Renting in the UK on a Visa

Understanding Right to Rent Checks

In England, landlords are legally required to check that every adult tenant has the right to live in the UK before the tenancy begins. This is known as a "right to rent check" and was introduced under the Immigration Act 2014.

The purpose of the check is to prevent people without valid immigration status from renting privately. Landlords who fail to carry out checks can face civil penalties of £10,000 per tenant for a first breach and £20,000 per tenant for a repeat breach (£5,000 and £10,000 for a lodger in a private household), and up to 5 years in prison for knowingly renting to someone without the right to rent.

Right to rent checks apply only in England. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have not implemented this requirement. However, landlords in these nations may still ask for identification as part of normal tenant referencing.

How Right to Rent Checks Work

There are two main ways to pass a right to rent check:

Online Check Using a Share Code

This is the route for almost every visa holder. If you have an eVisa, have used the EU Settlement Scheme, or held a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or card, you generate a share code through the GOV.UK right to rent service. You give this code to your landlord, who uses it to verify your status online. A share code lasts for 90 days and can be used as many times as needed before it expires. British and Irish citizens cannot get a share code; they show their passport instead.

Manual Document Check

The landlord checks your original documents in person. Physical BRP and BRC cards expired at the end of 2024 and cannot be used — a landlord who is shown one must ask for a share code instead. Documents that can still be used include:

• A passport, or a travel document issued by the Home Office, with a Home Office endorsement (a stamp or vignette sticker) showing indefinite leave, no time limit on your stay, right of abode, exemption from immigration control, or limited leave that covers the tenancy
• An immigration status document sent to you when you were given permission to stay, with the same kind of endorsement

The document usually needs to be current; an expired passport is accepted only if it shows indefinite leave, no time limit, right of abode or exemption. If you have neither a valid share code nor one of these documents — for example because your application is still being decided — your landlord must ask the Home Office for a right to rent check through the landlord's checking service, which replies within 2 working days.

The landlord must check your documents before you move in. They must keep copies of the documents and record the date of the check. If your right to rent is time-limited (because your visa has an expiry date), the landlord must carry out a follow-up check just before the later of two dates: the end of your permission to stay, or 12 months after their previous check.

Finding a Rental Property

The main platforms for finding rental properties in the UK are Rightmove, Zoopla, and OpenRent. Estate agents and letting agents also list properties on their own websites.

When searching as a visa holder, keep these practical points in mind:

• Start early: The UK rental market moves quickly, especially in cities. Properties can be let within days of being listed.
• Have your documents ready: Having your passport, BRP, proof of income, and references prepared in advance gives you an advantage.
• Budget for upfront costs: You will typically need to pay a holding deposit (capped at 1 week's rent), a tenancy deposit (capped at 5 weeks' rent), and the first month's rent before moving in. A landlord or agent cannot ask for any rent before you both sign the tenancy agreement, and can ask for at most one month's rent in advance.
• Consider location carefully: Proximity to your workplace, transport links, and local amenities all matter. Research areas thoroughly before committing.

Documents You Will Need

Most landlords and letting agents will ask for the following when you apply for a tenancy:

1. Immigration documents: Your passport and BRP, or a share code for an online check. See our Skilled Worker visa guide or spouse visa guide for what documents come with each route.
2. Proof of income: Recent payslips (usually 3 months), an employment contract, or bank statements showing regular income.
3. References: A reference from your employer and, if possible, from a previous landlord. If you are new to the UK, a reference from an employer or university may be accepted instead.
4. Credit check: Letting agents often run a credit check. If you are new to the UK and have no UK credit history, this can be a challenge. You may be asked to provide a UK-based guarantor or pay additional rent upfront instead.

The Guarantor Challenge

If you are new to the UK, you may not have a UK credit history. Many landlords and agents will ask for a UK-based guarantor, which is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you cannot.

