The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) is calling for the Right to Rent policy to be scrapped altogether, arguing that it discriminates against those unable to easily prove their identity and foreign-born nationals who have documents unfamiliar to landlords.

It is calling also for urgent guidance to be issued by the government providing clear information for landlords about the rights of EU citizens to rent property, especially in the case of a no deal Brexit.

David Smith, policy director for the RLA said: “The Right to Rent is creating a hostile environment for those who are legitimately in the UK but may have documentation that is not easy to understand for landlords. It creates needless friction between landlords and tenants. Landlords cannot be blamed for taking a cautious approach as they are not immigration officers.  It is a policy that clearly leads to discrimination against certain groups and needs to be brought to an end. Despite promises from the Home Office little progress has been made and this is reflected in figures.

“Also the government has so far failed to provide any single document providing clear advice to landlords about the rights of EU nationals to rent property in the event of a no deal Brexit.  It is leaving many with a sense of frustration as they do not know if they should renew tenancies and create new ones.”