Right To Rent Law - Britons?

MONEYTREE_2

I've been all over the government's Right To Rent pages regarding the new law brought in in February.

I cannot imagine that the law applies to house-lodgers who are British-born and have lived here all their lives. However, I cannot find any phrase that specifically excludes them.

The only reference I can find is one that says "Check all new tenants. It’s against the law to only check people you think aren’t British citizens."

https://www.gov.uk/check-tenant-right-to-rent-documents/who-to-check

Someone British-born is moving in today, so I need to know if I need to ask him for his passport.

fairy_lights

MONEYTREE wrote: »

Someone British-born is moving in today, so I need to know if I need to ask him for his passport.

How do you know he's British born if you haven't seen his passport?

Pixie5740

You need to check that every tenant or lodger has the right to rent.

parkrunner

MONEYTREE wrote: »

I've been all over the government's Right To Rent pages regarding the new law brought in in February.

I cannot imagine that the law applies to house-lodgers who are British-born and have lived here all their lives. However, I cannot find any phrase that specifically excludes them.

The only reference I can find is one that says "Check all new tenants. It’s against the law to only check people you think aren’t British citizens."

https://www.gov.uk/check-tenant-right-to-rent-documents/who-to-check

Someone British-born is moving in today, so I need to know if I need to ask him for his passport.

1. Who you have to check

You must check that a tenant or lodger can legally rent your residential property in England.


and as you say "Check all new tenants. It’s against the law to only check people you think aren’t British citizens."


Seems unambiguous to me.

Miss_Samantha

You have no obligation to check. The obligation is not to rent to anyone who hasn't got a right to rent.

PasturesNew

You'd have liked my dad when he arrived here.... not British, white, spoke "terribly nicely" as he'd had early years private schooling... but he wasn't British. He'd even tell you how he'd just finished his British National Service ....

White as they come, speaks "very nicely", done National Service .... not British

moneyistooshorttomention

I think above post (ie Miss Samantha) is a bit confusing.

I read it as "You HAVE to check they have the 'right to rent' (ie right to live in our country)".

I think that's perfectly fair. I've had lodgers before now and would have asked 4 of them for their passports (even if born in this country) - to ensure that they had the right to live here/study here officially. I've been caught out in the event by 1 (maybe 2) of the foreign ones - as it turned out they probably weren't here legitimately and were conning me that they were.

It's the way we're having to do things nowadays. In a different context I noted a newspaper article today stating that those employed by the public sector (well -certainly at least the government) will have to "swear an oath of allegiance to British values" in order to get the job in future. I am a former civil servant - and I would have been perfectly willing to swear an oath like that.

It's a growing trend in our society - and it's fair enough imo. To live here means paying towards our Welfare State, taking on board our values (liberal/secular/women are equals of course/etc) and having the legal right to be here. It's called "paying your dues" and only having what you are entitled to.

Miss_Samantha

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I read it as "You HAVE to check they have the 'right to rent' (ie right to live in our country)".

How can you read "You have no obligation to check" as "you have to check"?

Arleen

The rule is extremely simple and clear: "You must check that a tenant or lodger can legally rent your residential property in England.

Before the start of a new tenancy, you must check all tenants aged 18 and over,". So you MUST CHECK everyone, no exceptions.

moneyistooshorttomention

Miss_Samantha wrote: »

How can you read "You have no obligation to check" as "you have to check"?

Straight through to no. 1 on the link to Government website and it says "You MUST check". Sounds pretty firm to me.

So - if I could see very clearly they were English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh - then personally I'd "wave them through". But otherwise = I'd check. Yep...I know...I know...it says to check everyone regardless and I'd save myself the hassle if I could see clearly they're entitled to be here personally and I know, strictly, one should check everyone (even if it's obvious they are).

If people started "screaming regardless" - then I'd waste my time/effort and also check those it's obvious are entitled to be here as well.....

Arleen

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Straight through to no. 1 on the link to Government website and it says "You MUST check". Sounds pretty firm to me.

So - if I could see very clearly they were English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh - then personally I'd "wave them through". But otherwise = I'd check. Yep...I know...I know...it says to check everyone regardless and I'd save myself the hassle if I could see clearly they're entitled to be here personally and I know, strictly, one should check everyone (even if it's obvious they are).

If they turn out to not be legally here, it's your fine to pay. But then if your gut is solid on that not being the case, you have nothing to worry.