Lettings technology platform Goodlord has updated its identity document validation technology (IDVT) and digital Right to Rent checks ahead of rule changes that take effect tomorrow, Thursday 1 October.
IDVT is a government-recognised method of checking identity documents digitally. It combines biometrics, liveness checks, passport chip data and police database analysis to confirm a tenant's identity.
Goodlord already offers IDVT checks to agents as standard, and the updated IDVT+Digital RtR service adds technical capabilities and certifications so agents can verify identity and complete a Right to Rent check in a single step.
Digital Right to Rent checks must go through a registered Digital Verification Service Provider (DVSP) from 1 October. Checks by non-registered providers will no longer offer a statutory defence against civil penalties. Goodlord said civil penalties for failing to carry out proper Right to Rent checks can reach £20,000 per occupier.
Once agents switch on IDVT+Digital RtR in the Goodlord platform, tenants upload their identity documents during the referencing process. Goodlord validates the documents, confirms identity and completes the digital Right to Rent check.
Agents can add the checks to every reference or choose tenant by tenant, and track progress in real time on their referencing dashboard. No in-person document inspection is needed, and agents no longer have to judge by eye whether an ID is genuine.
Goodlord analysis found that tenancy fraud exposes the private rented sector to up to £4.1 billion in financial losses a year, and that suspected incidents rose 40% in 2025 on the previous year.
“The new Right to Rent rules add another layer of complexity for agents who are still getting to grips with the Renters' Rights Act,” said Nishma Parekh, director of referencing at Goodlord.
“We've integrated IDVT and RtR into referencing so the checks happen in one place, and agents know from day one that their process meets the new government standard.
“It’s set to take a lot of admin off of agents' plates. Manual ID checks are slow and often mean getting tenants into the office. Checking ID remotely is a big help for rural agents, small teams and anyone handling a high volume of applications.”
Alongside the standard referencing report, agents using IDVT+Digital RtR receive a separate report for each tenant. Goodlord generates it to state whether the tenant's Right to Rent has been confirmed, and agents can keep it as a record for the duration of the tenancy. The report sets out the individual identity checks completed during the IDVT process, showing what was checked and how outcomes were reached.
“Agents have told us they want a clear, standalone record showing a Right to Rent check was done,” she added.
“This is what our enhanced IDVT+Digital RtR report delivers. With fraud rising and Section 21 gone, removing a tenant who got in on false documents now means going through the courts. Catching fake or tampered ID early and having a clear audit trail saves agents, landlords and genuine tenants a lot of pain later on.”
