Accommodation Evidence

Under Appendix FM (rule E-ECP.3.4), you must show that the accommodation you will live in:

• Is owned or occupied exclusively by your family (your household has the property to yourselves in the relevant sense for immigration purposes).

• Can be maintained without recourse to public funds (you are not relying on benefits or housing support you cannot access).

• Is adequate: it must not be overcrowded (assessed using the housing standards in the Immigration Rules), and it must not contravene public health regulations.

Source: Immigration Rules Appendix FM: Family Members

When is accommodation not adequate?

• (a) Overcrowding: too many people for the number and type of rooms available under the legal test in the rules.

• (b) Public health: the property is not fit for habitation under the relevant public health rules.

Caseworkers look for evidence that addresses two things at once: legal right to live there and enough suitable space for everyone who will reside in the household after the visa is granted.

The Home Office publishes guidance on how adequate maintenance and accommodation are decided in family applications. It is worth reading alongside the rules: Appendix FM: adequate maintenance and accommodation.

The table below is a practical summary of how different types of evidence are usually viewed. It is not a checklist of mandatory documents—but official or independently verifiable evidence generally carries more weight than informal letters alone.

Topic	Stronger evidence	Acceptable / supporting evidence	Weaker (use with explanation if needed)
Right to occupy (you own)	Land Registry title or official ownership correspondence; recent mortgage statement in applicants’ names	Solicitor or lender letters confirming ownership/loan	Informal notes without supporting title or mortgage evidence
Right to occupy (you rent)	Signed tenancy agreement naming eligible occupiers; landlord or agent letter confirming the tenancy and who may live there	Rent payment records; correspondence from landlord/agent; inventory check-in	Address-only mail with no tenancy link
Staying with family/friends	Owner’s/tenant’s proof of right to occupy plus dated letter inviting you, stating who lives there now and who will live there after you arrive	Council tax bill for that address; short chain showing link between host and property	Invitation with no proof host can lawfully accommodate you

• Name everyone: Include all people who will live in the property—including children and anyone not on the visa application. Overcrowding is assessed on total occupancy.

• Match the story: Addresses, names, and dates should align with your relationship and financial evidence. Contradictions invite extra questions.

• Host / landlord letters: A short, dated letter should say who owns or rents, who lives there now, who will live there after your partner arrives, and that you have permission to stay. Generic one-liners are less helpful.

• When space is tight: A property inspection report (sometimes called an accommodation / overcrowding report) can pre-empt refusals based on overcrowding, especially in shared or multi-generational homes.

• Public funds: Show how the home is afforded (rent, mortgage, host’s arrangements) in a way that is consistent with not relying on public funds you cannot use. Your accommodation costs should also be consistent with the financial requirement.

At a glance — match documents to your situation

• Legal right to live in the property — title, mortgage, tenancy, or host’s title/tenancy plus permission
• Who will live there — full household listed; minors and non-applicants named where relevant
• Not overcrowded — room use and occupancy made clear; professional report if helpful
• Corroboration — council tax, Land Registry search, landlord/agent details, or other official post for that address

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If you own the home

• Land Registry title (official copy) or equivalent proof of ownership
• Recent mortgage statement or lender letter (if there is a mortgage)
• Optional: letter from solicitor or conveyancer if ownership recently changed

You can obtain Land Registry information here: Get information about property and land.

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If you are renting

• Signed tenancy agreement
• Letter from landlord or letting agent confirming the tenancy, who is permitted to occupy, and that the property will not be overcrowded for the household you describe

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If you are staying with family or friends

• Letter from the owner or lawful tenant confirming you are welcome, for how long, and who currently lives at the address
• Proof of their right to occupy (e.g. their tenancy, mortgage statement, or Land Registry title)
• Evidence of sufficient space for the household once you move in—often an accommodation inspection report where several adults or children will share the home

Use the Document Checklist to track all your accommodation documents alongside other evidence categories.