The rental activist group Generation Rent is demanding for a new amendment to the Renters Rights Bill that would scrap the Right to Rent scheme.

Currently, landlords or their agents are legally mandated by the government to verify  the immigration status of tenants to make sure they have the 'Right to Rent' in England. This requirement stems from the provisions laid out in the Immigration Acts of 2014 and 2016.

Despite the stipulation that landlords and agents should not make assumptions about who has the right to rent, Generation Rent points out that previous government research revealed that 25% of landlords were unwilling to rent to non-British passport holders, even if they were legally eligible to rent in the country.

According to Generation Rent's research, in 2022, over 40% of migrant private renters faced difficulties in securing accommodation due to their migrant status, and in its latest summer survey of landlords revealed that 24% of them felt unable to rent to individuals without UK passports.

In the same study, 56% of landlords who were hesitant to rent to non-UK passport holders was because the 'threat' of civil penalties under the Right to Rent policy.

According to an immigration service 85% of tenants reported receiving no response when they inquired about a new home and requested that the landlord or letting agent perform an online Right to Rent check.

Generation Rent says: “The Renters’ Reform Bill is a huge opportunity to reform and rebuild private renting for all. However, for it to be a successful Bill, it must reach those in most need of change. That is marginalised renters – especially those who are from migrant and minority ethnic communities – facing the sharpest end of the housing and rental crisis.

“For the Renters’ Rights Bill to reach through to marginalised communities it must end the Right to Rent policy.

“This discriminatory policy restricts the number of safe and secure homes available to migrant peoples and minority ethnic communities and forces many to choose between enduring poor quality and even dangerous living conditions and homelessness.”