Question

England | Moving in a Tenant (England) | Start of a Tenancy (England)

Photo I.D

12 Oct 2021 | 3 comments

I have a tenant that has satisfied the right to rent requirement with birth certificate and benefits letter, however they don’t have any photograph ID. Are we obligated to check some form of photo ID before entering into an agreement to establish they are who they say they are.

Answer

3 Comments

  1. guildy

    We assume the birth certificate and benefits letter were both issued in the UK (so the prospective tenant is a UK citizen) and that the benefits letter was issued within the last 3 months. On those assumptions, that is acceptable for right to rent to establish they are a UK citizen and have a permanent right to rent.

    Please see here for full details on right to rent checks.

  2. Property2008

    Yes the right to rent is satisfactory but in the absence of a photo ID how do I know they are who they say they are?

  3. guildy

    For right to rent purposes, you’ve done all that’s needed.

    If you wish to go further from a personal prospective (and we agree how do you know they are who they say) then you can insist on photo ID. But, if they haven’t got one, that will be a personal choice of yours whether to carry on or refuse a tenancy.

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