Right to Rent Checks in 2026 — The Digital-First Update

How to complete a compliant Right to Rent check under the 2026 digital-first regime, and what the £20,000 civil penalty looks like in practice.

The Right to Rent scheme requires every landlord in England to verify that every adult occupier has the right to reside in the UK before granting a tenancy. Since 2026 the check is digital-first, but the manual route remains valid.

Which check applies to whom

British and Irish citizens. IDVT (Identity Document Validation Technology) using a certified provider, or the manual three-step check with an original passport.
EU/EEA nationals with pre-settled or settled status. Online check using the Home Office share-code service. There is no valid paper alternative.
Non-EEA nationals. Online share-code check based on the person's Home Office right to rent record. Paper documents like a BRP are no longer accepted from January 2026.

The three-step manual check (British and Irish only)

Obtain the original acceptable document — a current passport is the standard choice.
Check the document in the presence of the holder, either physically or over live video call.
Copy the document (all pages including expiry), record the date of the check and retain for the duration of the tenancy plus one year.

The IDVT route

An IDVT check via a certified provider costs £5–£25 per applicant, completes in minutes, and creates an audit trail the Home Office accepts. For a professional landlord it is now the cheapest way to be sure.

Follow-up checks

If the person had a time-limited right to rent, a follow-up check is required before it expires. Missing the follow-up is treated identically to missing the initial check.

The penalties in 2026

Civil penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal occupier for a repeat breach, £10,000 for a first breach.
Criminal offence carrying up to five years' imprisonment where the landlord knew or had reasonable cause to believe the tenant did not have the right to rent.

Discrimination risk

Applying checks selectively — for example only to non-white applicants — is unlawful under the Equality Act. Run the same process for every adult, every time.

Record retention

Keep every check for the length of the tenancy plus 12 months. Storage should be secure and accessible on request from the Home Office within a reasonable window.

How EstateVera helps

The tenancy setup flow runs Right to Rent as a checkbox item with the digital provider integration and stores the certified check reference on the tenancy. Follow-up dates auto-book into the compliance calendar with 30-day and 7-day reminders.