Right to Rent

You have the Right to Rent if you have valid permission to live in the UK. Landlords/ladies and letting agencies must, by law, check the immigration status of anyone they intend to rent a property to before the tenancy starts.

At the University of Manchester we can offer a wide range of accommodation over three different sites and you are guaranteed a place in our halls if you are a new first year undergraduate or postgraduate international student. Please read the information on our website for more information about the different types of accommodation we have on offer. 

If you choose to stay in University of Manchester Halls of Residences you will not be required to show that you have the Right to Rent.

If you would rather stay in private accommodation Manchester Student Homes may be able to help you secure suitable accommodation in Manchester or you can find your own.

If you choose to stay in private accommodation such as private halls your landlord/landlady or letting agency will ask you for evidence of your Right to Rent ie. evidence of your immigration permission (visa). If you have a student visa or other type of visa ie. BNO, dependant, skilled worker, refugee, EU Settlement Scheme, you should have registered for an eVisa and should be able to generate a share code from the UKVI website. Your landlord/lady will then use the share code to verify your immigration status online, make a record of your immigration documents and check that you have a valid visa that will allow you to rent a property in the UK.

If you are waiting for a decision on your visa application you will need to explain this to your landlord/lady and ask them if they can conduct a Right to Rent check with UKVI.

If you cannot generate a share code because you have a vignette sticker in your passport for indefinite leave to remain or certificate of entitlement to right to abode, you will need to provide your original immigration documents as evidence of your Right to Rent such as your passport and vignette sticker instead of a share code. 

If you are coming to the UK to study for 6 months or less:

You may have a visitor visa in your passport or an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) so you will not be able to generate a share code. You will need to explain this to your landlord/lady or letting agent, and provide them with your original immigration documents such as your passport, ETA or visitor visa sticker, and boarding pass (if you have already travelled to the UK). They will need to use these documents to conduct a Right to Rent landlord's check with UKVI.

There is a helpline that landlords can call for advice on Right to Rent checks and there is also a document guide that you can refer them to if they have having difficulties completing your Right to Rent check.

If you are unable to secure accommodation due to your immigration status please contact us so we can advise you further.