Midlands landlords first to face immigration act fines

Landlords will need to keep copies of all adult passports or residence permits for a year after tenants leave

Landlords in the West Midlands will be the first in the UK to face fines if they rent homes to illegal immigrants.

Immigration Minister James Brokenshire announced measures will be launched in Birmingham, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Wolverhampton before being introduced across the country.

From 1 December landlords here will need to take copies of all adult passports or residence permits.

Failure to do this could mean a fine of up to £3,000.

Mr Brokenshire said the checks would be "a new line of attack against unscrupulous landlords who exploit people by renting out substandard, overcrowded and unsafe accommodation".

He also said the Immigration Act 2014 measures will make it more difficult for immigration offenders "who abuse the system or flout the law" to stay in the country.

A Home Office spokesperson said experiences in the West Midlands will be evaluated next spring before a wider rollout.