Lettings platform Goodlord has updated its digital Right to Rent service for landlords in England, effective from today, 1 October. The update comes as new rules take effect, stipulating that digital Right to Rent checks must be conducted via a registered Digital Verification Service Provider (DVSP) to provide a statutory defence against civil penalties.
Goodlord states its revamped service integrates identity verification and Right to Rent checks into a single step during tenant referencing. Tenants can upload identity documents, which are then verified using Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) that incorporates biometrics, liveness checks, passport chip data, and police database analysis.
Nishma Parekh, Goodlord's director of referencing, noted that the enhanced IDVT+Digital RtR report provides a clear, standalone record of Right to Rent checks. The company's analysis suggests a 40% increase in suspected tenancy fraud in 2025 compared to the previous year, with tenant application fraud potentially exposing the private rented sector to annual losses of up to £4.1 billion.