Finding a guarantor can be difficult if you do not have family or established contacts in the UK. Options include:

• Guarantor services: Companies like Housing Hand or UK Guarantor will act as your guarantor for a fee (typically a percentage of your annual rent).
• Paying rent upfront is no longer an option: Since 1 May 2026 a landlord in England can ask for at most one month's rent in advance, so offering several months' rent instead of a guarantor is not permitted.
• Employer guarantees: Some employers, particularly those that sponsor visas, may provide a guarantee or a letter of support.

Tenancy Deposits

Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, tenancy deposits in England are capped at 5 weeks' rent (for annual rent below £50,000) or 6 weeks' rent (for annual rent of £50,000 or more).

Your landlord must place your deposit in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme within 30 days of receiving it. The three approved schemes are:

• Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
• MyDeposits
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)

The landlord must give you the prescribed information about which scheme holds your deposit. If they fail to protect your deposit, you can claim compensation of up to 3 times the deposit amount through the courts.

Understanding Your Tenancy Agreement

On 1 May 2026, under the Renters' Rights Act, all private tenancies in England — including existing Assured Shorthold Tenancies — automatically became assured periodic tenancies. Key points to understand:

• No fixed term: An assured periodic tenancy cannot have an end date. It runs on a rolling basis, weekly or monthly, and any end date written in an older agreement no longer applies.
• Rent increases: The landlord can increase the rent only once a year, not in the first year of the tenancy, and must give at least 2 months' notice using form 4A (the "section 13" process). If you think the new rent is above the open market rent, you can challenge it at the First-tier Tribunal.
• Repairs: The landlord is responsible for structural repairs, heating, plumbing, and gas and electrical safety. You are responsible for minor maintenance and keeping the property in reasonable condition.
• Ending the tenancy: You can end the tenancy by giving notice in writing; 2 months is the most a landlord can require. "No-fault" section 21 evictions have ended: the landlord can only end the tenancy on a legal ground, such as wanting to sell or move in, rent arrears, or antisocial behaviour, using a section 8 notice. The notice is usually at least 2 months and up to 4 months, and a landlord cannot use the selling or moving-in grounds in the first 12 months of a tenancy.

Your Rights as a Tenant on a Visa

As a visa holder with a valid right to rent, you have exactly the same tenant rights as a British citizen. These include:

• The right to live in a property that is safe and in good repair
• The right to have your deposit protected in a government scheme
• The right to not be unfairly evicted
• Protection from harassment or illegal eviction by the landlord
• The right to challenge unfair rent increases
• Protection under the Equality Act 2010 against discrimination

If you believe a landlord has discriminated against you because of your nationality or visa status, you can report this to the Equality and Human Rights Commission or seek legal advice from a housing charity such as Shelter.

What Happens If Your Visa Expires

If your visa has an expiry date, your landlord must carry out a follow-up right to rent check just before the later of the end of your permission and 12 months after their previous check. You will typically receive a reminder from the landlord or letting agent.

If you have applied to extend your visa before it expires, your permission continues while the application is decided. Generate a new share code from your UKVI account if you can; if you cannot, your landlord asks the Home Office for a right to rent check through the landlord's checking service, which replies within 2 working days. Your existing tenancy continues while your application is pending.

If your visa has expired and you have not applied to extend it, you will not be able to pass the right to rent check. The landlord must tell the Home Office, and may then seek to end the tenancy. This does not mean immediate eviction; the landlord must follow proper legal eviction procedures.

The best approach is to always apply to extend your visa well before it expires. This protects both your immigration status and your housing situation. See our guide to overstaying for more information.

Practical Tips for Visa Holders Renting in the UK

• Open a UK bank account as soon as possible. Most landlords and agents require rent to be paid by standing order from a UK bank.
• Build your UK credit history. Use a UK bank account and, if possible, a credit builder card to start building a credit record.
• Keep copies of all your immigration documents. You will need them for right to rent checks and any renewals.
• Understand your tenancy agreement before signing. If English is not your first language, ask someone you trust to help you review it.
• Take photos of the property when you move in. This protects you in case of disputes over the deposit when you leave.
• Know your rights as a visa holder. Landlords cannot charge you for referencing fees, viewing fees, or any other fees banned under the Tenant Fees Act 2019.

Questions and answers