Right to Rent for EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals: How to Run Rent Checks after Brexit
The UK government has released information for landlords regarding the right to rent checks for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals and their families - after the UK withdraws from the EU. All in all, there will be no changes for European citizens residing in the UK until December 31, 2020, in case of a no-deal Brexit.
The existing Home Office instructions on how to check a tenant’s right to rent remain in force. To prove their right to rent, EU/EEA/Swiss nationals should provide their passport or national ID. Non-European citizens should provide a valid residence card issued by the Home Office.
Landlords and letting agents are obliged to rule out discrimination against tenants based on their ethnicity. Also, landlords have no right to require status under the EU Settlement Scheme or European Temporary Leave to Remain from EU, EEA or Swiss nationals entering into new tenancy agreements until January 1, 2021. As for Irish citizens, there are no changes against the existing procedure.
Landlords should go on performing rent checks on prospective tenants to comply with the Code of practice on illegal immigrants and private rented accommodation.
A new immigration system will affect European nationals entering the UK from January 1, 2021. No retrospective checks on current tenants will be necessary.
Astons is a leading global immigration advisory firm with offices in London, Moscow, Dubai, Cyprus and China and offers residency & citizenship investment solutions in the UK, EU & the Caribbean.
For further information or to discuss your personal circumstances in a private consultation, please contact Astons at info@astons.com or call +44 207 292 2977.
