Minister for Border Security and Asylum (): The Government is today
laying regulations to strengthen the Right to Work and Right to
Rent Schemes, alongside updated statutory codes of practice for
employers and landlords. These measures implement provisions in
the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 and will
come into force in October 2026, in line with the common
commencement date for businesses.
Clamping down on illegal working continues to be a critical part
of this government's work to restore fairness, order and control
within the immigration and asylum system. The ability to work
illegally is a driver of illegal migration and exploitation.
Illegal working undermines honest businesses and exposes
vulnerable individuals to exploitation. This Government is clear
that such activity will not be tolerated.
The reforms introduce, for the first time, an extension of the
Right to Work Scheme and the associated civil penalties for
non-compliance, to cover companies who contract workers or
individual sub-contractors to provide services under their
company name, such as agency workers or workers in the gig
economy. These changes close gaps in the current framework and
ensure that responsibility for the prevention of illegal working
sits appropriately across modern labour market structures.
The regulations also strengthen the framework for digital
identity verification. They introduce updated requirements for
the use of digital verification service providers (DVSPs)
mandating that when choosing to use digital verification for a
right to work or right to rent check, that it must be carried out
using government registered providers. Digital verification
services are central to delivering secure, efficient and reliable
checks under both Schemes.
In addition, powers in the Data Use and Access Act 2025 will
enable a broader use of document verification through digital
means to support candidate onboarding, strengthen assurance and
give individuals greater choice over how they share their
personal information.
Taken together, these measures respond to changes in the labour
market, including the growth of flexible and platform-based work,
and ensure that the framework for preventing illegal working
remains effective and proportionate.
Enforcement of the new measures will commence from October 2026,
when the regulations come into force.
