Landlords told:vet migrant tenants

Landlords told: vet migrant tenants


Private landlords will be legally responsible for ensuring that they only
let properties to people allowed to be in Britain under immigration laws to be
announced in tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech.








Landlords will have a
responsibility to make sure their tenants are in the country
legally Photo:
Alamy






By Robert Winnett, Political
Editor

10:00PM BST 07 May 2013

387 Comments




Almost two million buy-to-let property owners will be responsible for
checking the immigration status of potential tenants, with fines running into
thousands of pounds for those breaking the law. Employers will also face “more
substantial” fines for taking on illegal immigrants.


The measures are likely to prompt questions over whether ordinary people and
employers are being made responsible for policing the immigration system after
repeated failures by the UK Border Agency. They are included in an Immigration
Bill which will also limit the ability of European immigrants to claim benefits
and ensure that the right to reside in Britain on the basis of family
commitments is not abused by criminals.


Temporary migrants will also be charged for using the NHS and only those who
have lived in an area for at least two years will qualify for social housing.



The legislation has been drawn up as the Coalition struggles to contain the
electoral threat posed by the UK Independence Party, which has wooed voters with
its hard-line immigration policies.


The Queen’s Speech, which sets out the legislative programme for the next
year, is expected to contain more than a dozen parliamentary Bills. Measures to
reform the state pension, cap the costs of long-term care, rehabilitate
criminals and reduce regulations on business will be outlined. A National
Insurance Contributions Bill will cut the cost of the tax for smaller firms
taking on employees, and a Consumer Rights Bill will improve the rights of
online shoppers.



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In the document setting out the package, David Cameron and Nick Clegg will
acknowledge that their experience of Government has been “tough”.

They will add: “But three years on, our resolve to turn our country around
has never been stronger. We know that Britain can be great again because we’ve
got the people to do it. Today’s Queen’s Speech shows that we will back them
every step of the way. It is all about backing people who work hard and want to
get on in life.”

The details of how the measures will be implemented will be set out later in
the year. The plans will be the subject of a formal consultation in the coming
months.

Ministers are expected to say that the legal requirements on landlords will
affect those letting rooms in multi-occupancy properties. However, the measure
will be universal and it will be the responsibility of all landlords to seek
copies of passports and appropriate visas.

It is unclear how people are supposed to establish the authenticity of the
information. The level of fines is also yet to be set but will run into
“thousands of pounds”. The Immigration Bill will also contain provisions to
ensure human rights laws giving people “the right to stay in the country because
of family connections” are not abused by criminals. Courts will be ordered to
“balance” the seriousness of the crime committed against the right to remain in
Britain.

Regulations will also be amended to ensure that European immigrants cannot
claim “certain benefits for more than six months” if they do not actively seek
work and show they have a genuine chance of seeking employment. Other measures
will limit the right of immigrants to claim legal aid, closing a loophole which
allows those here illegally to rack up taxpayer-funded bills fighting
deportation.

Earlier this year, the Prime Minister said in a speech that immigration
needed to be “properly controlled”. Many of the measures are designed to reduce
the attractiveness of Britain for Bulgarians and Romanians who will be able to
live and work throughout the European Union when immigration controls are lifted
next year. Critics have said many of the proposals would have a limited impact
and the only way to address European immigration was to renegotiate EU migration
treaties or leave the single market.

A number of Bills were dropped from the announcement, including legislation
to ensure spending on international aid, a register of lobbyists and “snooping”
laws. Mr Cameron also refused to agree to demands for legislation ensuring a
referendum on membership of the EU by 2018.

"The measures are likely to prompt questions over whether ordinary people and
employers are being made responsible for policing the immigration system after
repeated failures by the UK Border Agency"
Good point, the BA "lost" 20,000" immigrants and have a case load of 300,000 waiting to be assessd. Sack the head of the BA NOW for starters.
A lot of illegals get into Britain using fake Documents and even fake University Acceptances, how is a Landlord supposed to know if they are genuine?