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    Right to Rent Changes 2022: What You Need to…

    Changes to how tenants can prove their Right to Rent in the UK are just one example of the many legislative changes for the lettings sector in the last few years. These frequent right to rent changes can make it difficult for landlords to know how to keep up and keep their rental properties and tenancies compliant.

    Right to Rent Checks Advice for Landlords

    Right to rent legislation for landlords and agents from the UK government has changed multiple times over the last couple of years, particularly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. But what are the newest changes and how can you make sure you’re doing the right thing? That’s where we come in. Check out our list of frequently asked questions from landlords on Right to Rent checks below…

    Got more questions? Our Landlord Compliance Guide has everything you need to know about the latest legislation changes for rental properties in England.

    Compliance Guide for Landlords 2022

    Download the full guide for FREE here.

    What are right to rent checks?

    Right to Rent checks refer to mandatory checks that landlords in England need to carry out on all prospective tenants. This includes those subletting or those taking in lodgers, and the checks are to ensure that all tenants have the right to rent in England before entering into an agreement. The idea of these checks was introduced after the Immigration Act 2014.

    Checks include verifying the identity of your tenants through physical or online government documents and checking their right to reside in the UK through these.

    Generally, to have a right to rent in England means tenants:

    • Are a British Citizen
    • Are an EEA or Swiss National
    • Otherwise have a ‘Right to Rent’ in the UK

    Who needs to be checked?

    All prospective tenants and permitted occupiers over the age of 18 should be checked before a let is agreed.

    These checks must also be followed up on any renewal of tenancies in the case that a tenant’s residence permit or visa expires during the tenancy. They must also be carried out on any children included in a tenancy upon renewal if that child has turned 18 throughout the tenancy.

    What documents can you use?

    The government guidance on which physical documents can be checked changed at the beginning of April 2022.

    Currently, for UK and Irish citizens, right to rent can be proven with either a UK or Irish passport or a combination of two other examples of photo I.D (such as a UK driving licence and birth certificate).

    For EU and international citizens who hold residency in the UK (for either a time-limited period or unlimited period), checks now need to be completed using the UK Gov’s online checking service. This uses the tenant’s date of birth and a share code that they must provide to you.

     

    The official UK government guidance (plus accessible versions) can be found by clicking here.

    What are the Right to Rent changes?

    Until 6th April 2022, Biometric Residence Permits for international citizens were still valid to be used as I.D documents for right to rent checks, however this has now changed.

    Anyone who is not a UK or Irish citizen must now use the government online checking service and provide a share code and their date of birth to their landlord or agent for the check to be completed.

    Later this year the UK government are hoping to also replace physical document checks for UK and Irish citizens so everything will be digitized. There are introducing new technology called IDSPs that citizens will be able to set up and verify their identity remotely. However, these are still in development, and we can’t be sure when they will be released for general use yet.

    Conclusion

    Landlords are facing fines of £3,000 per tenant for not completing these checks (or having a managing agent complete them), so it’s incredibly important to ensure these checks are carried out properly.

    Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone!

    Our property management packages could be the solution you’re looking for. We take care of everything, including checking your new tenant’s right to rent. Or, if you’re still not sure, you can download our free guide for landlords on the most important pieces of compliance you need to keep in mind in 2022.

    Download your free guide here!

    For more information on tenant’s Right to Rent, visit the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/check-tenant-right-to-rent-documents

    Tenant FAQs

    Frequently Asked Questions for Tenants

    Frequently Asked Questions for Tenants

    Renting a property as a tenant, whether for the first time or not, can be confusing. The laws and legislations for tenants, landlords and agents are constantly changing, so it’s important to know your rights and responsibilities with each tenancy. In this section of frequently asked questions for tenants we hope to answer some of the most common questions we receive from applicants and tenants.

    Got a question we didn’t cover? Let us know via email.

