Right to rent share code: choose the correct check in England
In England, use the official right-to-rent service to generate a share code if your status supports that route. British and Irish citizens normally use eligible documents or an offered identity service instead; a saved passport photo does not itself complete the check.
The first decision is whether you need a share code at all. GOV.UK’s overview limits this check to England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland do not use this right-to-rent requirement.
Choose your evidence route
| Your situation | Starting point |
|---|---|
| British or Irish citizen | Eligible passport, passport card or citizenship evidence; ask whether the landlord offers an identity service |
| Immigration status accessible through the online service | Generate a right-to-rent share code |
| Eligible original immigration documents | Follow the official document-check route |
| Unable to establish the evidence | Ask the landlord about a Home Office check |
British and Irish passports can be current or expired for the document route. If you lack the listed documents, open the overview’s alternative-document guidance instead of sending whichever card is easiest to photograph.
Get the code from the official service
- Open Get a share code online.
- Read the eligibility section. Have your date of birth and the requested passport, national identity card or BRP details available.
- Follow the service’s sign-in and verification instructions, selecting the rental purpose.
- Give the landlord the generated code and the information the check requires through their agreed channel. The landlord uses the checking service to view your status.
Keep the application record separate
A photograph of your passport, a screenshot of a code and the live status check serve different purposes. Keep a note of the property, recipient and date so you can recognise a later request. Do not email your account password or sign-in code to an agent.
For other tenancy attachments, use the UK ID-sharing guide to assess what is actually needed. A watermarked personal copy is relevant only if the recipient agrees to that separate copy; it is not a substitute for the prescribed check or original document.
Questions about right-to-rent evidence
Is a share code required throughout the UK?
This right-to-rent check applies in England. Check the tenancy process for the property you are renting.
Can a British citizen simply request a share code?
British and Irish citizens usually use eligible documents or an offered identity service. The official service explains the separate digital-certificate-of-entitlement case.
Does keeping a scan complete the landlord’s check?
No. Retain scans for personal reference and follow the appropriate official checking route with the landlord.