30th
Sep 2022
A trade body has sent out a timely reminder to all landlords and agents in England to be fully prepared for the major changes to carrying out Right to Rent checks starting from today - Friday 30th September.
The government’s reasons for the changes is down to the Home Office’s digitisation process, the ending of Covid adjusted checks as well as the completed Brexit transition period.
A spokesperson for the industry association, says: “A combination of factors mean it isn't a straight return from video checks to in-person checks. There are different requirements depending on the status of the prospective tenant that agents need to familiarise themselves with."
So from Friday 30th September all video calls for the checking process of British and Irish citizens brought in at the start of Covid are now replaced by face-to-face checks.
Agents and landlords will still be able to submit checks digitally but will have to sign up to a UK government-certified and paid-for IDSP - Digital identity service provider’s certification.
For overseas nationals’ checks agents landlords will either have to sign up to the Home Office’s real-time and free-to-access system using a digital share code and date of birth that the prospective tenants have to provide, or use an IDSP certification.
EU citizens without settled or pre-settled status, the list of ID acceptable provided documentation has been reduced as these applicants must now be treated as overseas nationals.
The spokesperson adds: “The new system of identity service providers offers the prospect of taking some of the work and risk away, but there are costs that agents will need to factor in which cannot be passed on under the tenant fees legislation.
"With high demand for rental properties it is vital that agents are aware of the changes and understand the different ways that checks can be carried out.”
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