Right-to-rent and right-to-work checks have been adapted to make it easier for landlords and employers to carry them out during the coronavirus outbreak, the Home Secretary has announced.

Effective immediately, the temporary changes will mean the Home Office will not require landlords and employers to see original documents and will allow checks to be undertaken over video calls.

These temporary changes will mean that during the coronavirus outbreak prospective renters and workers are now able to submit scanned documents, rather than originals, to show they have a right to rent or right to work.

Checks continue to be necessary and it is an offence to knowingly employ or let property to anyone who does not have legal immigration status in the UK.

If a prospective or existing tenant or employee cannot provide any of the accepted documents, the landlord or employer should use the Landlord Checking Service or Employer Checking Service.

Home Secretary, Priti Patel, said:

“I have introduced these temporary changes to help employers and landlords conduct checks more easily as people follow advice to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives, during the coronavirus outbreak.”

Once the temporary changes end, landlords and employers will be asked to carry out the full checks on existing tenants and employees who rented a property or started work during the pandemic.

The right-to-rent scheme requires landlords to check that all tenants who occupy their properties have legal status to live in the UK.

Right-to-work checks are a requirement on employers to make sure a job applicant is allowed to work in the UK before employing them.

You can read full guidance on what this means for employers and landlords.