Do I have to pay for a Right to Rent check?

No. Proving your Right to Rent is free — getting a share code from GOV.UK costs nothing, and a landlord can't charge you a fee for carrying out the check (letting fees are banned anyway under the Tenant Fees Act). If an agent tries to charge you a 'right to rent' or 'immigration check' fee, that's a prohibited payment. Only give your share code or documents to a genuine landlord or agent, and never pay a third-party website to generate a share code.

What happens if my Right to Rent is time-limited?

Some people have a 'time-limited' Right to Rent — for example if your visa or leave to remain has an end date. In that case the landlord will do a follow-up check later (around when your permission is due to expire or after a set period). Keep your immigration status up to date and get a fresh share code when asked. British and Irish citizens and those with settled status have an unlimited Right to Rent, so only need to be checked once at the start of the tenancy.

Right to Rent: how to prove it and the share code

Q: What is a Right to Rent check?

In England, a landlord (or letting agent) must check that everyone aged 18 or over who will live in a property as their main home has the legal right to rent there, before the tenancy starts. It's a Home Office requirement. It applies to all adult occupiers, not just those named on the tenancy. Right to Rent checks only apply in England — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland don't have them.

Q: How do I prove my Right to Rent?

How you prove it depends on your status. If you're not a British or Irish citizen, you usually prove it online: get a 'share code' from GOV.UK (gov.uk/prove-right-to-rent) and give it to your landlord, who checks it on the GOV.UK landlord service. British and Irish citizens can't get a share code, so they prove it with original documents — for example a passport — or through a certified Identity Service Provider (IDSP). Either way, it's free for you to prove your Right to Rent.

Q: Does the landlord have to check everyone?

Yes. A landlord must carry out Right to Rent checks on all adult occupiers in the same way — it is against the law to only check people they think are not British citizens. Choosing to check, or refusing to rent to, someone because of their nationality, ethnicity or where they look like they're from is unlawful discrimination. If you feel you've been treated unfairly on those grounds, you can get advice from Citizens Advice or the Equality Advisory and Support Service.

What the check is

Right to Rent is a Home Office rule requiring landlords (and letting agents) in England to check that everyone aged 18 or over who will live in a property as their main home can legally rent there, before the tenancy begins. It applies to all adult occupiers — not just the people named on the tenancy agreement.

England onlyRight to Rent checks do not apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. If you’re renting outside England, a landlord shouldn’t be asking you for one.

How to prove it

It depends on your status — but it’s always free:

You are…	How you prove it
Not a British or Irish citizen	Get a share code from GOV.UK (gov.uk/prove-right-to-rent) using your passport/BRP + date of birth, and give it to your landlord to check online
A British or Irish citizen	You can’t get a share code — prove it with an original document (like a passport), or through a certified Identity Service Provider (IDSP)

The landlord then either checks your share code on the GOV.UK service, or checks your original documents with you present, and keeps a dated copy. That’s it.

Getting a share codeA share code is a short reference (valid for a limited time) that lets a landlord see only what they need: that you have the Right to Rent. You generate it free on GOV.UK — never pay a third-party website to “get” one.

It must be free and fair

It’s free. Proving your Right to Rent costs you nothing, and a landlord or agent can’t charge you for the check — letting fees are banned anyway (see tenant fees). Any “immigration check” or “right to rent” fee is a prohibited payment.
Everyone gets checked the same. A landlord must check all adult occupiers in the same way. It is against the law to only check people they think aren’t British.
No discrimination. Refusing to rent to you, or singling you out, because of your nationality, ethnicity or how you look is unlawful discrimination.

Asked unfairly?If you’re only being asked because of your nationality or appearance, or an agent wants a fee for the check, get advice. Citizens Advice and the Equality Advisory and Support Service can help, and an unfair fee can be challenged as a prohibited payment.

Time-limited vs unlimited

There are two kinds of Right to Rent:

Unlimited — British and Irish citizens, and people with settled status, have an unlimited Right to Rent, so are only checked once at the start of the tenancy.
Time-limited — if your permission to be in the UK has an end date (for example a visa), your Right to Rent is time-limited, and the landlord will do a follow-up check later. Keep your status up to date and get a fresh share code when asked.

Do this now

About to rent in England and not a British/Irish citizen? Generate your free Right to Rent share code on GOV.UK before your referencing appointment, so you’re ready. British or Irish? Have your passport handy.

While you’re setting up the tenancy, check your other rights: what a landlord can charge, your deposit protection, and the gas safety certificate they must give you.

Related guides — renting

Tenant fees Deposit protection Gas safety (CP12) Rent increases Know your rights Right to work

Source verification Primary sources: GOV.UK / Home Office — Prove your right to rent in England (gov.uk/prove-right-to-rent), Check a tenant’s right to rent, and the Landlord’s guide to right to rent checks. Last verified 2 July 2026 — that the check applies in England only, to all adult (18+) occupiers before the tenancy starts; that non-British/Irish citizens prove it with a free share code and British/Irish citizens use original documents or a certified IDSP; that it’s free to the tenant and agents can’t charge for it; that landlords must check everyone the same way (checking only those they think aren’t British is unlawful); and the unlimited-vs-time-limited (follow-up check) distinction were web-checked against GOV.UK. Confidence: High — Home Office scheme rules. Landlord civil-penalty amounts (which increased in 2024) are set by the Home Office and change — exact figures are on GOV.UK; this guide is written for the tenant’s side. Scope: England only. Not legal advice — immigration questions: a regulated OISC/IAA adviser or Citizens Advice.

Right to Rent — common questions

What is a Right to Rent check?

A Home Office rule making landlords in England check that every adult (18+) who’ll live in a property as their main home can legally rent, before the tenancy starts. England only — not Scotland, Wales or NI.

How do I prove my Right to Rent?

If you’re not a British or Irish citizen, get a free share code from GOV.UK and give it to your landlord. British and Irish citizens use an original document like a passport, or a certified Identity Service Provider. It’s free either way.

Does the landlord have to check everyone?

Yes — all adult occupiers, the same way. It’s against the law to only check people the landlord thinks aren’t British, and refusing to rent to you on those grounds is unlawful discrimination.

Do I have to pay for it?

No — proving your Right to Rent is free, and agents can’t charge you for the check (it would be a banned tenant fee). Never pay a third-party site for a share code.

What if mine is time-limited?

If your permission to be in the UK has an end date, your Right to Rent is time-limited and the landlord does a follow-up check later. Keep your status current and get a fresh share code when asked. British/Irish and settled-status renters are checked only once.

Sources: Proving and checking Right to Rent · GOV.UK — Prove your right to rent and Check a tenant’s right to rent. SortedUK is not a law firm and this is general information. Last reviewed: 2 July 2026.

Right to Rent — how to prove it, free