What is a Right to Rent check?

A Right to Rent check is a legal requirement under the Immigration Act 2014. UK landlords must verify that all adult tenants have the legal right to rent property in England. MyChecksAI makes this process instant using AI-powered identity verification.

Are AML and PEPs checks required for letting agents?

Yes. From 14 May 2025, all UK letting agents are legally required to carry out AML (Anti-Money Laundering) checks and screen for PEPs (Politically Exposed Persons) and sanctions on all tenants, landlords, and guarantors. Failure to comply can result in unlimited fines or up to 2 years' imprisonment.

How long does a tenant reference check take?

With MyChecksAI, most checks are completed in minutes — not days. Our AI platform automates the verification process, so you get reliable results fast and can proceed with lettings without delay.

Do I need a subscription to use MyChecksAI?

No. MyChecksAI operates on a pay-per-check basis. You only pay for the checks you run — no monthly fees, no minimum commitment.

Key 2025 AML & PEPs Requirements for Tenants

Explore the 2025 AML & PEPs requirements crucial for tenants, landlords, and letting agents. Learn how myChecksAI simplifies checks via WhatsApp.

Published 11 April 2026

Understanding the AML & PEPs Requirements for Letting Agents

The Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) requirements were significantly updated in 2025, and those changes are now fully in effect for landlords and letting agents in England. Compliance is no longer a future concern — it is a current legal obligation.

What Are AML & PEPs?

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) refers to the process of identifying and preventing illicit funds from being disguised as legitimate income. Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) are individuals who hold or have held prominent public functions. Identifying PEPs is a legal requirement because their position and influence can present a higher risk of financial crime.

What Changed in 2025

Enhanced Due Diligence: Letting agents are now required to perform more detailed checks to ensure tenants are not involved in money laundering activities.
Ongoing Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of tenants classified as high-risk or PEPs is now mandatory, not optional.
Faster Reporting: Agents must use efficient mechanisms to report suspicious activities to the relevant authorities promptly.
Technology-Led Compliance: Regulators have encouraged the use of technology to strengthen compliance processes and reduce the risk of human error.

Why This Matters Now

Financial crime has become more sophisticated, and the updated regulations reflect that reality. For letting agents, this means a more rigorous, data-driven approach to tenant referencing is not a best-practice recommendation — it is a requirement under the Money Laundering Regulations. Failure to comply can result in significant civil penalties and, in serious cases, criminal prosecution.

The legal responsibility for AML compliance sits with the letting agent, not the platform they use to assist with checks. Any technology solution — including myChecksAI — supports your compliance process but does not remove your own obligations.

How myChecksAI Supports Compliance

myChecksAI is built to help letting agents meet these requirements without adding complexity to their workflow. Our platform provides:

WhatsApp-based checks: AML and PEPs screening runs through WhatsApp — no portal logins, no subscription required.
Integrated screening: Checks cover AML watchlists and PEPs databases, providing a clear audit trail for every applicant.
Real-time results: Receive outcomes directly in WhatsApp so you can act quickly without waiting for emailed reports.

The Bottom Line

The 2025 AML and PEPs updates are not on the horizon — they are here. Letting agents who have not yet reviewed their compliance processes should do so now. The combination of stricter requirements and increased scrutiny makes a robust, documented referencing workflow essential.

myChecksAI is designed to make that workflow as straightforward as possible — accurate checks, a clear audit trail, and no unnecessary friction. Get started today and run your next AML check from WhatsApp in minutes.

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