Government enforces hefty fines for landlords breaking right-to-rent rules

Government enforces hefty fines for landlords breaking right-to-rent rules

0:02 AM, 23rd January 2024, About 4 months ago 12

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Landlords and letting agents who break right-to-rent rules could be hit with huge financial penalties.

In August last year, the UK government announced that agents and landlords who allow rental properties to be let to migrants who do not have the right to be in the UK will face much larger financial penalties.

The legislation has now come into force this week where landlords could face a £20,000 fine.

Landlords could face prison

The penalties will increase from £80 per lodger and £1,000 per occupier for a first breach to up to £5,000 per lodger and £10,000 per occupier.

Repeat breaches will be up to £10,000 per lodger and £20,000 per occupier, up from £500 and £3,000 respectively.

Current rules mean that as well as facing a heavy fine, landlords could face potential imprisonment for failure to check the occupier’s right to rent status.

Landlords and agents have legal responsibility

All landlords and their agents in England have a legal responsibility under the Immigration Act 2014 legislation to prevent those without lawful immigration status from accessing the private rented sector.

The Home Office says landlords must complete one of these checks before commencing a tenancy:

  • A manual right to rent check (all citizens)
  • A right to rent check using Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) via the services of an Identity Service Provider (IDSP) (British and Irish citizens only)
  • A Home Office online right to rent check (non-British and non-Irish Citizens)

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Comments

Michael Booth

7:53 AM, 24th January 2024, About 4 months ago

Landlords are now boarder force officers now hey,best suggestion l can give is get out of prs asap.

Mick Roberts

16:20 PM, 27th January 2024, About 4 months ago

Another measure/fine totally unnecessary that is gonna' be that last one step too far to make us pack up & reduce supply again-Leaving those of us/u who remain being a Landlord/Landlady able to charge the earth & boy oh boy am I charging as much as I can get as I/We never know where the next attack is coming from & need the funds in to pay for it.

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