The Home Office has issued landlords and letting agents with fresh guidance for undertaking Right to Rent checks when letting privately rented accommodation.

The most significant updates contained in this guidance relate to changes in the way Biometric Residence Card, Biometric Residence Permit (BRC/BRPs) and Frontier Worker Permit (FWPs) holders prove their right to rent in England.

The new Code paves the way for the introduction of certified digital identity service providers (IDSPs) which will run digital identity checks for British and Irish Citizens as part of the Home Office’s introduction of identity document validation technology (IDVT) framework.

Right To Rent, which are generally unpopular with landlords, can currently be conducted virtually – until 30 September 2022 – as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Following the end of adjusted checks, digital checks on UK and Irish nationals will only be permitted through identity service providers who will provide this in exchange for a fee.

Agents can continue to use specified hard copy documents for UK and Irish nationals or BJ5SSK nationals (nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and the USA) but if IDSP is offered, agents must not discriminate against applicants that would prefer to provide hard copy documents checked either online to 30th September 2022, or in person.

To view the guidance, click here.