Law watch: new right to rent codes of practice from 1 October 2026
The Home Office published updated right to rent codes of practice on 30 June 2026. They apply to checks made from 1 October 2026.
Published 29 September 2026. Checked against the law on 29 September 2026.
What changed
The Home Office published updated codes of practice on right to rent on 30 June 2026. They apply from 1 October 2026. A check made on or after that date should follow the new code.
Who it affects
Every private landlord in England who lets to a new adult occupier, and agents who do the check for them. The duty to check has not changed: you check every adult who will live in the home, before the tenancy starts, in the same way for everyone.
What to do
- Read the new landlord's code before your next check.
- Check everyone the same way. Choosing who to check by name, accent or appearance is discrimination.
- Keep a dated record of each check for the length of the tenancy and a year after.
What we updated
Right to rent checks now points to the code in force from 1 October 2026.
This is information about English law, checked on the date shown, not legal advice.
Where this comes from
Questions people ask
From when do the new right to rent codes apply?
From 1 October 2026. They were published on 30 June 2026.
Would your paperwork pass?
The free landlord audit checks the evidence for every legal duty on your let, in minutes. Then the PA keeps the dates for you, free.