Stricter Right to Rent Rules Could Mean Huge Fines for Landlords and Agents

In a significant development today, landlords and letting agents are urged to be extra vigilant in conducting Right to Rent checks as fines see a dramatic surge. The penalties have escalated from £80 per lodger to a staggering £5,000, while fines for each occupier have risen from £1,000 to a hefty £10,000.

Repeat offenders will face even more severe consequences, with fines escalating to £10,000 per lodger and a substantial £20,000 per occupier.

The Right to Rent policy, introduced by the UK government in 2016, places the responsibility on landlords and letting agents to verify the immigration status of their tenants.

Costas Frangeskou, the Director of Growth at Goodlord, emphasized the critical importance of landlords and letting agents staying vigilant, stating, “These huge sums mean it’s absolutely vital that landlords and letting agents stay vigilant and ensure they have all the processes in place to make sure their adult tenants have the Right to Rent.”

Lauren Hughes, Head of Customer Success at Vouch, warned against negligence in implementing compliance measures, stating, “For those that avoid or put off implementing measures that will ensure compliance, it’s a sure fire way to land yourself in hot water later down the line. Agents should be making sure their landlords are covered and that their processes aren’t set up to fail.”

Hughes highlighted the advent of IDVT (Identity Verification Technology), government-approved for use in 2022, making it easier for agents to stay compliant. However, she cautioned that those who fall foul of the rules will face challenges in explaining their lapses. The heightened fines underscore the need for a proactive approach to ensure adherence to Right to Rent regulations in the evolving landscape of the rental market.

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