date on which you conducted the check. This date may be written on the document copy as follows: ‘the date on which this right to work check was made: [insert date].
Passports
- For passports you must keep a copy of any page with:
- the document expiry date
- the holder’s nationality
- date of birth
- signature
- biometric details
- photograph
- any page containing information indicating the holder has an entitlement to permission, Enter or Stay in the UK (visa or entry stamp)
All other documents
You must make a copy of the documents in full.
You must retain the copies securely for at least one year after the tenancy agreement comes to an end. The copies must then be securely destroyed.