Landlords fail to check tenants’ right to live in UK

Number of people fined over immigration status checks doubles after curbs rolled out across England

THE number of landlords fined for failing to check the immigration status of their tenants has doubled in a year.

Figures show there has been a rise in the number of fines handed out to landlords since the nationwide roll-out of government curbs designed to ensure anyone without the right to live in England would find it more difficult to rent a home.

Home Office data showed that, between January and September, 209 penalties were issued, more than twice the 102 handed out in 2016. Seventyfive civil penalties, totalling £40,100, were issued under the Right to Rent scheme from July to September alone.

This compares with 31 penalties registered in the equivalent period of last year. The latest quarterly tally takes the number of fines since the start of last year to 311, with a total value of just over £200,000.

Right to Rent requires landlords or householders to establish that tenants or lodgers have a right to be in the country by taking copies of documents such as passports or identity cards.

Families taking in lodgers also have to make sure the person has the right to live in the UK. Failure to comply can lead to fines of up to £3,000 per tenant.

The initiative was originally trialled in the West Midlands before being introduced across England from February 2016.

Analysis of Home Office data released last week shows a rise in the number of fines since the nationwide roll-out. And the latest three-month total of 75 compares with 31 registered in the equivalent period of last year.

When he was immigration minister, James Brokenshire said: “The system we have designed is light-touch, and allows those with a legitimate right to be in the country to quickly and easily demonstrate their right to rent.”

But critics claimed the measures fuelled discrimination and said there was little evidence it had any impact in the Government’s efforts to create a “hostile environment” for migrants staying in the country unlawfully.

A recent survey by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants found that half of all landlords were less likely to rent to immigrants as a result of the rule change.

A Home Office spokesman said: “It is in everyone’s interest that we tackle illegal immigration. The Right to Rent scheme is just one of the ways in which we are making it more difficult for those with no right to be in the UK to live and work here. These latest statistics make clear that, where illegal migrants are found to be renting property, we are taking action.

“We regularly meet with representatives from the private rented sector, such as local authorities, landlords and housing charities, to discuss and monitor the scheme.

“This ensures that levels of awareness are good and that checks are being routinely carried out.”

The code of practice warns: “Housing illegal immigrants in the private rented sector allows such people to establish a settled life in the UK and frustrate the necessary process of returning them to their home country.

“This creates a significant cost to the public purse and also reduces the amount of housing stock available to British citizens and others residing here legally.

“As a landlord, you have a responsibility to restrict illegal immigrants accessing the private rented sector.”

In the first two years up until September 2016, 654 individuals who came to authorities’ attention as a result of the scheme were removed from the UK. Other cases may be being progressed to removal.

‘We are making it more difficult for those with no right to be in the UK to live and work here’