    Applying for a Property

    • Income confirmed at 2.5x yearly rental amount (for example, if the asking rent on a property was £750PCM, tenants would have to confirm yearly income of £22,500 per annum (750.00 x 12 x 2.5) (OR can provide a homeowner guarantor with income 3x yearly rental amount)
    • No adverse credit (CCJs, IVAs, etc. (OR if minor adverse credit, can provide a homeowner guarantor with income 3x yearly rental amount)
    • Right to rent in the UK (find the UK Gov Right to Rent Guide here for more information)
    If you’re self-employed, our referencing company will be looking at your last year’s tax return information to prove your income, and this will need to be 2.5x the yearly rent as stated above. If you’ve been self-employed for less than a year, or fail to provide this information, you will most likely be asked to provide a homeowner guarantor for your application to be able to pass
    No matter what your credit situation, it’s vital that you disclose any adverse credit BEFORE you apply for a rental property. You will usually be asked to disclose this when booking your viewing. Your credit profile WILL be checked when going through referencing. If you are untruthful and are found to have adverse credit that you did not disclose, this is usually an automatic 'Unacceptable' referencing result. Depending on the severity of your adverse credit (e.g. if you have an IVA or if you have satisfied any CCJS), you may be able to pass through referencing with or without a guarantor However, again it is vital you disclose this to us before continuing with an application so we can find the best option for you.
    Paying rent upfront for the duration of a tenancy is certainly an option if there is another reason why you are not able to pay monthly This would have to be agreed between yourself, us as the agent, and the landlord before it is accepted For example, if your monthly rent was £750PCM and you wanted to pay upfront for a tenancy of 12 months, this would be a total of £9000 upfront. This does NOT include your deposit. Despite paying upfront, you will still be asked to go through a referencing process, which will include previous landlord references, income references and a credit/background check.
    Our referencing process is nothing to be worried about! It's used to ensure that applicants are able to afford the rent on a property and that they are a suitable tenant. Our referencing checks include use of banking data (which you can opt in or out of), credit and background checks, previous landlord references and income checks (employment status & salary).
    A guarantor is someone who agrees to be named on a tenancy agreement and is liable for the rent should a tenant be unable to pay.
    A guarantor would need to go through much of the same process as a tenant when going through an application. Guarantors would need to provide up-to-date photo I.D and proof of Right to Rent in the UK They would also need to complete a referencing process, proving their credit history, background check, previous landlord reference and employment/income. Guarantors need to prove their identity by bringing the original copy of their photo I.D into the office before keys can be handed over to a tenant Guarantors also need to read and sign the tenancy agreement before keys can be handed over
    Each property that we rent, and each landlord, is different. This means that whether or not pets may be accepted is dependent on many things. It can depend on the lease the landlord has on the property, the size of the property, the type and breed of the pets in question, etc. When you find a property you're interested in, feel free to ask on your enquiry whether pets may be accepted. Some landlords may agree to have pets in the property but for a slightly higher rental amount, so it is always worth an ask!
    For all our rental properties, the deposit is calculated as 5 x the weekly rental amount. For example, if the rental amount was £750PCM, this would be calculated as 750.00 x 12 (yearly rent) divided by 52 (weekly rent) x 5 = deposit of £865.00
    When you rent a property, your landlord and agent puts trust in you to keep the property in a good condition. A deposit is held to ensure that any damages (over and above fair wear and tear) can be corrected at the end of the tenancy.
    At Move On, we can offer a Nil Deposit Scheme that allows tenants to pay a lower 'check-in fee' rather than a full deposit to lower the costs of moving. For more information on this, please get in touch.
    As a general rule, we like to allow at least two weeks between the signing of holding deposit documents (the first stage of an application) and a move in if a property is ready at that stage. This allows us and you plenty of time to complete the application and get everything ready. HOWEVER, this is dependent on the property itself and when it has been advertised as 'Available From' It may be the case that the property is not available until a specific future date, but your move in date will be agreed between yourself and our negotiators on your application.

    Living in the Property

    Unless stated in the advert or at the initial stages of an application, bills are not included in the rental of a property However, usually bills are included in HMO rooms! The arrangement and payment of bills such as council tax, water, electric, gas and broadband are your responsibility as a tenant (unless otherwise stated in your rental agreement). You will be responsible for ensuring your bills are paid fully and on time. At Move On, we partner with a company called Just Move In. Just Move In provide free services for tenants and movers in that they will alert utilities providers (such as the council, etc.) that a new occupier has moved into the property, so you won't need to worry about this. Just Move In also offer a complimentary Home Setup Service which includes a setup call with yourself and they will assist you (for free!) to help set up your tariffs and bills. For more information on Just Move In and how it works, click here or email us on enquiries@moveon.biz with your questions.
    This depends on the type of repair. If damage was made by yourself, you will most likely be responsible for fixing the issue (but make sure you tell your letting agent and/or landlord if anything happens in the first instance before trying to repair anything yourself!) In general, the landlord is responsible for maintaining the property in a good state of repair. They will either take care of this directly, or do so via an agent like Move On. When you sign your tenancy agreement, make sure you know who to go to when there’s an issue throughout your tenancy.
    Please do not make any decorative or other changes to a property you are renting without express written permission from the landlord. You are welcome to ask this question of your landlord at any time, either to them directly, or through the managing agent such as Move On. If you do receive permission to make changes to a property, we recommend keeping a dated record of this (i.e. an email) in case there is a dispute at the end of the tenancy regarding the change made.
    If you are in a fixed term tenancy, you are liable for the rent on the property until the fixed term is over. If you are on a periodic (rolling) contract, your tenancy agreement will detail the steps you need to take and notice you need to give if you'd like to vacate the property.
    Information For Tenants

    Information for Tenants

    Information for Tenants

    At Move On, we aim to do our best to use our knowledge and experience to make sure everyone involved in the lettings process is always in the loop, and this includes our tenants. It’s important that every tenant knows what is going on with the property they are renting or applying for, and that they have all the right information from the get-go.

    Being a tenant in today’s world can be a stressful experience, but our hope is that both the tenant’s and landlord’s experiences can be made as simple and stress-free as possible.

