Inventory clerks can help letting agents carry out retrospective Right to Rent checks, according to No Letting Go.
The inventory services provider says clerks could potentially conduct in-person Right to Rent checks when completing an inventory check-in.
Since March, a temporary system has been in place which has allowed agents and landlords to carry out Right to Rent checks remotely.
But the Home Office has stated that within eight weeks of the temporary measures being lifted, agents and landlords will need to carry out full in-person retrospective checks on tenants who started their tenancy during the pandemic.
ARLA Propertymark has warned the Home Office that the sheer scale of work required to complete retrospective checks within the eight-week timeframe will be impossible.
“We fully support ARLA Propertymark’s view. However, if retrospective checks are required as currently proposed, our inventory clerks can help landlords and agents to handle the additional work,” said Nick Lyons, Founder and CEO of No Letting Go.
“Our clerks have experience of carrying out Right to Rent checks as many of them conducted them on behalf of agents and landlords when compiling inventory check-ins during the spring lockdown.”
Clerks can carry out immigration checks provided they have the name of each tenant who needs to be checked, as well as the type of ID which needs to be inspected.
The inventory clerk is then able to ensure the ID matches with the landlord or agent’s records and subsequently take photographic evidence of the ID and the renter.
Lyons added: “Providing this service during routine property visits allows us to help agents and landlords stay on top of their compliance obligations,” says Lyons.
“Going forward, renters may be reluctant to go back to agents’ offices, so it makes sense to complete Right to Rent checks in-person when conducting a property visit.”
The legislation does not allow for Agents to sub contract the checks to a third party such as Inventory Clerks, If they are working directly for the landlord then the Inventory clerk has to be appointed as an agent of the landlord formally in writing.
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Hi, agents can outsource to a 3rd party, providing they have taken due care in sourcing the provider. Please do check with ARLA Propertymark for further confirmation.
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Justine, are you able to point me to the specific piece of the legislation where this is confirmed or alternatively the guidance from ARLA?
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The guidance does not stipulate that an agent cannot outsource this, however, the agent retains primary liability so would need to ensure the sub contractor is reliable. If you are a member of ARLA, the legal helpline will be able to confirm this for you.
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