How to Prove Right to Rent with a Share Code

What Is a Right to Rent Check?

Since 2016, all landlords in England are legally required to verify that prospective tenants have the right to rent before signing a tenancy agreement. This is known as a “right to rent check” and applies to all adults who will be living in the property as their main home.

If you’re not a British or Irish citizen, you’ll typically need to prove your right to rent using a share code — a 9-character code from the Home Office that lets your landlord verify your immigration status online.

Failing a right to rent check doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong — it usually just means your documentation isn’t in order. But in a competitive rental market, being unprepared can cost you the property.

You’ll need a share code for right to rent if you:

Hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
Have an eVisa (digital immigration status)
Hold a visa that gives you the right to rent
Have a biometric residence permit (now transitioned to eVisa)

You don’t need a share code if you:

Are a British citizen (show your passport)
Are an Irish citizen (show your passport or Irish passport card)
Have a valid physical document that proves your right to rent (though digital verification is increasingly preferred)

Before You Start

Make sure you have:

Your passport, BRP, or the document you used for your visa application
Your date of birth
An email address
Internet access

Step-by-Step

Go to gov.uk/prove-right-to-rent
Select “prove your right to rent”
Verify your identity using your document details and date of birth
Receive your code — it appears on screen and is emailed to you
Note the expiry — right to rent codes are valid for 90 days

Store It for Quick Access

Once you have your code, don’t just leave it in your email. Store it somewhere you can access instantly — even without internet. The Easy Share Code app saves your code to Apple Wallet so you can pull it up in seconds during viewings.

What Your Landlord Does with Your Code

When you give your landlord or letting agent your share code and date of birth, they:

Visit the Home Office online checking service
Enter your share code and date of birth
See a confirmation page showing:
- Your photograph
- Your immigration status
- Whether you have the right to rent
- Any time limit on your permission
Save or print the confirmation as their record

The whole process takes about 2 minutes from their side. The faster you can provide your code, the faster they can complete the check.

What Landlords Can and Cannot See

They CAN see:

Your name and photograph
Your right to rent status (yes/no)
Any time restrictions on your stay
Whether a follow-up check is needed

They CANNOT see:

Your full immigration history
Other personal details
Your address history
Any other applications you’ve made

Common Scenarios

Viewing Multiple Properties

If you’re viewing several flats in one day, you only need one share code. The same code works for multiple landlords within its 90-day validity period.

Pro tip: Have your code ready in Apple Wallet so you can show it to each letting agent immediately. Being prepared shows you’re a serious tenant.

Your Code Has Expired

If your code has expired (it’s been more than 90 days since you generated it), simply generate a new one. There’s no limit to how many codes you can create.

This is rare but does happen with some private landlords unfamiliar with the system. Landlords in England are legally required to accept online right to rent checks. If they refuse, they may be discriminating, which is illegal under the Equality Act 2010.

You can direct them to the government’s guidance for landlords.

You Have a Time-Limited Visa

If your visa has an expiry date, your landlord will see this during the check. They can still rent to you, but they’re required to do a follow-up check before your visa expires. This is normal and shouldn’t affect your application.

Joint Tenancy

Each adult tenant needs to pass their own right to rent check. If you’re renting with a partner or flatmates, each person provides their own share code separately.

Tips for a Smooth Right to Rent Check

Generate your code before you start viewing — don’t wait until a landlord asks
Store it in Apple Wallet — instant access, even without internet
Know your expiry date — generate a fresh code if yours is getting old
Have your date of birth ready — landlords need it alongside your code
Be proactive — offer your code upfront rather than waiting to be asked
Keep a backup — screenshot your code as a fallback

What If You Fail the Check?

If the online check shows you don’t have the right to rent, it could mean:

Your status has changed — check your UKVI account for updates
There’s a system error — try generating a new code
Your application is pending — you may have a Certificate of Application that proves your right to rent while waiting

If you believe there’s an error, contact the Home Office resolution centre to resolve it.

Right to Rent in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

The right to rent scheme currently only applies in England. Landlords in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are not legally required to check immigration status, though some may still ask for documentation voluntarily.

If you’re renting in England, the check is mandatory regardless of your nationality — even British citizens must prove their right to rent (usually by showing a passport).

Stay Prepared

The rental market moves fast, especially in cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Having your share code ready and accessible gives you an edge over other applicants who might need days to sort their paperwork.

Download Easy Share Code UK to store your right to rent code in Apple Wallet. It’s free, works offline, and means you’ll never lose a flat because you couldn’t find your code.

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