    Looking to rent a property through Move On? Here’s how the process goes…

    Applying for a Rental Property

    2022
    Sign Up To Our Mailing List
    Available Properties to Rent

    Scroll to the bottom of this page to find our Sign Up form and input your details to be notified whenever a new property becomes available to view.

    2022
    Book Your Viewing

    Once you’ve seen a property you’re interested in, give us a call to book in your viewing. Alternatively, you can send us a message on Facebook, Instagram, or via email at enquiries@moveon.biz.

    2022
    Information For Booking

    Upon booking, you will be asked the following, so it’s best to have this info to hand: Your contact details Who is moving with you (adults, children & pets) When are you looking to move by? Tenant’s current occupation & salary? Any adverse credit (CCJS, IVAS, etc.)?

    2022
    Register Your Interest
    Viewing Properties to Rent

    If you’re interested in renting the property after your viewing, register your interest by telling us you’d like to apply. You can do this via phone, email, or face-to-face at the end of your viewing!

    2022
    Your Offer’s Agreed!
    Applying for Rental Properties

    Once your offer of interest has been accepted by the landlord, we will send you some documents online via Signable to fill out and confirm the details of the let.

    2022
    I.D Checks and Holding Deposit

    When we’ve received the forms back signed from all tenants, we will ask for proof of photo I.D (this is required for Right to Rent checks) and payment of a holding deposit (1x weeks’ worth of rent)

    2022
    Referencing Checks
    Employer Referencing for Rental Property

    Once we have received payment of the holding deposit and I.D from all tenants, you’ll be submitted for referencing through our partners at Homelet. You will receive an email inviting you to fill out an online referencing form. This will use employer references, credit checks and previous landlord references to make a final decision.

    2022
    Referencing Passed
    Rental Application Passed

    Once references are acceptable and passed for each tenant, we will begin creating the move in documents ready for your move in date. They will be sent via Signable prior to your picking up the keys.

    2022
    Prior to Picking Up Keys

    Before moving in and picking up keys, you will need to verify your I.D in person; pay your first month’s rent and deposit (5 weeks’ rent equiv.) and have signed your move in documents.

    2022
    Welcome to Your New Home!
    Picking Up Keys for Rental Properties

    Still not sure about whether you might be the right fit for one of our properties, or not sure whether you should apply? Read our FAQs for Tenants.

    If you’ve still got questions about the process or your application, please give us a call on 01202 711169.

    Blog Articles

    Selling Tenanted Properties

    Selling Tenanted Properties

    Why being a specialist in selling tenanted properties is important versus the general high street agent!

    Over the years, we have sold many tenanted properties and we are very successful in doing this. We understand the lettings industry compliance side and because of this we know and understand why it is important to get it right from day one.

    Selling tenanted properties is a win-win for all parties involved. The seller, the buyer and the tenant!

    THE SELLER

    The Seller wants to sell the property with the tenant in situ normally for a couple of reasons. They have long standing tenants and do not want to disrupt their lives or the seller may have a mortgage on the property that would be financially difficult to cover if they were to sell the property empty.

    Solution – selling the property with the tenant in situ will mean receiving rental income up to the day of completion.

    THE BUYER

    Dependent on the experience of the buyer, there can be some anxious moments. Typically, a new landlord will have the following questions:

    1.      Will I really achieve the rental amount being quoted by the agent?

    2.      How long will it take until a tenant can move in, how long will my void period be?

    3.      What kind of tenant will the property attract?

    Solution – buy a property with a tenant in situ and receive rent from day one. You will meet the tenant, you will know exactly how much rent you will achieve and you should receive a rental statement showing them paying their rent on time each month.

    THE TENANT

    The tenant will automatically be worried as soon as the property is advertised. They will worry they will have to leave their home, they will worry about being made homeless. The lack of security may persuade them to move out as soon as they find somewhere, leaving the seller with no rental income.

    Solution – Liaise with the tenant, work with the tenant, be transparent and let them know an investor is being sought.

    When all sides work together, the outcome is a win for sellers, a win for buyers and a win for the tenants.

    COMPLIANCE

    Because we have sold so many, we also know that it is absolutely vital to make sure all paperwork is in order at the beginning and our expertise can help ensure the smooth process of a completion, with hopefully no nasty surprises down the road. We will look at the tenancy paperwork and the compliance certificates along with proof certain paperwork were issued to the tenant at the correct times including the prescribed information and Deposit certificates. If the paperwork is not in order, this can cause fines later down the road or unable to gain possession of your property if the need arose (for example the tenant not paying their rent).

     

    ABOUT US

    Move On Sales and Lettings area multi-award winning agency and have been established for 15 years under the ownership of Sharon Canning. Sharon became a landlord at the age of 19 and has worked in the real estate industry for 36 years and personally owns a portfolio of properties that also include HMO’s and Service Accommodation/Holiday lets. Selling or buying to live in or rent out is Move On’s speciality.

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