Who must be checked
Every adult aged 18 or over who will live at the property as their main home must be checked. This includes people who are not named on the tenancy agreement, such as adult children or partners. You cannot assume someone is British or has settled status; you must see and copy an acceptable document for each person.
Before the tenancy starts
Carry out the check in the presence of the holder, either in person or by live video link. You must see the original document, check that it belongs to the person showing it, and make a clear copy that cannot be altered later.
- Passport or travel document showing indefinite leave to remain.
- Biometric residence permit or card.
- Certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen.
- A combination of two documents from List B if the person has a time-limited right to rent.
Record keeping
Keep a copy of every document checked, the date the check was carried out, and the address of the property being let. For passports, copy the page with the photograph and expiry date, plus any page containing a visa or entry stamp. Store records securely for at least one year after the tenancy ends.
Follow-up checks for time-limited rights
If a tenant's right to rent is time-limited, you must carry out a follow-up check before the later of either twelve months from the previous check or the expiry of the person's permission to be in the UK. If the follow-up check reveals that the tenant no longer has a right to rent, you must report it and take steps to end the tenancy lawfully.
Penalties for getting it wrong
A landlord who lets to someone without a right to rent, or who fails to carry out the required checks, can face a civil penalty of up to £3,000 per tenant and may lose the statutory excuse against liability. In serious cases, landlords can be prosecuted and the property may be subject to a letting restriction.
How Signlet helps
Signlet lets landlords store the tenancy agreement, identity documents, check dates and message history against a single tenancy record. If a right to rent check is ever questioned, the documents and dates are already in one place rather than scattered across email and paper files.
Keep reading
General information about renting in England and Wales. Signlet is not a law firm — check your own circumstances before relying on any of it.