Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of landlords' right to immigration checks on the ability of immigrant families to secure accommodation.

Landlords should check that prospective tenants have a right to rent in the UK by carrying out simple document checks under the Immigration Act 2014. Prior to implementing these arrangements across England, the Home Office undertook an evaluation of phase one of the Right to Rent scheme in the West Midlands. A mystery shopping element, carried out by independent researchers, found no evidence that the scheme caused discrimination in access to accommodation. This evaluation was informed and overseen by a Landlord Consultative Panel of housing experts and others, including the Equality and Human Rights Commission. This panel, which is co-chaired by the Minister for Immigration and Lord Best OBE, an acknowledged expert in housing and planning matters, has continued to monitor the results of the scheme.

The published evaluation report can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-right-to-rent-scheme

The Government has published a Code of Practice that advises landlords on how unlawful discrimination should be avoided. The Equality and Human Rights Commission and Equality Commission for Northern Ireland assisted in the drafting of this Code.