The government plans to clamp down on landlords who rent out properties to illegal immigrants, introducing the possibility of an up-to five-year prison sentence for those found guilty.
Changes to the law last year introduced a requirement for landlords to check on prospective tenants’ residency status; those who fail to do so risk a civil penalty. The procedure was trialled in the West Midlands and will be extended throughout the rest of England.
The Immigration Bill will make it a criminal offence not to carry out the residency test or to fail to eject illegal immigrants. Landlords and letting agents found to repeatedly contravene the requirements will face a ban.
Landlords will be able to evict illegal immigrants from their properties without requiring a court order.
The Guardian, p. 1, 2
The Independent, p. 12
