Digital Right to Rent checks

Digital Right to Rent Updates for International Students and Expats

Posted by Home Word Management on September 8, 2026

Property Management News, Property Management

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Digital Right to Rent checks are now the usual route for many international students and expats renting in England. Most eVisa holders use a share code instead of showing a physical BRP. The landlord checks that code through the Home Office service and keeps the result. Time-limited visas may need another check later, while pending applications have a separate route. Here is the 2026 process in plain English.

The 2026 Process at a Glance

Situation	What to Do
eVisa holder	Generate a Right to Rent share code
Landlord receives the code	Complete the right to rent check through GOV.UK
Time-limited status	Record the date when the next check is required
Application pending	Use the Landlord Checking Service where applicable
British or Irish passport	Complete the appropriate manual check or use an approved digital identity service

The updated landlord code applies where an initial or repeat check is needed on or after 1 October 2026.

eVisa Holders Use the Home Office Route

For many overseas tenants, eVisa Right to Rent has replaced the old physical-card routine.

The tenant normally gives the landlord:

The correct rental share code
Their date of birth

The landlord then completes the Home Office online Right to Rent check.

Quick point: A screenshot from the tenant is not the same as the landlord completing the official online check.

Make Sure You Use the Right Code

Not every share code is for renting.

R = Right to Rent
W = Right to Work

The landlord should use the rental code to confirm that the tenant can rent in England. They should also check the photo and whether the right is unlimited or time-limited.

GOV.UK confirms that landlords need the tenant’s share code and date of birth to complete the online check.

Time-Limited Visas Need Another Check

Many international student Right to Rent results are time-limited because the visa has an end date.

The process looks like this:

Initial check → move-in → permission continues → follow-up check

A Right to Rent follow-up check must be done before the landlord’s time-limited statutory excuse ends.

Under the October 2026 code, that protection lasts until the latest relevant date set by the rules, which may include 12 months after the previous check or the end of the tenant’s immigration permission.

Someone with an unlimited right does not need another immigration check.

A Pending Visa Application Does Not Always Stop Renting

An expired visa date does not always mean the tenant has lost the right to rent.

If a valid application was made before permission expired, their position may continue while the Home Office decides the case.

If normal proof is unavailable, the landlord can use the Landlord Checking Service.

Pending case route:

Tenant explains the application → landlord asks the Home Office → Home Office replies → a positive notice gives a 12-month statutory excuse.

So, landlords should check the current position before refusing an applicant.

Do Not Mix Up eVisa and Passport Checks

This is one of the biggest 2026 differences.

eVisa Holder	British or Irish Passport Holder
Uses the Home Office online service	May use an approved digital identity service
Provides a Right to Rent share code	Provides eligible passport evidence
Immigration status is verified online	Identity and passport evidence are checked

The new digital-verification rules cover checks using British passports, Irish passports and Irish passport cards. They do not replace the Home Office eVisa route for international students or expats.

Time-Limited Status Should Not Count Against You

The updated discrimination guidance says applicants should not be treated less favourably simply because their Right to Rent is time-limited or they need a different checking route.

Landlords can still carry out normal:

Affordability checks
References
Identity checks

The key is to treat applicants fairly at the same stage.

What Tenants Should Have Ready

A little preparation makes digital Right to Rent checks much quicker.

Have ready:

UKVI account access
Current passport details
Correct rental share code
Date of birth
Evidence of a pending application, if relevant

If the online route does not work, ask which official Home Office check the landlord is using instead of relying on screenshots.

Use the Right Check for the Right Status

digital Right to Rent checks are now routine for many students and expats with eVisas. The tenant provides the correct code, while the landlord verifies it and saves the result. Time-limited status may need another check, but it should not make someone a weaker applicant. Pending applications also have an official Home Office route. Matching the check to the tenant’s actual status keeps the process simple and compliant.

FAQs

1. How do international students prove their Right to Rent in 2026?

Most eVisa holders use a rental share code. The landlord checks it through the Home Office service. The tenant also provides their date of birth.

2. What is a Right to Rent share code?

It is a code used to prove immigration status for renting in England. The tenant creates it through GOV.UK. The landlord uses it for the online check.

3. Can a landlord accept an eVisa screenshot?

A screenshot alone does not replace the prescribed online check. The landlord should use the share code. They should save the completed result.

4. Do BRP holders now use digital checks?

Many BRP holders can use the online service. GOV.UK also allows certain expired BRPs to support online checks for a limited period. The online result is what matters.

5. When is a follow-up check needed?

It is needed when the landlord has a time-limited statutory excuse. The due date comes from the earlier check. It must be completed before that protection ends.

6. What if my visa extension is still pending?

You may still have a right to rent while a valid application is pending. The landlord can use the Home Office checking service. A positive notice gives temporary protection.

7. Can a landlord reject me because my visa is time-limited?

They should not reject you for that reason alone. The 2026 guidance says time-limited tenants must not be treated less favourably. Normal affordability checks still apply.

8. Can digital verification providers check eVisas?

Not through the passport route covered by the new supplementary code. That route is for eligible British and Irish passport evidence. eVisa holders use the Home Office service.

9. Do Right to Rent checks apply across the UK?

No. This statutory scheme applies to rented homes in England. It does not apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

10. What should a landlord keep after the check?

The landlord should keep evidence of the completed check. This shows that the correct process was followed. It also supports their statutory excuse.