Right to Rent Scheme Has Negative Impact on All Citizens
The UK government’s ongoing efforts to create a hostile environment for individuals living in the UK illegally could have a negative impact on British citizens. In 2013, the then Home Secretary Theresa May announced plans to create a “hostile environment” across housing, health care, and everyday necessities such as banking and transport. It was the start of the “deport first, appeal later” approach that is now common practice across the immigration service.
However, these Right to Rent measures aimed at making it difficult for citizens from outside the UK to find a place to live might also be creating a hostile environment for British citizens. A recent survey by the Residential Landlord Association revealed that 43% of landlords reported they would avoid renting to anyone who couldn’t produce a British passport. This could spell bad news for the 17% of the British population who don’t hold a British passport. These are typically the most vulnerable in society and will likely already face many obstacles to living a normal life.
Landlords reported they fear the repercussions of failing to make adequate checks after the Home Office placed the onus of responsibility on landlords to ensure they are renting to people with the right to live in the UK. Even those with temporary visas could face trouble renting in future, as 56% of landlords reported they were less likely to rent to someone from outside the UK, regardless of their status.
Landlords can face charges of up to £3000 for knowingly renting to someone who does not have the right to live in the UK. Two thirds of those responding to the survey said they were worried about being duped by fake documents and face unfair fines. Critics of the system have lashed out at the Home Office plans, saying that they are turning landlords into immigration officers, which they are not trained for.
The Residential Landlord Association has called for greater clarity surrounding EU nationals and their right to rent in the UK to prevent landlords from becoming overly cautious. The event that individuals face obstacles to renting in the UK, often their only recourse is to go through dispute resolution solicitors, but this is obviously not an ideal solution. Landlords are being encouraged to accept other identification documents other than passports, such as driver's licenses. The Home Office has also confirmed landlords will only be prosecuted for knowingly renting to those without the correct documentation, but this has done little to ease concerns.
By Roman Winter: An aspiring freelance writer with a passion for law, and politics |