Private landlords in the West Midlands will soon be expected to check whether prospective tenants are in the UK legally.
The ‘right to rent’ checks have been introduced via the Immigration Act as part of measures to combat illegal migrants.
It is being launched in Birmingham, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Wolverhampton in December and following an evaluation could be rolled out to the rest of the country next year.
Landlords will be expected to request proof of identity and citizenship to avoid facing fines of up to £3,000 if tenants are found to be living in the UK illegally. Immigration and security minister James Brokenshire said: ‘We are building an immigration system that is fair to British citizens and legitimate migrants and tough on those who abuse the system or flout the law.
‘The right to rent checks are quick and simple, but will make it more difficult for immigration offenders to stay in the country when they have no right to be here. They will also act as a new line of attack against unscrupulous landlords who exploit people by renting out substandard, overcrowded and unsafe accommodation.’
He said landlords in the West Midlands would have ‘all the advice and support they need’ in advance of the checks going live.
