If you are preparing to let a property in England, October’s right-to-rent updates are a reason to review your checking process. They do not mean every landlord must buy a digital checking service or move every applicant onto the same route.
The useful starting point is to separate three tasks: choosing the appropriate check, completing its required steps, and retaining the evidence. An organised folder helps with the last task, but cannot replace the check itself.
Quick answer: In England, the right-to-rent guidance changed on 1 October 2026. If you choose a digital verification service, use a registered provider authorised for right-to-rent checks. Other prescribed routes remain available. Choose the appropriate route for the occupier and keep the required check evidence.
What changed on 1 October 2026?
The Home Office’s October 2026 code of practice updates the existing scheme. Its changes include the requirement to use a registered provider when choosing a digital verification service, clarification of the checks those providers can perform, and updates to acceptable-document lists.
This is an England-specific checking framework, not a new UK-wide duty. The code also distinguishes checks completed before it took effect: those are assessed against the version applicable when the check was carried out. Do not turn an updated guidance date into an assumed instruction to repeat every previous check.
For your next letting, replace bookmarks to old instructions with links to the current guidance. If someone helps with administration, make sure their checklist points to the same edition. A saved document list can become out of date even when the folder containing it is well organised.
Must I use a digital verification provider?
No. A digital verification service provider, or DVSP, is one route available within the scheme. It is different from the Home Office online service used with a share code. The appropriate route depends on the person’s evidence and the current official instructions.
The Landlord’s guide to right-to-rent checks explains the prescribed routes, the people who need checking and the circumstances requiring follow-up. It also explains that choosing a provider does not remove the landlord’s responsibility for a correctly completed check.
You may see the term statutory excuse. This means a defence against a civil penalty obtained through carrying out the prescribed checks. It is not simply a receipt for purchasing a service or a note saying that documents were uploaded.
Which checking route should I use?
Use this comparison to orientate yourself, then follow the detailed official instructions. It is not a complete immigration-status decision tree.
| Route | What to consult | Practical record to organise |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed manual check | The current acceptable-document lists and checking steps. | The required copies and dated check evidence. |
| Home Office online check | The Home Office online right-to-rent service and instructions for the occupier’s evidence. | The required result of the check, rather than just a share code. |
| Registered right-to-rent DVSP | The provider’s current registration and the permitted service being supplied. | The check output and evidence of the remaining required steps. |
A useful administrative habit is to write the chosen route at the top of your working checklist. This prevents a partly completed online process being filed as though it were a completed manual check. Keep any unresolved question visible until you have checked the guidance or obtained appropriate advice.
A referencing package may contain several separate services. Ask which service performs the right-to-rent element and what evidence you will receive. Do not assume that an affordability result, identity upload or general referencing confirmation answers the right-to-rent question.
How do I check a provider is registered?
Start with the government’s guidance for finding registered digital verification services. The register lets you search for a provider and inspect its certification. Check that the relevant service is permitted to perform right-to-rent checks; general digital-identity branding is not enough.
Make this check when selecting the service, rather than relying on an old screenshot or a recommendation from another landlord. If the service name on the register differs from the name on a referencing invoice, ask the supplier to explain the relationship before proceeding.
For your own organisation, note the service name, the date you checked it and where the final output is stored. These notes make the trail easier to understand later. They are administrative aids, not additional documents that this article claims are universally required by law.
What should I record after the check?
Use a short completion checklist alongside the official requirements:
- Identify the relevant occupier and the property or tenancy.
- Record when the check was completed and which route was used.
- Retain the evidence required for that route in a retrievable location.
- Confirm that the required comparison with the actual person has been completed.
- Check whether a follow-up is required and establish the correct date from the guidance.
- Record who will deal with any remaining action.
Do not calculate a legal follow-up date merely by copying an immigration expiry into a calendar. Follow the applicable Home Office rules. Our guide to keeping track of landlord compliance dates can help organise dates once you have established them.
Identity evidence deserves careful handling. Restrict access, keep it securely and follow the current retention and destruction instructions. Avoid scattering copies across personal email, shared folders and messaging apps. See our broader guide to landlord record retention, while using the Home Office instructions for this particular evidence.
How do I avoid unfair treatment?
The October 2026 avoiding-discrimination code stresses consistent treatment and valid alternative evidence routes. Do not make assumptions from a person’s name, appearance or accent, or disadvantage someone because their acceptable evidence takes a different form.
A uniform process does not mean forcing everyone to use identical documents or a single paid provider. Build space into your process for the applicable alternative route and, where the guidance requires it, the Landlord Checking Service.
In practice, give applicants a clear explanation of what you need and where the official instructions can be found. If a digital service cannot be accessed, investigate the appropriate route instead of treating a technical difficulty as proof that the person cannot rent.
Where can Propiva help?
Propiva is UK compliance software for self-managing landlords. Its confirmed tenant-document uploads can support the organisation of tenancy records. Decide what should be stored and who should have access before uploading sensitive evidence; this guide does not confirm access controls for a particular document area.
Propiva is not presented here as an identity checker, immigration-status assessor or authorised DVSP. Document storage does not establish a statutory excuse. For the wider document set, read what documents landlords should keep.
Sign up free at propiva.app. Your first property is free.
Frequently asked questions
Are right-to-rent checks new in October 2026?
No. The change concerns the current code and checking guidance within an existing scheme.
Is a share-code check the same as a DVSP check?
No. Keep the two routes distinct and follow the instructions for the route you use.
Do I need to recheck all existing tenants?
Do not infer that from the guidance change alone. Review the applicable follow-up rules and your existing records.
Can Propiva complete the check for me?
No such capability is confirmed. Use the appropriate prescribed checking route, then organise the resulting records.
England guidance. Official sources checked: 21 October 2026. Recheck current guidance before relying on it for a new check.
Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal, financial or professional advice. Rules and requirements may vary depending on your location and circumstances and can change over time. Always check current official guidance and seek professional advice where appropriate.
