Letting agents are being asked to help the Home Office evaluate the pilot phase of immigrant checks on tenants.

The pilot was launched in Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton on December 1.

The ‘Right to Rent’ evaluation team at the Home Office conducted a first survey in December to test agents’ awareness of the scheme, and is now conducting a second survey – called a ‘pulse test’.

This second survey asks questions such as whether agents feel badly or well informed about the checks; how much longer it is taking to check a prospective tenant; whether the checks are easy or difficult; and whether it has affected the agent’s overall workload – for example, if they have to explain the scheme to landlords or tenants, or have to do follow-up checks.

The Home Office says it will produce a report on the pilot scheme ‘late’ this year, but has not said whether it will wait for its findings before rolling out the scheme nationally.

National roll-out is due this year, but details have yet to be announced.

Agents in the midlands do not have long to complete the second survey which closes to responses on March 15.