Right to Rent: proving your status to a landlord

When you rent a property in England, your landlord is required by law to check that you have the right to rent. If you are a non-UK national with a digital immigration status, the easiest and most secure way to prove this is by generating a share code from your UKVI account and providing it to your landlord. This guide explains how the process works, what you need to know about checks and discrimination, and what happens if your visa is time-limited.

What is a share code and why you need one

A share code is a unique 9-character code beginning with the letter 'R' that proves your immigration status digitally. Instead of showing your landlord physical documents or accessing your full UKVI account, you generate a share code through the Home Office online service and share it with them along with your date of birth. This protects your personal data while giving the landlord the information they need to verify you can legally rent in the UK. British and Irish citizens do not need a share code, as they can prove their status using documents such as a passport or birth certificate.

Most non-British, non-Irish tenants now rely on eVisas and share codes rather than physical cards. Digital immigration status has largely replaced the old Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) system, making the share code the standard way to prove your right to rent.

How to generate your share code

To create a share code, you must first set up a UKVI account on GOV.UK if you do not already have one. This is a free process and does not take long. You will need your identity document—such as a valid passport, national ID card, or Biometric Residence Permit number—and access to the mobile phone number or email address you registered with.

1. Visit the GOV.UK website and access the View and Prove Your Immigration Status service
2. Sign in using your identity document and date of birth
3. Complete any identity verification steps, which may involve receiving a security code by email or SMS
4. Select 'View and share immigration status' and choose the reason for sharing (for renting, select 'Right to Rent')
5. Your 9-character share code will be generated and displayed on screen

Once generated, your share code is valid for 90 days. You can use it multiple times during this period, so there is no need to request a new code for each landlord check unless the first one expires. Keep a copy of your code somewhere safe, but do not share it carelessly—treat it as you would any proof of identity.

How landlords will check your share code

Once you give your share code and date of birth to your landlord, they will enter both into the official Home Office online checker called 'View a Tenant's Right to Rent in England'. The system will display real-time information about your immigration status, any restrictions, and whether your right to rent is time-limited or unlimited. The landlord can then see your photo to confirm it matches you, and record the outcome of the check.

The landlord is required to keep a record of the check for at least one year after your tenancy ends. You do not need to show them your eVisa or provide any additional documents once the share code has been verified.

Discrimination is illegal—checks must apply to everyone

It is illegal for a landlord to single out foreign nationals or people of a particular nationality for additional scrutiny or to ask only certain applicants to prove their right to rent. Landlords must conduct checks fairly, consistently, and in the same way for all adult applicants, regardless of their nationality or where they appear to come from. This is a legal duty, not a choice.

Examples of unlawful discrimination in right to rent checks include asking only visa holders to provide proof while accepting British-born applicants on their word, or requesting a share code only from applicants of a particular ethnicity. Landlords are required to check every adult aged 18 or over who will occupy the property as their main home. If you believe a landlord has discriminated against you, you can report this to the Equality and Human Rights Commission or seek advice from a housing charity such as Shelter.

Landlords cannot charge you for the check

Under UK law, landlords and letting agents are prohibited from charging tenants any fee for conducting a right to rent check. This is classed as a prohibited payment. If a landlord or agent attempts to charge you for the check—or refers to it as an administration fee, processing fee, or referencing charge—you should not pay it. Even if the charge appears in the property advert or tenancy agreement, it is illegal and unenforceable.

Follow-up checks for time-limited visas

If your visa or immigration permission is time-limited—meaning it will expire on a specific date—your landlord must carry out a follow-up right to rent check before that date passes. This is a legal requirement and your landlord should remind you of the deadline in advance. If you have applied for an extension or renewal before your current status expires, you can use a Certificate of Application or Home Office Positive Verification Notice to pass the follow-up check while your new application is pending.

The timing of the follow-up check depends on your circumstances. If your right to rent is due to expire sooner than 12 months after the initial check, the landlord must check again before the expiry date. If it will expire more than 12 months later, they must check by the 12-month anniversary of the first check. The system will tell your landlord and you when the next check is due.

If your visa expires and you do not renew it or apply for an extension, you will not be able to pass the follow-up check. This may allow your landlord to seek to end the tenancy. However, if you have submitted a new visa application before expiry, your tenancy can continue while that application is being decided by the Home Office.

What happens if you have an error or cannot generate a code

If your UKVI account has an error that prevents you from generating a share code—such as a wrong date of birth, missing visa details, or a technical problem—you should report it to the UKVI Resolution Centre or through the GOV.UK error reporting service for eVisas. While this is being resolved, ask your landlord if they can use the Home Office Landlord Checking Service as a temporary workaround. The system may allow them to conduct a manual check while you wait for your account to be corrected.

If your share code expires before your landlord verifies it, you can generate a new one immediately at no cost.