The short answer
Before a tenancy starts in England, the landlord must check that every adult who will live in the home has the right to rent, British and Irish citizens included. You prove it with an original document such as a passport, or with a share code from GOV.UK if you have an eVisa or settled or pre-settled status. At GladStay the check is mandatory and happens after you apply, before you sign.
- Who is checked
- Every adult
- Applies in
- England
- Proof
- ID or share code
On this page9 sections
What a Right to Rent check is
A Right to Rent check is a legal requirement for landlords in England. Before a new tenancy begins, the landlord (or an agent acting for them) must confirm that each adult who will use the property as their main home is allowed to rent in the UK. It does not apply in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Landlords must check all new tenants aged 18 and over, even someone who is not named on the tenancy agreement. It is against the law to check only the people a landlord thinks are not British, and a landlord must not discriminate against anyone because of where they are from.
Why landlords take it seriously
Renting to someone without the right to rent can mean a civil penalty of up to £10,000 per tenant for a first breach and up to £20,000 for further breaches, and in some cases prison.
If you are a British or Irish citizen
Show your landlord one of these original documents:
- a British passport, current or expired
- an Irish passport or Irish passport card, current or expired
- a certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen
No passport? You may be able to use two documents together, for example a UK driving licence (full or provisional), a full UK birth certificate, a letter from your employer, a letter from a UK government department or council, or a letter from your British school, college or university. Letters usually need to be dated within the last 3 months.
Some landlords use a Digital Verification Service: you upload a photo of your passport to a secure platform instead of handing it over. British and Irish citizens cannot get a share code.
If you are not a British or Irish citizen
You can choose between two ways of proving your right to rent:
A share code (online)
If you have an eVisa, settled or pre-settled status, or another UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account, get a share code on GOV.UK’s Prove your right to rent (opens in a new tab) service. You need your date of birth and the details of your passport, national identity card or biometric residence permit. Give the code to your landlord, who checks your status online.
Your original immigration documents
A passport, Home Office travel document or immigration status document with a Home Office endorsement (a stamp or a vignette sticker) showing your permission to stay. It usually needs to be current and to cover the time you will be renting.
Biometric residence permits
A physical biometric residence permit (BRP) or card is no longer accepted as proof. You can still use an expired BRP for 18 months after its expiry date to get a share code.
A landlord cannot reject you because you offered an eligible original document instead of a share code: the choice is yours.
If your permission to stay is time-limited
- The check must be done in the 28 days before the tenancy starts.
- Your landlord must do follow-up checks while you rent, timed around when your permission to stay ends, to confirm you can still rent.
- British and Irish citizens, and anyone with no time limit on their stay, do not need follow-up checks while they stay in the same property.
If you cannot show the documents
If the Home Office has your documents, or you have an outstanding application or appeal, your landlord can ask the Home Office directly through the Landlord Checking Service. They will need your Home Office reference number, and the answer comes within 2 working days.
Commonwealth citizens without the right documents may still have the right to rent, and may be able to get documents through the Windrush Scheme.
What happens to your documents
Your landlord must check the originals with you present (or view your share code online), then return your originals. They keep a copy, or a record of the online check, with the date it was made, for as long as you rent from them and for one year after you leave, in line with data protection law.
How Right to Rent works at GladStay
Apply and reserve
You choose a room, complete the application form and pay the holding deposit (capped at one week’s rent).
Complete your checks
You receive an email asking you to complete the required checks, including Right to Rent and references, with clear instructions on how to provide your documents.
Approval and signing
Without completed Right to Rent checks we cannot legally move forward. Once the checks are approved, you receive the tenancy agreement via DocuSign.
Check-in
Bring your original ID to check-in where legally required.
Get ready early
If you will use a share code, generate it before you apply so the check doesn’t hold up your move. Failing a Right to Rent check is one of the reasons a holding deposit can be kept: see holding deposits explained.
Questions and answers
Do British citizens need a Right to Rent check?
Yes. In England every new tenant aged 18 or over must be checked, whatever their nationality. British citizens usually show a passport, which can be current or expired.
Can I use an expired passport?
Yes, if it is a British passport or an Irish passport or passport card. Other passports usually need to be current, unless they show a status such as indefinite leave to remain.
Can I use my biometric residence permit?
Not as a physical document. Use a share code instead: you can still use a BRP for 18 months after its expiry date to get one on GOV.UK.
When is the Right to Rent check done?
Before the tenancy starts. If your permission to stay is time-limited, the check must be done in the 28 days before the start date.
Do Right to Rent checks apply in Scotland or Wales?
No. Right to Rent checks apply to homes in England only.
What happens if I fail a Right to Rent check?
The landlord cannot legally rent to you. Under the Tenant Fees Act, failing a Right to Rent check is also one of the reasons a holding deposit can be kept.
Is the Right to Rent check mandatory at GladStay?
Yes. Right to Rent checks are mandatory in England and must be completed before moving in. You receive clear instructions by email on how to provide your documents.
Sources
Checked against these official sources on 25 October 2026:
About this guide
Written by the GladStay team: 1,500+ tenants helped since 2013. We check our guides against the official sources above and update them when the rules change. This is general information for England, not legal advice: for your own situation, use the official sources or get independent advice.
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