Why You Need a Share Code for Renting in the UK

The Right to Rent Scheme

Since 2016, all landlords in England are legally required to check that their tenants have the right to rent before signing a tenancy agreement. This is known as a “right to rent check.” If you are not a British or Irish citizen, you will likely need to provide a share code so your landlord can verify your immigration status online.

Failing to pass a right to rent check means a landlord cannot legally offer you a tenancy. This makes having your share code ready an essential part of the renting process.

How the Process Works

When you find a property you want to rent, the landlord or letting agent will ask you to prove your right to rent. Here is how it typically works:

Visit the government website and generate a share code specifically for right to rent purposes. This code will be valid for 90 days.

Give your landlord or letting agent the 9-character share code along with your date of birth. They will use these details to check your status online through the Home Office system.

3. Landlord Verifies Your Status

The landlord enters your share code at the government’s online checking service. They will see confirmation of your right to rent, including any time limitations on your permission to stay.

What Landlords See

When a landlord uses your share code, they can see your photograph, your immigration status, and whether there are any restrictions on your stay. They cannot see your full immigration history or any other personal details beyond what is needed for the check.

Common Challenges

Many tenants face difficulties during this process. Share codes expire, and if yours has lapsed between viewings and signing, you will need to generate a fresh one. In a competitive rental market, delays can mean losing out on a property.

Another common issue is not having internet access at the right moment. If you are viewing multiple properties in a day, you might need your code quickly and not have time to go through the generation process again.

How to Stay Prepared

The best approach is to always have a valid share code ready. Using an app like Easy Share Code UK, you can store your share code securely on your phone and access it instantly, even without an internet connection. The app also sends you reminders before your code expires, so you are never caught off guard.

Being prepared with your share code shows landlords that you are organised and serious about renting. In a competitive market, that can make all the difference.