All landlords and their agents have a legal responsibility under the Immigration Act 2014 legislation to prevent those without lawful immigration status from accessing the private rented sector.

Penalties for landlords and agents who rent out their properties to unauthorised migrants are set to increase to £5,000 per lodger and £10,000 per occupier for the first breach, from the previous amounts of £80 and £1,000, respectively. Repeat breaches could cost them up to £10,000 per lodger, up from £500, and a maximum of £20,000 per occupier, up from £3,000. But that is all about to change.

As of 13 February, the fines for breaking the Right to Rent regulations will rise dramatically from £80 for each lodger and £1,000 for each occupier for the first breach to a whopping £5,000 for each lodger and £10,000 for each occupier. Penalties for repeat breaches will be even higher, with fines of up to £10,000 for lodgers and £20,000 for occupiers—a significant increase from the previous amounts of £500 and £3,000, respectively.

It is recommended that agents and landlords become acquainted with the recently proposed draft code of practice, which is presently accessible in draft form and is set to go into effect next month. This revised version highlights the heightened penalties for not adhering to Right to Rent regulations, demonstrating the government’s determination to enforce these laws.

Landlords and agents are reminded that neglecting to verify the occupier’s eligibility for rent could lead to possible imprisonment in addition to heavy fines. Landlords must make sure they are fully compliant with the updated regulations to prevent negative financial and legal outcomes from impending changes.

The Home Office’s code of practice for right-to-rent is available here.

Author : Jag Chaggar