Proving the right to rent – BRP’s for non UK nationals
Biometric Residence Permits, or BRPs - previously acceptable documents are being phased out and can no longer be used as physical proof of someone's right to rent in the UK, as landlords must now verify immigration status online using a share code provided by the tenant instead of checking the physical BRP card.
Key points about BRPs:
The new deadline for BRP holders to transition to eVisas is end March 2025
BRPs are being replaced by electronic visas (eVisas), which are online records of immigration status.
To prove their right to rent, individuals with a BRP must now use the online Home Office service to generate a share code for landlords to verify.
Landlords can no longer accept a physical BRP card to verify a tenant's right to rent.
What is a Biometric Residence Permit?
A Biometric Residence Permit, (BRP)shows a person's name, date and place of birth, fingerprints, and photograph, as well as their immigration status and conditions of stay - with an expiry date and other details.
They are currently being phased out in favour of a new e-visa system.
What should you do if someone presents this document?
If a tenant tries to use this permit as evidence of their right to rent you should refuse and suggest an alternative. For example, you could suggest they bring their passport, if it has evidence of their time-limited right to remain within it.
However, the easiest thing to do would be to ask the tenant for their share code and date of birth.
This can then be used to access their details via the Home Office checking service, to see if they have the right to rent.
If the prospective tenant hasn’t got their share code yet, they should be encouraged to apply to the Government for one.
Cited from Torbay Council 03/03/2025
