Who you have to check
You must check that a tenant or lodger can legally rent your residential property in England.
Before the start of a new tenancy, you must make checks for all tenants aged 18 and over, even if:
- they’re not named on the tenancy agreement
- there’s no tenancy agreement
- the tenancy agreement isn’t in writing
Check all new tenants. It’s against the law to only check people you think aren’t British citizens.
If the tenant is only allowed to stay in the UK for a limited time, you need to do the check in the 28 days before the start of the tenancy.
How to do a check
Because of coronavirus (COVID-19) there are temporary changes to the way you can check documents. Read guidance about the adjusted process, including asking for documents digitally, making checks on a video call, and what to do if someone cannot provide any accepted documents.
- Check which adults will use your property as their main home (your ‘tenants’).
- Ask them for original documents that prove they can live in the UK.
- Check their documents to see if they have the right to rent your property.
- Check that each tenant’s documents are genuine and belong to them, with the tenant present.
- Make and keep copies of the documents and record the date you made the check.
See more information on the Government website here:
