A right to rent share code lets a landlord check your immigration status online instead of seeing your original documents. If you're not a British or Irish citizen, you generate the code yourself on GOV.UK, then give it to your landlord along with your date of birth so they can view it.
Key points
✓British and Irish citizens cannot get a share code; they usually prove their right to rent with a passport or a certificate of registration or naturalisation instead
✓You can get a share code if you have a biometric residence permit or a UKVI account, for example from an EU Settlement Scheme application, a visa application, an eVisa or a digital certificate of entitlement
✓You can no longer use a physical biometric residence permit or card itself to prove your right to rent; you now need a share code instead
✓Your landlord needs your date of birth and your share code to view your right to rent online
✓If you can't get a share code, you can still prove your right to rent with your original immigration documents
Who can get a share code
British and Irish citizens cannot get a share code. You can use the GOV.UK service to get a share code if you have:
✓Yes: a biometric residence permit (BRP), usable for 18 months after the expiry date printed on the card
✓Yes: a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
You'll have a UKVI account if you've ever:
✓Yes: applied to the EU Settlement Scheme
✓Yes: used the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app to prove your identity when applying for a visa
✓Yes: created one when applying for a visa (you'll have received a UKVI account confirmation email)
✓Yes: created one to get access to an eVisa (a digital record of your identity and immigration status)
✓Yes: created one when you applied for a digital certificate of entitlement
You can no longer use a physical biometric residence permit or card to prove your right to rent; you'll need to get a share code instead.
If you cannot use the service, you can prove your right to rent with your original immigration documents instead.
How to get a share code
1
Go to GOV.UK's 'Prove your right to rent' service
Start at gov.uk/prove-right-to-rent and confirm you have a biometric residence permit or a UKVI account.
2
Generate your code
You'll need your date of birth and details of either your BRP, or your passport or national identity card.
3
Give the code to your landlord
Share the code with your landlord, along with your date of birth, so they can view your right to rent online.
Your landlord can use the share code to check if you can rent and how long for.
If you're a Ukrainian citizen
You can get a share code to prove your right to rent if you have an expired biometric residence permit or a UKVI account. If you don't have either of those yet, you can use your passport with an endorsement stamp or vignette sticker instead.
How a landlord checks a share code
As the landlord, an agent acting for them, or a tenant subletting without the landlord's permission, you can use a tenant's share code to check their right to rent a residential property in England. You'll need the tenant's date of birth and their share code, entered on GOV.UK's 'Check a tenant's right to rent' service.
✗No: British and Irish citizens cannot get a share code
For a British or Irish citizen, check their physical documents yourself, or use a registered Digital Verification Service.
Right to rent share codes only work for checks on property in England. You do not need to check a tenant's right to rent for a property in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Choosing between a share code and documents
If you're not a British or Irish citizen, you can prove your right to rent with a share code or your original immigration documents. You can choose which option you use. Your landlord cannot reject your application because you gave them an eligible immigration document instead of a share code, for example.
A code you generate on GOV.UK that lets a landlord view your immigration status and right to rent online, instead of you showing them your original documents.
How do I get a right to rent share code?
Go to GOV.UK's 'Prove your right to rent' service and use your date of birth and details of either your biometric residence permit, or your passport or national identity card, to generate one. You then give the code and your date of birth to your landlord.
How do I check a right to rent share code?
As the landlord or their agent, go to GOV.UK's 'Check a tenant's right to rent' service and enter the tenant's date of birth and share code.
Can British citizens get a right to rent share code?
No. British and Irish citizens cannot get a share code; they usually prove their right to rent with a passport or a certificate of registration or naturalisation instead.
Can I use my biometric residence permit instead of a share code?
No. You can no longer use a physical biometric residence permit or card itself to prove your right to rent; you need to get a share code instead, using the BRP to generate it.
What documents do I need for a right to rent share code?
You can get a share code if you have a biometric residence permit (usable for 18 months after the expiry date printed on the card) or a UKVI account. To generate one you need your date of birth and details of either your biometric residence permit, or your passport or national identity card.
Know Your Rights UK. "Right to Rent Share Code: How to Get and Check One." Know Your Rights UK, https://www.knowyourrightsuk.com/housing/right-to-rent/share-code