What Is a Right to Rent Share Code? How to Get & Check It Online
If you’re renting property in England and you’re not a UK or Irish citizen, you’ll need a Right to Rent share code. It’s a temporary code for tenants that allows landlords to check your immigration status online through the UK government system. 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 in England?
A Right to Rent share code is a 9-digit, digital code issued by the UK Home Office online service for non-UK residents. It allows tenants to prove their legal right to rent residential property in England. Before starting any tenancy, a share code is used to show legal residency. which they can get from the government’s online portal.
A share code doesn’t directly grant the right to rent, but rather it provides that the person is allowed to rent or not. The generated rent share code works as an alternative to physical documents to meet legal requirements.
Who Needs a Right to Rent Share Code?
Any person whose immigration status is digitally held by the UK Home Office can generate a right to rent share code. It may include:
Important Note: Right to Rent and Right to Work share codes are different, and both run under different systems. Employers use the right to work share code under separate rules and legalities for employment.
| Who doesn’t need a Right to Rent Share code? British citizens (prove status with passport or other accepted ID) Irish citizens (automatic right to rent) Some individuals with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), where status is confirmed through physical documents or official Home Office guidance Certain holders of valid legacy physical immigration documents that are still accepted for Right to Rent checks (in specific cases where permitted by guidance) |
Who is exempt from the 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.
- Children under 18 years old
- Tenants in social or council housing
- Guests in holiday or short-term stays
- Residents in care homes or hospitals
- Accommodation provided by local authorities
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 Immigration Act 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.
| What should a landlord do if a tenant has no share code or documents? They can’t refuse the tenancy or make assumptions about the status. In such cases, when tenants don’t have immediate proof of status, landlords use the Home Office Landlord Checking Service to verify the status. If the Home Office confirms a right to rent, it will issue a Positive Right to Rent Notice. It provides a temporary statutory excuse while the case is ongoing. |
Under UK law, landlords must follow strict compliance rules, which are explained in detail in our guide on UK landlord responsibilities.
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.
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.
Timeframes and Penalties for Non-Compliance
Landlords must verify tenants’ right to rent status. The Right to Rent check should be carried out before finalising or signing the tenancy agreement. There is a time limit for the resident to provide the rent share code after generation within 90 days.
If you are new to property letting, you can learn the full process in our guide on how to become a landlord in the UK.
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. Before renting out a property, landlords should check everything is legally and physically ready by following our guide on how to prepare your property for rent.
How Landlords Verify a Right to Rent Share Code Online
Here is a simple process of verification for the share code is explained briefly:
| Steps | Details |
| Provide the share code and date of birth. | Tenants need to provide these credentials within 90 days. |
| Visit the official website Gov. the right to rent services. | Go to the website gov.uk and enter your real details for further processing. |
| Check result | Confirm the tenant’s immigration status to determine their Right to Rent eligibility. |
| Save record | Keep a printed or digital copy of the verification result for compliance purposes. |
Important: Landlords and letting agents keep the evidence that each Right to Rent was completed properly. Otherwise, it can undermine a statutory excuse.
What Issues Tenants Faced While Generating a Share Code
Tenants generally face some problems when they are trying to generate a right to rent share code.
- Sometimes tenants get confused between the Right to Rent and Right to Work service as they land on the wrong page. They can verify that the code begins with “R” for renting, as “W” codes are for working.
- If tenants enter the details that don’t match with Home Office records may not generate a code. It includes using different spellings, name formats, date of birth, etc.
- If a tenant no longer has access to the email address or phone number linked to their Home Office account, they will not be able to generate or retrieve a Right to Rent share code.
- Similarly, an expired share code cannot be used for Right to Rent checks. Share codes are time-limited and only valid for a short period. So landlords must request a new, valid code directly from the tenant.
If tenants aren’t able to resolve these problems immediately, landlords can use the Home Office Landlord Checking Service to confirm the status of the tenants.
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. Tenant protections and legal rights are covered in detail under the Renters Rights Bill in the UK.
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.
What Happens after a Right to Rent Check: Outcomes
When a right to rent check is completed, the Home Office provides specific outcomes. It helps landlords to continue tenancy or determine any ongoing compliance issues.
