Right to Rent Goes Digital: New 1 October Rules Bring Certainty for Landlords租房权检查走向数字化：10月1日新规为房东带来更多确定性การตรวจสอบสิทธิ์การเช่าผ่านระบบดิจิทัล: กฎใหม่ 1 ตุลาคมสร้างความแน่นอนให้เจ้าของบ้าน

On 1 October 2026, updated Right to Rent rules came into force in England, giving landlords a clearer and more certain path to compliance when verifying a tenant's right to live in the UK. The changes simplify digital checks, align them with the government's digital immigration system, and give responsible landlords the protection of a formal statutory excuse. For anyone managing a portfolio in the private rented sector, this is welcome news: the rules are now easier to follow, and following them is rewarded with genuine legal protection.

At the heart of the update is a single, certified framework for digital checks. If you carry out a Right to Rent check electronically, you must now use a registered digital verification service provider — known as a 'Right to Rent DVSP' — that is listed on the government's official register. This removes the guesswork about which providers are acceptable: landlords and agents can choose from a clear, approved list rather than relying on an unverified service. The register is published by the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (OfDIA), so the standard of an approved provider is consistent and dependable across the whole market.

Using a registered provider gives you certainty. A correctly completed check through a registered DVSP, a Home Office online check, or a valid manual check provides a statutory excuse — meaning you are protected from penalties if a tenant's status later turns out to be different. The updated code of practice makes it clearer than ever how to establish and keep that protection. In practice, this means the effort you put into a proper check at the start of a tenancy is now more reliably recognised by the Home Office, which rewards diligent landlords and reduces the scope for honest mistakes to turn into costly problems.

Flexibility remains a key part of the system. Landlords can still choose between a manual check using hard-copy documents, a Home Office online check, or a virtual check through a registered DVSP — whichever best fits the tenant and the tenancy. The new rules do not force anyone into a single method; they simply make sure that, when you do go digital, you use a provider whose standards have been approved. That balance keeps compliance accessible for every type of property and tenant while strengthening the quality of digital checks across the sector.

The new rules also reflect the Home Office's move towards a fully digital immigration system. Tenants with eVisas can evidence their right to rent through the Home Office online service, and the refreshed guidance makes clear that no one should be treated less favourably for holding an eVisa or a time-limited status. For landlords, this means a smoother, faster route to a verified check — and it aligns your own record-keeping with the direction of travel for the whole immigration system.

• Choose a registered RtR DVSP: only use providers listed on the government's registered digital verification services register for any electronic check.
• Keep a clear record: retain evidence of the check and the documents or share codes used, so you can demonstrate your statutory excuse.
• Check everyone fairly: follow the updated discrimination code and do not insist on one specific type of ID or method — offer reasonable alternatives.

For landlords in England, the 1 October update is a welcome step towards a more certain, more efficient Right to Rent process. A single approved register, clearer guidance and alignment with the digital immigration system reduce risk and paperwork — letting you focus on finding the right tenants and managing your properties with confidence.

Sources: Home Office 'Code of practice for landlords and their agents' (1 October 2026); GOV.UK 'Landlord's guide to right to rent checks'; National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA).