[Russ]

When I rented my first gaff in Leicester 4 years ago the landlord asked for proof of residency in the UK, I thought nothing of it. He said if it turned out I was in the country illegally he could have been prosecuted for either potentially knowing about it and turning a blind eye or some kind of 'aiding and abetting' type charge.

So if they're doing it just to cover their own backsides then it doesn't seem to be too much of a bad thing.