Right to Rent Digital Checks Change From 1 October 2026

From 1 October 2026, the way some Right to Rent checks are carried out in England is changing. The new rules are particularly relevant if you are renting a home or letting one, because they set out how digital verification can be used and how landlords and letting agents should handle different checking routes. The important point is that this is not a rule saying every tenant must complete a new digital check.

What is changing on 1 October 2026?

A revised Right to Rent code of practice comes into force in England on 1 October 2026. It updates the rules and guidance around how landlords and letting agents check whether an adult occupier has the right to rent residential accommodation.

One of the changes concerns digital verification. Where a landlord or agent chooses to use a digital verification service for a Right to Rent check, the service must meet the requirements set out in the new rules, including registration as an approved digital verification service provider where that route is being used.

The change does not mean that the whole Right to Rent system is becoming digital overnight. The correct checking route still depends on the circumstances of the person being checked.

First, an important point about where this applies

Right to Rent is an England-only scheme. The 1 October 2026 changes should therefore not be treated as a new UK-wide renting rule.

If you rent a property in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, these particular Right to Rent requirements do not apply to your tenancy. If you are a landlord in one of those nations, you should not assume that the English Right to Rent process applies to you.

This distinction matters because housing law is not the same across the UK. A change described as a UK renting change can sometimes be England-specific, and this is one of those cases.

Who needs to carry out a Right to Rent check?

In England, landlords and letting agents have responsibilities under the Right to Rent scheme when letting residential accommodation. The check is concerned with whether the adult occupier has the legal right to rent in England.

Not every person will prove that right in the same way. The route used depends on the person’s circumstances and the evidence available to them.

That is why it is misleading to describe the October change simply as “digital Right to Rent for everyone”. The rules provide for different ways of establishing the right to rent.

What does this mean if you are renting?

For most renters, the practical message is fairly straightforward: you do not automatically need to obtain a new digital identity just because the rules change on 1 October.

Your landlord or letting agent may need to carry out a Right to Rent check before the tenancy begins, and the method used will depend on your circumstances. Some people will be able to use the Home Office online service, while others may be able to prove their status using eligible documents or an approved digital verification route.

If you already have a digital immigration status, the online Home Office service may be the relevant route for your circumstances. If you are asked to provide evidence, follow the checking instructions that apply to your particular status rather than assuming that every renter uses the same process.

The important thing is that a landlord or agent should not treat the availability of digital checks as a reason to make assumptions about you or your immigration status.

What does this mean if you are a landlord?

If you let residential property in England, the October changes are mainly about making sure your checking process matches the updated rules.

You do not have to replace every existing checking method with a private digital service. Where the rules allow a manual document check or the Home Office online checking service, those routes remain relevant.

If you decide to use a digital verification service, however, you need to make sure that it is an approved provider for the relevant Right to Rent purpose and that you are following the prescribed process. Using a third-party service does not remove your responsibility to make sure the check has been carried out correctly.

If you use a letting agent, it is also worth making sure you understand who is responsible for carrying out and retaining the checks. The arrangement between a landlord and agent does not make the underlying Right to Rent requirements disappear.

What is the difference between the Home Office online check and digital verification?

These terms can sound interchangeable, but they are not the same thing.

Home Office online checking service

The Home Office operates an online service that allows the relevant person to demonstrate their immigration status through a share code where that route applies. The landlord or agent uses the service to obtain the information needed for the Right to Rent check.

This is particularly important for people whose immigration status is held digitally. Having an eVisa does not mean that a landlord should simply substitute a private identity-checking service for the Home Office online service where the Home Office route is required.

Digital verification service

A digital verification service is a separate route for prescribed checks. Under the October 2026 rules, where a landlord or agent chooses this route, the provider must meet the relevant government requirements.

The service may be able to verify identity and eligible digital evidence. The exact process depends on the approved service and the evidence being checked.

Manual document checks

Manual checks remain relevant where the rules permit them. They involve checking the required original documents and following the prescribed process for examining and recording the evidence.

A photograph or ordinary scan of a physical document should not simply be treated as equivalent to a prescribed manual check. The evidence and checking method need to meet the requirements that apply to the particular case.

Can a landlord insist that every renter uses a digital check?

No. The updated guidance is clear that people should not be treated less favourably because a different Right to Rent checking route is required.

This matters in practice. A landlord may have a preferred way of carrying out checks, but that does not mean every applicant can be required to use the same route regardless of their circumstances.

