405 Right to Rent fines issued by Home Office

405 Right to Rent fines issued by Home Office

10:54 AM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago 10

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Figures from the Home Office indicate 405 fines have been handed out to landlords in total during the government’s ‘hostile environment’ crack down on illegal immigration (see diagram to the right).

The total cost of these penalties to landlords came to over £265,000. This makes the average fine approximately £654. However, penalties can range from:

Fines (civil penalties)

The amount you have to pay will depend on the type of accommodation and if you’ve received a civil penalty before.

Type of accommodation Amount for a first time penalty Amounts for further penalties
Lodgers in a private household £80 £500
Tenants in rented accommodation £1,000 £3,000

After the Windrush scandal the Home Office issued guidance to landlords to clarify that tenants who have lived in the UK permanently since before 1973 and who have not been away for long periods in the last 30 years, have the right to rent property.

Quite how a Landlord can assess that if the Home Office can’t is anyone’s guess!

NLA policy director Chris Norris, said: “the latest figures would seem to show that landlords are more aware of their responsibilities and are carrying out the required checks. However, it is important to remember that landlords are neither immigration experts nor border agents.”

“The Right to Rent scheme has placed an additional cost on an already pressurised sector, while the excessive checks and lack of monitoring may have had harmful consequences for would be and vulnerable tenants.”

The Home Office commented: “It’s right that we have a compliant environment to deter illegal immigration and protect public services and it is a policy that has been operated under successive governments. The Right to Rent checks were developed with the input of the Landlords Consultative Panel and there is online guidance as well as a helpline to ensure the scheme is fully understood.”


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Whiteskifreak Surrey

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11:29 AM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago

It would be interesting to know how much was the total cost of the scheme so far and how much the admin of the fines plus removal of the illegal tenants did cost.

Ros poldermans

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12:50 PM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago

As a landlord under right to rent are we responsible for people living at the property but not paying rent?

Sunil Lad

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12:53 PM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago

Protecting public services starts at the border control point. This as has already been debated to death should not be the responsibility of the landlords. Also other than EU citizens where we (at the present moment) have a reciprocal agreement for health care, all other visitors must provide proof of insurance upon entry, there by our NHS not having to fund care. It goads me when people talk about protecting public services yet they don’t put in place simple checks at the front end, I’m sure, to fund such checks would be a drop in the ocean compared to what is currently wasted, arrrrh!

Annie Landlord

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14:41 PM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago

It would also be interesting to know how many fines were imposed on criminal landlords who rent slums to anyone, no questions asked and no paperwork completed, how many were 'Windrush' confusions and how many were for decent landlords who just made a mistake.

Seething Landlord

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15:09 PM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Ros poldermans at 30/05/2018 - 12:50
Extract from the government guide:
"Landlords, agents and householders should check that all adults who will live in the property have a right to rent in the UK. This includes everyone over the age of 18 who will use the property as their only or main home, even if they are not named on the tenancy agreement and regardless of whether the tenancy agreement is written, oral or implied."

Chris @ Possession Friend

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16:19 PM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago

I personally don't have a problem with Landlords being asked to carry out certain checks on a passport / other document at the start of a tenancy ( as its often useful corroboration of the tenants ID ) As LONG AS, other professionals such as pharmacies, hospitals employers etc check a persons status and that those who are illegally in the UK are immediately detained and deported. Otherwise, its just singling out Landlords again for extra burdens - something we're becoming familiar with. !

rita chawla

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17:29 PM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago

I don't have a problem doing the checks actually. Not only checking the passport visa etc helps me double check their identity but helps me weed out unfriendly /trouble making tenants. I have had a few who get offended if I ask to see their passport and turns out they are the ones who say they are not comfortable with regular landlord inspections during tenancy.

H B

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20:17 PM, 30th May 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by rita chawla at 30/05/2018 - 17:29
I wouldn't know about that. Have never dreamt of asking for an inspection. I would also never have rented off of a landlord who asked for one back when I was renting in the 90s.

Of course I understand why people do not want to have to present their passport but when clearly explained why, they are happy enough.

Darren Peters

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20:12 PM, 31st May 2018, About 7 years ago

I wonder what the distribution is between LA Housing, housing Associations and private Landlords. Actually I don't wonder at all.
Govt doing it's job: 0
Govt fining landlords for not doing something govt too incompetent to do: £265,000

Claire Smith

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9:32 AM, 2nd June 2018, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Whiteskifreak Surrey at 30/05/2018 - 11:29
Exactly what I thought as I read the article. I wonder who would have that information?

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