Renting accommodation to illegal immigrants to become a criminal offence

In her speech earlier this week to the Conservative Party conference, Amber Rudd, the new Home Secretary announced harsher potential penalties for landlords of properties in England, who fail to check the immigration status of tenants and let accommodation to persons without the legal right to remain in the UK.

Currently this is a civil offence, punishable with fines of up to £3,000. In her speech the Home Secretary told the party conference: “So today, I am announcing that from December, landlords that knowingly rent out property to people who have no right to be here will be committing a criminal offence.  They could go to prison.”

Detailed guidance on checking a tenant’s right to rent can be found on the UK Government website in the “Code of practice on illegal immigrants and private rented accommodation.” This includes a list of exemptions to the requirements for certain types of accommodation, in certain circumstances, including social housing and care homes for example.

Contact Nitika Singh on 0208 290 7347 or email nsingh@judge-priestley.co.uk should you have any enquiries or need further information in relation to this issue.