What Is A Right to Rent Share Code?

Last updated: July 2026

A right to rent share code is a nine-character code (beginning with "R") that a non-British, non-Irish tenant generates from the Home Office service so a landlord in England can check their immigration status online. You enter the code plus the tenant's date of birth on the Home Office "View a tenant's right to rent" page before the tenancy starts. The code is valid for 90 days. British and Irish citizens cannot use share codes, so you check their documents or use an IDSP instead.

Key takeaways

• A share code is a 9-character code starting with "R", valid for 90 days.
• Check it with the tenant's date of birth on the Home Office viewer before the tenancy starts.
• British and Irish citizens cannot use share codes; check documents or use an IDSP.
• Keep a dated copy of the result for the tenancy plus one year to hold your statutory excuse.
• If the right is time-limited, set a follow-up check before it expires.

If you're taking on a new tenant in England, you'll need to conduct a share code check as part of the right to rent process.

A share code is a nine-character code that a non-British, non-Irish tenant receives from the Home Office service allowing you to easily view their immigration status online. You use the share code and their date of birth to complete the right to rent check before the tenancy starts. British and Irish citizens can't use share codes, so you'll check their physical documents or use an IDSP instead.

Right to rent share code: facts at a glance

• A right to rent share code is valid for 90 days from the date the tenant generates it, and can be used more than once within that window.
• Check it before the tenancy starts; if the tenant has a time-limited right to rent, do not carry out the check earlier than 28 days before the tenancy agreement is signed.
• Civil penalties for letting to someone without the right to rent run up to £10,000 per occupier for a first breach, rising to up to £20,000 per occupier for a repeat breach within 3 years.
• Keep a dated copy of the check result for the length of the tenancy plus one year to preserve your statutory excuse.

How does a right to rent share code work?

Tenants create the code via the official service under "Prove your right to rent". The code is valid for 90 days, and you can use it multiple times during that window.

Share codes are purpose-specific: codes that begin with "R" are for Right to Rent. If someone sends you a code for another purpose (for example, a work code, which may start with a different letter) or an expired code, ask them to generate a fresh Right to Rent code.

The check only confirms the person's current status and any time limit. If the tenant has a time-limited right, you must schedule a follow-up check before it expires to maintain your statutory excuse, as covered below.

As one landlord noted on the r/uklandlords forum: "I carried out right to rent share code checks and found they have right to rent until mid-January 2025. However, the rental lease does not expire until August 2025." (Source: Reddit)

How to check a right to rent share code, step by step

Keep it simple and consistent. You are verifying who is moving in, that they are allowed to rent, and that you have kept the right paper trail.

1. Collect details. Ask every adult occupier for either documents (British/Irish) or a share code plus date of birth (others). Don't discriminate based on nationality.
2. Use the official viewer. Go to the Home Office "View a tenant's right to rent" page and enter the code and date of birth. Confirm the photo matches the person and note any time limits or letting restrictions shown.
3. Keep records for your statutory excuse. Save a PDF or screenshot of the result page, note the check date, and store it securely with the tenancy file. If the result shows a time limit, set a reminder for the follow-up check before the permission ends.

Using Landlord Studio, you can keep the right to rent result, passport copy, and check dates in the tenant record, then create automated reminders for any follow-up checks alongside your usual compliance tasks and rent tracking. That way, your right to rent check cadence lives in the same place as your income, expenses, and lease documents.

What problems do landlords face with right to rent checks?

Right to rent checks occasionally trip up landlords. Here are the main mistakes to avoid.

Using the wrong code

A common snag is tenants sending a work or general immigration code. When completing a share code check, look for an "R" code. If you see a code starting with W or S, ask them to regenerate one specifically for renting. Codes are service-specific and not interchangeable.

Expired codes

Share codes last 90 days. If it has lapsed, the viewer will not show a valid result. Ask the tenant to generate a new code so you can re-run your right to rent check.

Checking too early

If a tenant has a time-limited right, you must carry out the check no earlier than 28 days before the tenancy agreement is entered into. That window matters for your statutory excuse. If they have an unlimited right, you can check any time before the tenancy starts.

Not keeping proper records

To keep your statutory excuse, save the tenant's Home Office profile result, record the date of the check, and retain it for the tenancy plus one year. If the status is time-limited, set a follow-up reminder before it lapses.

Assuming it is a one-and-done

Where permission is time-limited, you must do a follow-up check before your initial excuse expires. If the person no longer has a right to rent, you must report this to the Home Office to maintain your excuse.

What if the details don't match?

If the photo or biographical details on the online profile do not match the prospective tenant, do not proceed. Ask the tenant to resolve their digital status via the UKVI Resolution Centre or report an eVisa error, or, where relevant, use the Landlord Checking Service for a manual decision. Keep a note of the steps you took.

Time-limited right vs tenancy length

If someone's permission runs out before your proposed tenancy end date, that is fine to start with, but you will need to plan a follow-up right to rent check by the date set out in the initial result or PRRN.

If the tenant cannot prove continued permission at that point, you are obliged to report the case to the Home Office, which preserves your defence. As one UK landlord put it: "You have to prove you have the right to be in the UK for the period of the rental agreement." (Source: Reddit) So you may need to re-check during the tenancy when permission is time-limited.

What are the penalties for getting it wrong?

There are serious penalties for renting to someone who doesn't have the right to rent. Current guidance states that breaches can reach £10,000 per occupier, and £20,000 for repeat breaches. Anyone who knowingly lets to a tenant without the right to rent can face hefty fines and up to 5 years in prison. The best way to avoid any penalty is to complete thorough checks and keep clear, comprehensive records.

The Landlord Studio verdict

Landlord Studio's verdict: store every right to rent share code result, the ID reviewed, and the check date directly against the tenant record, rather than in a separate folder or spreadsheet. Set an automated reminder against any time-limited right to rent so the follow-up check happens before permission expires, giving you a single, audit-ready trail for your statutory excuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a right to rent share code valid?

A right to rent share code is valid for 90 days from when the tenant generates it, and you can use it multiple times within that window. If it has expired, ask the tenant to generate a new one.

What does an "R" share code mean?

Codes beginning with "R" are specific to the Right to Rent service. Codes starting with other letters (such as W for work) are for a different purpose and will not work for a right to rent check.

Can British and Irish citizens use a share code?

No. British and Irish citizens cannot generate a right to rent share code. You verify them using their physical documents (such as a passport) or an Identity Service Provider (IDSP).

What happens if a tenant's right to rent expires during the tenancy?

You can still let to them, but you must schedule a follow-up check before the permission expires. If they cannot prove continued permission, you must report it to the Home Office to keep your statutory excuse.

How long should I keep right to rent records?

Keep a dated copy of the Home Office result for the duration of the tenancy plus one year. For time-limited permissions, also record the follow-up check date.

Keep it simple

Share code checks don't need to be a drama. Run the check close to move-in, match the photo to the person you met, save the result, and set a reminder if their permission is time-limited. If anything doesn't line up, pause and get clarity before proceeding.

If you want a simple way to keep it all tidy, you can use Landlord Studio to store share code results and ID against the tenant record, log check dates, and set follow-up reminders alongside your rent tracking and compliance documents. Create your free Landlord Studio account today to get started.