How to Check and Use a Right to Rent Share Code Online?

You are expats and don’t know what is Right to Rent share code is? Or how can you use it to obtain tenancy in the UK? It’s a code for tenants to take a permit to lease property or legal residency. Therefore, here is a brief explanation of what a share code is, how to use it, and how to check it online.

What is a Right to Rent Share Code?

This is the specified 9-digit digital code issued by the government of the UK for non-UK citizens. It can be obtained online via the “gov.uk ” portal. For this purpose tenant should have a rent share code, which they can download from the government’s online portal. They can also get by providing the required verified documents, like visa details and birthdate.

The generated rent share code is a permit for tenants to rent or lease the property upon the accomplishment of legal formalities. It’s necessary for the landlords to ensure that the tenant has legal eligibility for tenancy.

How to Get Your Right to Rent Share Code?

There is a complete step-by-step process for how to get the share code is given below:

• Visit the UK government website of the UK
• Enter your original and correct immigration details, such as your visa ID and birthdate. 
• Finish the identity verification process, which may involve receiving a code by email or SMS.
• Receive your unique 9-character share code, which is valid for 90 days.
• Share with the landlord your share code and birthdate.
• Confirm Verification Status online or keep a copy for your records.
• Track Expiry & Renew if Needed, and your share code before it expires.  

Landlord Legal Duties for Tenant Verification

According to the emigration law of 2014, it is stipulated that every tenant has to verify their tenancy. This is the responsibility of the landlord; they must legally prove the status of every tenant without considering their nationality. If the landlord does not follow this rule, they will be punished for this negligence and fined up to 20,000$.

How Share Codes Help Tenants to Prove Their Right to Rent

This is used to prove their right to rent by providing the necessary documents, like an immigration visa and passport, and a birth certificate. Once this important documentation is verified, tenants receive a code. Anyhow, they can prove by requesting the share code from the official gov.uk website. When the leaseholder has to rent any property, it’s mandatory to provide this code to the landlord.

Who Needs a Right to Rent Share Code?

This code is compulsory for non-residents of the UK and Ireland. All other expats must verify their share code to obtain the right to rent. Some people stay for a short time, like a visitor, and they also follow this rule. If they don’t follow this law, they will face enforcement, as will landlords who break it. In this table, briefly explain who needs the share code and who is exempted.

Timeframes and Penalties for Non-Compliance

Landlords must verify tenants’ right to rent status. The Right to Rent check should be carried out before finalizing or signing the tenancy agreement. There is a time limit for the resident to provide the rent share code after generation within 90 days.

The property owners need to ensure that renters are legally eligible to live in the UK. If they do not follow a legal Right to Rent share code, a penalty of up to £20,000 for each tenant. They must remember to check the expiry date of the tenant’s legal Right to Rent. Otherwise, in this negligence, they can face serious punishment, like criminal charges as well as imprisonment.

How to Avoid Right to Rent Fines and Stay Compliant

To avoid the fines and punishments, it’s compulsory to regularly check the rights to rent share code of tenants. You must inform the leaseholder about the end date of the share code.

The Process of Verification For the Tenants’ Share Code

Here is a simple process of verification for the share code is explained briefly:

How to Verify a Tenant Without a Share Code?

The list is given below to verify the tenants without a right to rent share code :

• Check if the Tenant is a UK or Irish Citizen: They do not need a share code. Accept a passport, birth certificate, or settled status proof.
• Verify Settled or Pre-Settled Status Holders: Use Home Office digital confirmation or residence cards.
• Handle Tenants Awaiting Immigration Decisions: Request a Right to Rent check on GOV.UK or call the Landlord Helpline (0300 069 9799).
• Ask Non-UK Tenants to Generate a Share Code: They can create it online via GOV.UK, valid for 90 days.
• Contact the Home Office if Proof is Missing: Use the Landlord Checking Service for verification.
• Keep Records for Compliance: Save copies of documents and check dates for at least one year after tenancy ends.

Protection Against Discrimination

According to the law, it is the responsibility of the property owners to verify the tenant’s eligibility criteria for taking any property on rent. They have to perform the check without considering any difference in country, skin tone, cultural background, or immigration status.

On the other hand, tenants also have a responsibility to behave fairly and with friendliness in the whole process of verification. It’s the right of the tenants that if they are discriminated against over their nationality, language, or anything else. Then they can take legal action against the landlord.

Conclusion

The right to rent share code is specialised for people who are not residents of the UK. They can take residency by providing the verified share code. This is generated through the official gov.uk website by providing the required information. Once the landlord verifies a tenant’s Right to Rent documents, the tenant becomes legally eligible to rent property in the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions