Right to Rent check rules for landlords 2026

What you must do

In England you must check that every adult who will live in the property as their only or main home has the right to rent, before the tenancy begins. For occupiers with time-limited immigration status you must carry out a follow-up check when their status is due to expire. Civil penalties per occupier rose sharply in 2024 — confirm the current amount. Keep dated copies of the evidence for the duration of the tenancy plus one year.

This is a legal obligation for private landlords in England. Keeping dated records is the simplest way to prove you have met it if a tenant, council or lender ever asks.

How often / when

At the start of each new tenancy.

CertSafe works out the exact next-due date for your property automatically once you enter when it was last done, and reminds you at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 days before — plus if anything slips overdue.

The penalty for getting it wrong

Civil penalty per occupier (increased in 2024); criminal liability for knowing breaches.

Penalties are set by legislation and enforced by local authorities or the courts. They can also complicate possession, mortgage and insurance matters, which is why lenders increasingly ask to see a compliance record.

Your quick checklist

1. Find the date this was last done (or arrange it now if it hasn't been).

2. Keep the certificate or record somewhere safe and give any required copy to your tenant.

3. Diarise the next deadline — or let CertSafe track it and remind you.

Frequently asked questions