Right to Rent checks: what changed in October 2026?

The Home Office has updated its Right to Rent guidance for landlords in England. The new version applies to checks carried out on or after 1 October 2026.

This is an update to an existing checking system. It is not the launch of England's new rental property register, and it does not change how UpRently compares rent evidence.

If you arrange Right to Rent checks, use the current Home Office guide (opens in new tab). This article explains the main changes and where to look next. It is not a complete checking procedure.

What is a Right to Rent check?

A Right to Rent check establishes whether someone is allowed to rent residential accommodation in England under the relevant immigration rules.

For tenancies covered by the scheme, landlords must check adult occupiers before the tenancy starts. This includes people who will live there as their only or main home even if they are not named in the tenancy agreement.

The government's overview (opens in new tab) explains who needs checking and which accommodation is excluded. Do not assume every housing arrangement falls within the same rules.

Right to Rent is different from a credit check, affordability check or rent comparison. Completing one does not mean the others have been done.

What changed on 1 October?

The Home Office's summary of changes (opens in new tab) includes:

• updated requirements where a digital verification service provider is used, including the use of registered providers
• changes to the lists of acceptable documents, including provision for digital versions
• updated guidance reflecting the increased use of eVisas
• clearer information about evidence for European Economic Area citizens and their family members

The practical point is to review the current guidance and your checking process. An old checklist may no longer describe every acceptable document or digital route accurately.

What does this mean for digital checking services?

A commercial digital identity service is not the same as the Home Office's online Right to Rent service.

If you use a digital verification service provider, the updated guidance says to choose a registered provider. Do not assume a general identity-checking product covers this purpose.

The landlord must still meet the requirements that apply to them. Buying a service is not a reason to skip checking that the result relates to the person who will occupy the property, or to overlook record keeping.

Use the Home Office guide's digital provider section (opens in new tab) to check the current requirements and follow its link to the official provider register.

How do eVisas fit in?

An eVisa is an online record of a person's immigration status. Where a person holds only an eVisa, the Home Office guidance says the landlord must use the official online Right to Rent checking service to establish a statutory excuse against a civil penalty.

The person supplies a Right to Rent share code and their date of birth. The landlord checks the result through the official service and follows the identity and record-keeping requirements.

Looking at a screenshot or printout of the person's own account is not the same as carrying out that check. The official guidance says it is not sufficient to rely on what the person sees through their own account.

Do not ask someone to send immigration documents to UpRently. UpRently does not carry out Right to Rent checks or assess immigration status.

What if someone cannot use the online route?

Do not assume that a difficulty generating a share code means the person has no right to rent.

The Home Office guidance explains alternative evidence routes and when the Landlord Checking Service may help. Which route is available depends on the person's circumstances.

If an eVisa contains an error, the person should use the official route for reporting that error. The guidance distinguishes that from asking the Landlord Checking Service to verify a person's position.

Avoid improvising your own test. Use the current official instructions and seek qualified advice if the situation is unclear.

Apply the checks fairly

Check everyone the scheme requires you to check. Do not select people because of their name, accent, appearance or assumed nationality.

The official guide says you cannot require a person to prove their right to rent using a particular method, and people should have a reasonable opportunity to use an available one.

A time-limited right to rent should not, by itself, lead to less favourable treatment. The Home Office guide links to the code on avoiding unlawful discrimination.

Review records and follow-up dates

Check that your process records when the check took place and keeps the required evidence securely. The Home Office guidance sets out what to retain for each checking method, including keeping copies securely for at least one year after the tenancy ends.

Some circumstances require a follow-up check. The timing is not something to guess from a document's expiry date alone. Follow the official rules for the person's status and the protection created by the original check.

The October update does not mean this article can determine which existing occupiers need checking again. Review the official follow-up guidance for the relevant case.

Reviewing the rent as well?

Right to Rent checks happen before a tenancy starts. If you are also thinking about the rent for an existing tenancy, read how landlords can propose a fair rent increase and what landlords need to get right with Form 4A. The free rent check compares a proposed rent with similar homes nearby.

About this guide

UpRently's role is to help compare proposed rents with local market evidence. This guide is general information for England, not immigration or legal advice. For housing support, contact Shelter (opens in new tab) or Citizens Advice (opens in new tab).