Date Published 25 August 2023
The Home Office has revealed plans to hugely increase the level of fines that Landlords can face if they are found to have not checked tenants right to rents. Due to take effect at the start of 2024, the Home Office describes this as the biggest shake up of civil penalties since the checks were first introduced.
For Landlords and agents, the fines will increase from £80 per lodger and £1,000 per occupier for a first breach up to £5,000 per lodger and £10,000 per occupier. Repeat breaches will be up to £10,000 per lodger and £20,000 per occupier, up from £500 and £3,000 respectively.
The UK Government says the hugely increased fines are part of their crackdown on illegal immigration and are intended to make it harder for illegal migrants to live and work in the UK. Since the start of 2018, Landlords have been hit with over 320 civil penalties worth a total of £215,500. Minister for Immigration, Robert Jenrick MP, stated that there is no excuse for not conducting the appropriate checks.
In addition, company bosses who knowingly hire migrants who don't have the right to work in the UK could face fines of up to £45,000 per worker for a first breach and up to £60,000 for repeat offenders; these have been raised from £15,000 and £20,000 respectively.
The hugely increased fines are on the recommendation of the government's so-called immigration taskforce, launched earlier this year. The taskforce assessed whether immigration checks on accommodation and the labour market should be strengthened. Newspaper speculation suggests officials want in particular to monitor the gig economy, which largely relies on casual workers.
