'Right to Rent' scheme tracks down more than 100 illegal immigrants

Source: By David Barrett, Telegraph, 20/10/2015

Home Office announces roll-out of programme which can fine landlords
up to £3,000 for failing to check immigration status of prospective
tenants
More than 100 illegal immigrants were tracked down by a pilot scheme
which required landlords to check up on their tenants, it has emerged,
as ministers announced the scheme will go nationwide.


The programme – which allows landlords to be fined up to £3,000 if
they fail to carry out checks on potential tenants before letting out
a property – will roll out across England from February.


The Home Office said a six-month pilot of the "Right to Rent"
programme led to 63 illegal immigrants being identified who officials
had never previously encountered.


Another 46 were also located who had disappeared after being
previously identified previously by immigration teams.


Of the 109, nine have already been removed from Britain and five are
pending removal, for example in a detention centre or through the
assisted voluntary returns process, which offers money and other
benefits to go home.


Another 40 cases are being "progressed", 28 had "outstanding cases
such as asylum applications" and nine were granted leave to stay in
the UK.


Another nine of the illegal immigrants were ordered to report to
immigration enforcement officers "but had failed to do so"
In six cases no action could be taken because of a lack of details
provided under the scheme.


Two were involved in criminal case, including one in prison, and the
final foreigner is now dead, the paper said.
"In total 109 individuals who were in the UK illegally were
identified, of whom 63 were previously unknown to the Home Office,"
the document said.


"Therefore, the Right to Rent Scheme led to the detection of these
illegal migrants and who otherwise would have remained undetected.
"The remaining 46 were illegal migrants previously known to the Home
Office, who were out of contact with the Home Office at the time of
being identified."


The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants has published research
indicating some landlords were reluctant to let out properties to
people with foreign-sounding names.


The Home Office found there were "a few individual instances where
agents and landlords appeared to imply an element of
discrimination".


For example, one Asian "mystery shopper" who took part in research
reported that one landlord said "he was not going to bother because he
had a local person who wanted the property and it was much easier to
rent to them".


However, the document insisted the scheme had not disproportionately
affected ethnic minorities.


James Brokenshire, the immigration minister, said of the expansion
from February 1: "This demonstrates the Government`s determination to
control immigration in the interests of the whole country and in
ensuring that people here unlawfully are not able to enjoy a settled
life here in defiance of our laws."