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Right to Rent rules ‘confusing’ landlords
Landlords in are still confused
about new rules demanding they
vet tenants, according to tenant
screening agency Tenant Screening.
The Right to Rent rules were
introduced nationally in February,
following a pilot project run in the
Midlands. They require landlords to
make checks on prospective tenants to
ensure they have a right to rent in the
UK, and are part of the Government’s
clampdown on illegal immigrants.
Landlords need to ensure the tenant’s
passport or biometric residence
permit is genuine. Failing to carry out
this check can incur hefty fines for the
landlord or lettings agencies which are
managing tenancies.
But according to Swindon-based
Tenant Screening, which provides
a vetting service to landlords and
letting agents across the country, many
landlords are confused about what they
need to do, with some still unaware of
the Right to Rent rules.
“There is a lot of uncertainty among
landlords which is having an impact
on whether the Right to Rent checks
are being carried out effectively, or at
all,” said Kelvin McCarthy, Screening
Manager at Tenant Screening. “But the
consequences of not complying can be
a fine of up to £3,000 per tenant found
to be living illegally.”
Kelvin said some landlords thin