When the government first revealed plans to make UK landlords responsible for checking the immigration status of tenants, there was a largely negative response from many quarters. Unfortunately, the proposals look set to become a reality by next year.
Unhappy Landlords
The RLA carried out a study amongst its members and found that an overwhelming majority (82%) were deeply unhappy about being asked to verify whether potential tenants are allowed to be in the country. Most felt that such a proposal would be very damaging to landlord-tenant relationships. The NLA also expressed a great deal of concern about the proposals.
Passport Controls
The final details have not yet been established, but the RLA says that landlords will probably be expected to check tenants’ passports and keep a copy of it on file. However, one of the fundamental problems with this proposal is that not everyone has a passport. Many poorer people living on benefits can’t afford to apply for a passport let alone travel abroad, so the situation becomes a lot more problematic. As such, the RLA are very critical of the government’s plans to deal with the immigration problem.
“For a Government committed to reducing the burden of red tape it is ironic that they are now seeking to impose a significant extra burden on landlords making them scapegoats for the UK Border Agency’s failings.”
Government Support for Landlords
The government is expected to provide some support for landlords to help them achieve compliance. This is likely to include a telephone support line and email service, plus a fast-track option so migrants can obtain the necessary documentation for landlords.
