The Residential Landlords Association is calling on the Government to issue clear advice for agents and landlords about the implications of Brexit for Right to Rent.

Under this scheme landlords or their agents must check the immigration status of tenants, with the prospect of prosecution if they know or have “reasonable cause to believe” that the property they have let is occupied by someone who does not have a right to rent in the UK.

Some two-thirds of all EU nationals in the UK are said to be living in private rented housing.

No specific guidance has been issued about the status of these existing tenants, and nor has there been any official advice about post-Brexit checks on prospective tenants.

Last month, a High Court judge ruled that Right to Rent breached the European Convention on Human Rights.

The RLA’s most recent research suggests that around a fifth of landlords are already less likely to let to nationals from the EU as a result of Right to Rent.

The RLA believes that this proportion will rise after Brexit.

David Smith, policy director for the RLA, said: “Landlords and agents are not border police and cannot be expected to know who does and who does not have the right to live here.

“The Government needs to publish clear and practical guidance for landlords and agents about the implications of Brexit on who they can and cannot let to.

“If it does not, more landlords will become increasingly fearful about letting to non-UK nationals with the potential of facing prosecution.

“The result will be they will avoid renting to anyone who is not a UK national, making life difficult for EU nationals.”