The updated code also addresses discrimination. Landlords and agents should not make assumptions about someone’s right to rent based on factors such as nationality, ethnicity, accent or the length of time they have lived in the UK.

The aim is to carry out the required checks consistently while avoiding unlawful discrimination.

What if a renter cannot use the usual digital route?

There is not one alternative that applies to everyone. The appropriate route depends on the person’s circumstances and the evidence they can provide.

For someone whose status is held digitally, the Home Office online service may be the appropriate route. In other circumstances, a manual check or another prescribed process may apply.

A landlord should therefore not treat an inability to complete one particular digital process as proof that someone does not have the right to rent.

If a check cannot be completed in the expected way, the landlord or agent should follow the current Home Office guidance for that situation rather than making their own assumptions about what the problem means.

What about existing tenants?

The 1 October 2026 changes should not be understood as a requirement for every existing tenant in England to complete a brand-new Right to Rent check simply because the date has arrived.

The new code applies to residential tenancy agreements beginning on or after 1 October 2026 and also covers certain follow-up checks from that date. Whether a further check is required depends on the tenant’s existing right to rent and the circumstances of the tenancy.

If you already rent a property, you should not assume that you need to contact your landlord and repeat your check solely because the rules have changed. If your landlord contacts you about a follow-up check, the correct process will depend on your circumstances.

What should landlords do before 1 October 2026?

If you let property in England, review your Right to Rent procedure before the new code takes effect.

• Check which Right to Rent routes you currently use.
• If you use a digital verification service, confirm that it is permitted for Right to Rent checks under the new rules.
• Make sure anyone carrying out checks understands when the Home Office online service, a digital verification route or a manual check is appropriate.
• Review how you deal with applicants who cannot use your preferred checking route.
• Make sure checks are carried out consistently and that staff or agents do not make assumptions about applicants’ nationality or immigration status.
• Keep the evidence and records required by the relevant checking process.

You do not need to introduce a digital system simply because digital verification is now available. The important point is that whatever route you use must comply with the rules that apply to the person being checked.

What renters should know about discrimination

The Right to Rent process is not supposed to become a way of screening people according to how likely a landlord thinks they are to have an immigration issue.

The updated code sets out how landlords and agents should avoid unlawful discrimination when carrying out checks. Applicants should not be treated less favourably because of their nationality, ethnicity or the checking route that applies to them.

In practical terms, needing a particular form of evidence should not by itself make someone a less desirable tenant.

If you think a landlord or agent has treated you differently because of your nationality, immigration status or the way you have demonstrated your right to rent, you may wish to seek appropriate advice about your circumstances.

Frequently asked questions

Do all Right to Rent checks become digital from 1 October 2026?

No. The changes update the rules around digital verification, but they do not replace every other permitted checking route.

Does Right to Rent apply across the UK?

No. The statutory Right to Rent scheme applies in England. The October 2026 changes should not be treated as applying to private renters or landlords in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Do renters need to get a new digital identity?

Not simply because of the 1 October 2026 changes. The checking route depends on the person’s circumstances and the evidence available to them.

Can a landlord use a digital verification provider?

Yes, where the relevant route applies, but the provider must meet the requirements for Right to Rent digital verification. Using a provider does not remove the landlord’s responsibility to follow the prescribed process.

Can a landlord make every applicant use the same checking method?

No. The updated guidance says applicants should not be treated less favourably because a different checking route is required. The correct route depends on the person’s circumstances.

Do existing tenants have to repeat their Right to Rent check?

Not automatically just because the new rules take effect. The requirements for follow-up checks depend on the tenant’s circumstances and the terms of the relevant Right to Rent rules.

Does this change apply in Scotland?

No. Right to Rent is an England-only scheme, so these particular changes do not apply to renters or landlords in Scotland.

Official guidance

The detailed rules can change, so landlords, letting agents and renters with a specific issue should use the current official guidance.

• GOV.UK: Right to Rent code of practice for landlords and their agents
• GOV.UK: Right to Rent landlords’ code of practice
• GOV.UK: Prove your right to rent in England

Last checked: 29 September 2026.

The information here covers the general Right to Rent rules in England. It is not immigration or legal advice. If a particular tenancy or immigration status is involved, use the current Home Office guidance or seek appropriate professional advice.

Related changes

You can also read our October 2026 changes guide for other changes taking effect during the month.