Guide · England
Right to Rent follow-up checks
If your tenant's right to rent is time-limited, do a follow-up check just before the later of two dates: the end of their permission to stay in the UK, or 12 months after your previous check. After a Positive Right to Rent Notice from the Landlord Checking Service, it's 12 months after the date on the notice. No follow-up is needed for an unlimited right to rent.
- Written by
- Maruf
- Reviewed
- Rule version
- rtr.tl.v2, rtr.lcs.v2, rtr.none.v1
- First published
- · Change history
England only. Scotland, Wales and NI aren't covered.
When do you need a follow-up check?
You need one when the tenant’s right to rent is time-limited. This usually means they were checked:
- online, and the result showed a time limit;
- with List B documents (a manual check);
- through a registered DVSP, and the right is time-limited; or
- through the Landlord Checking Service, which gave you a Positive Right to Rent Notice.
If the tenant has an unlimited right to rent (for example a British passport), or EU Settlement Scheme settled or pre-settled status, no follow-up checks are needed during the tenancy.
When is a Right to Rent follow-up check due?
This page is the main explanation of the rule. Our other guides and tools link back here.
How to work out the date
Take the later of:
- the date the tenant’s permission (or document) ends; and
- 12 months after the date of your previous check.
Do the follow-up check just before that date.
Worked example
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Check done | 1 January 2026 |
| Permission ends | 1 March 2026 |
| 12 months after the check | 1 January 2027 |
| Follow-up due | 1 January 2027 (the later date) |
Even though the permission ends in March 2026, the 12-month date is later, so that’s when the follow-up is due. Use the calculator to work out yours.
After a Landlord Checking Service notice
A Positive Right to Rent Notice lasts 12 months from the date specified on the notice. Do a follow-up check before then. See the Landlord Checking Service guide.
If the tenant no longer has the right to rent
You must tell the Home Office if a follow-up check shows your tenant can no longer legally rent in England. Use the Home Office reporting service. GOV.UK warns that not reporting can lead to a fine or up to 5 years in prison.
Keeping records
Keep the evidence from every check, follow-ups included, for the tenancy plus at least one year after it ends, then destroy it securely. Our process log creates a printable note of each check and its follow-up date.
Common questions
What if the tenant's permission ends before the 12 months are up?
Use whichever date is later. If permission ends on 1 March 2026 and you checked on 1 January 2026, the follow-up is due just before 1 January 2027.
Do tenants with settled or pre-settled status need follow-up checks?
No. The Home Office guide says that for EU Settlement Scheme pre-settled or settled status a check is required only before the tenancy begins; no repeat checks are required.
What happens if I miss a follow-up check?
GOV.UK says you can get a fine if you do not do a follow-up check and your tenant's permission to stay ends.
What if the follow-up check shows the tenant can no longer rent?
You must tell the Home Office using its landlord reporting service.
Not legal advice. Right to Rent Log is independent and not affiliated with GOV.UK or the Home Office. How we maintain this guide.