Unlimited Right to Rent
When the check confirms unlimited right to rent, it means the tenant has permanent permission to live in the UK. This includes:
- British and Irish citizens
- People with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
- People with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
Landlords receive a “continuous statutory excuse”, which means no follow-up checks are required during the tenancy. The landlord should keep evidence of this check for at least one year after the tenancy ends.
Time-Limited Right to Rent
A time-limited right to rent means the tenant’s immigration permission expires on a specific date. This applies to student visa holders, work visa holders, pre-settled status holders and anyone with temporary leave to remain. The landlord receives a “time-limited statutory excuse” valid until the immigration permission expires.
Important: The landlord must conduct a follow-up check before the expiry date to maintain their statutory excuse. Otherwise, they could face penalties.
No Right to Rent Outcome
If the check shows the person has no right to rent from the landlord:
- Cannot proceed with the tenancy
- Must not allow the person to move in
- Must end existing tenancies with such persons.
- Should keep evidence of the check result.
Renting to someone with no right to rent can result in a £20,000 penalty per tenant or criminal prosecution for repeat offences.
When Right to Rent Status Cannot Be Confirmed
Sometimes, the online check cannot verify a tenant’s status due to technical issues with the Home Office system, pending tenants’ status position, or immigration status not recorded digitally.
In such cases, landlords should
1. Use the Home Office Landlord Checking Service (Helpline: 0300 790 6268 )
2. Request verification directly from the Home Office
3. Wait for a Positive Verification Notice before proceeding
4. This notice provides a statutory excuse while the verification is processed
Note: Never refuse tenancy based solely on technical difficulties, as this could be discrimination.
When Follow-Up Checks are Required and How to Conduct Them
Evidently, when a tenant has a time-limited immigration status, landlords MUST conduct follow-up checks to maintain their statutory excuse. Here is the table showing when checks are required:
| Tenant Status | Follow-Up Check Needed? | Timing |
| British/Irish citizen | No | Never |
| Settled status (unlimited) | No | Never |
| Pre-settled status | Yes | Before the status expires (usually 5 years) |
| Student visa | Yes | Before the visa expires |
| Work visa | Yes | Before the visa expires |
| Any time-limited permission | Yes | Before the permission expires |
How to Conduct a Follow-Up Check
Step 1: Contact the tenant at least 28 days before their permission expires
Step 2: Request a new share code or updated documents physically.
Step 3: Verify the new status using GOV.UK online service.
Step 4: Keep records of:
- The date you conducted the follow-up check.
- The new expiry date (if still time-limited)
- Evidence of the check result
Step 5: Set a reminder for the next follow-up check if the status is still time-limited.
| What Happens if You Miss a Follow-Up Check? If landlords miss a follow-up check, their statutory excuse expires, and they are no longer protected from penalties. They must conduct the check immediately. They could face a penalty of £20,000 fine per tenant. |
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.
Landlords who want professional support and tenant management can explore our letting services to handle the entire rental process efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can get a share code for the right to rent by providing your original documents to the landlords. Otherwise, you can also get from the official website.
Landlords or lettings keep the records of each Right to Rent check. The records include:
A copy of the result, which is checked online (saved or printed).
The date when the check was performed
Keep these records throughout the tenancy and one at least a year after the tenancy ends.
Home Office may treat your check as invalid if you haven’t kept the evidence, even if the service was really used at the time.
The first step in your rental journey is to prove your identity and your right to rent in the UK. These documents include: Passport or UK Driving License: A valid and current passport or a UK driving licence is crucial for proving your identity.
Yes, as long as it hasn’t expired (90-day validity). You can share the same code with multiple landlords during its valid period. Each landlord will conduct their own independent check using your code.
No. Right to Rent checks are ONLY required in England. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland do not have Right to Rent requirements. However, they may have other tenant verification rules.
When you apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), you need to submit several important documents. You will need items like your passport, BRP, Life in the UK test pass letter, and English test certificate. You also have to provide proof of your UK residence along with any other evidence the Home Office requires. Your ILR can be rejected if you don’t provide the correct documents.
When a tenant’s time-limited Right to Rent expires, the landlord must complete a follow-up check before the deadline. If the tenant cannot prove an extended or new immigration status, the landlord must report this to the Home Office to avoid penalties.
If your BRP or UKVI account isn’t available yet, you can use your passport with an immigration stamp or visa sticker in it. On the other hand you do not have a passport, you can show your employer the visa sticker attached to your FAV.
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