Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of an Exceptional Assurance visa extension of four weeks on a person's ability to remain in or secure rental accommodation.

Each request for Exceptional Assurance is dealt with on its own merits. There is no condition in place limiting Exceptional Assurance to a maximum of four weeks.

Exceptional Assurance allows for the conditions of a previous grant of leave to continue until its expiration, including the right to rent. We have provided clear guidance on GOV.UK stipulating landlords must take extra care to ensure no one is discriminated against if they are struggling to evidence their right to rent during this pandemic.

The Landlord Checking Service is in place to verify the confirmation of Exceptional Assurance.

This service provides a response within two working days, from receipt of request, providing the landlord with a statutory excuse against liability for a civil penalty.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-landlord-right-to-rent-checks

https://eforms.homeoffice.gov.uk/outreach/lcs-application.ofml