Right to Rent Student Visa and Work Visa Checks for Landlords

Student and work visa holders make up a large share of the private rental market in English university towns and cities. Both categories hold time-limited immigration permission, which means the landlord's checking obligations do not end at move-in.

The Verification Route: Share Code

Students on a Student visa (formerly Tier 4) and workers on a Skilled Worker visa (formerly Tier 2) hold their immigration status digitally through a UKVI eVisa account. Physical BRPs have been phased out as valid standalone proof for right to rent manual checks.

The checking process is the same for both visa types:

1. The tenant generates a 9-character share code starting with 'R' through their UKVI account (not a 'W' right to work code — see right to rent vs right to work).
2. The landlord enters the code and the tenant's date of birth on the GOV.UK right to rent checking portal.
3. The system displays the tenant's photograph, name, and right to rent status with any conditions and expiry date.
4. The landlord confirms the photograph matches the person standing in front of them (or on a live video call).
5. The landlord saves a dated printout or PDF of the verification result.

The landlord writes "Date of check: [DD/MM/YYYY]" on the saved document and stores it securely.

Time-Limited Status and the 28-Day Rule

Because student and work visas are time-limited, the check must be completed no earlier than 28 calendar days before the tenancy start date. A check done 29 or more days before the start date does not establish a valid statutory excuse.

This timing rule matters most for students arranging accommodation before arriving in the UK. A landlord can complete the online share code check remotely within the 28-day window, but must verify the tenant's identity against the profile photograph in person (or via live video) before handing over keys.

Follow-Up Check Deadlines

A time-limited verification creates a statutory excuse that expires on the later of two dates:

• The date the visa permission itself expires
• Exactly 12 months from the date the check was conducted

For a Student visa expiring in September 2027 checked in October 2026, the 12-month mark (October 2027) comes after the visa expiry — so the follow-up deadline is October 2027. For a short extension visa expiring in three months, the 12-month mark is later, so the follow-up falls at the 12-month point.

The landlord must complete a follow-up check before this deadline. If the tenant has extended their visa, a new share code confirms the updated permission. If the extension application is still pending (Section 3C leave), the landlord contacts the Landlord Checking Service for a Positive Right to Rent Notice.

Students Finishing Their Course

When a Student visa reaches its end date — typically a few months after the course finishes — the tenant's right to rent expires unless they have applied for a new visa (a Graduate visa, Skilled Worker visa, or further study).

If the tenant has made an in-time application for a new visa before the Student visa expired, Section 3C leave extends their existing permission and conditions while the application is pending. The landlord submits an LCS enquiry as described above.

If the tenant has not applied for any extension and the visa has simply expired, the follow-up check will confirm they no longer have the right to rent. The landlord must report the situation to the Home Office through the official reporting portal and follow the possession process under Ground 7B.

Common Mistakes

Accepting an expired BRP as proof. Physical BRPs are no longer valid for right to rent manual checks. A student showing a BRP card with a past expiry date needs to generate an online share code instead.

Using the wrong share code type. Students who have recently started a part-time job may have generated a 'W' (right to work) code for their employer. That code does not work for tenancy verification — the tenant needs to generate a separate 'R' code.

Forgetting follow-ups after the academic year. Student tenancies often roll over summer periods, and a landlord may forget that the follow-up check is approaching when the property seems quiet. Calendar reminders set at the time of the initial check prevent this gap.

The Complete Process

The Right to Rent Checks in England guide includes the share code verification walkthrough, the follow-up check tracker for managing multiple time-limited tenants, and worked scenarios for student and work visa holders — including what to do when a visa expires mid-tenancy.

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