RAMP Associate Baroness Lister Calls to Repeal ‘Right To Rent' Provisions in Lords Debate on Renter’s Right Bill

RAMP Associate Baroness Lister has tabled Amendment 265 to the Renter's Rights Bill which seeks to repeal the 'Right to Rent' provisions introduced under the Immigration Act 2014. The amendment seeks to repeal the legislation, which obliges landlords and letting agents in England to check the immigration status of prospective tenants.

Critics argue that the policy has led to widespread and unintended consequences. Among the most significant concerns is the impact on minority and migrant communities. Findings from the Windrush Lessons Learned Review, as well as reports from human rights organisations and housing groups, indicate that the scheme disproportionately affects people with foreign-sounding names, ethnic minorities, and those without easy access to formal documentation—even when they have the legal right to remain in the UK.

Baroness Lister argued that the the policy has not fulfilled its intended purpose of promoting immigration compliance. Instead, it has effectively turned landlords into de facto immigration officers, placing a legal burden on individuals with no formal training in immigration matters. As a result, many landlords reportedly choose to avoid risk altogether by letting only to those with British passports, inadvertently discriminating against legal residents—including British citizens who lack documentation.

She noted that black and minoritised migrant women are particularly vulnerable to the effects of the policy and face greater barriers to securing safe and stable accommodation, increasing the risk of homelessness, exploitation, and abuse.

She urged the government to take this opportunity to remove the Right to Rent policy, suggesting that doing so would benefit both landlords and vulnerable tenants, while promoting a more equitable housing system.