## What to Expect from a Home Office Audit
Home Office compliance visits can happen with little or no notice. Being prepared is essential for protecting your licence.
## The 5 Key Areas Auditors Will Review
### 1. Right to Work Documentation
Auditors will check that you have conducted proper RTW checks for every employee, with particular scrutiny on:
- Initial checks performed before employment began
- Follow-up checks for employees with time-limited permission
- Proper retention of document copies
- Evidence of the check date and who conducted it
### 2. Employee Records (Appendix D)
You must maintain comprehensive records for all sponsored workers, including:
- Contact details (home address, phone number, email)
- National Insurance number
- Job title and SOC code
- Salary and working hours
- Absence records
### 3. Reporting Compliance
The Home Office will verify that you've reported all required changes within the 10-day deadline:
- Address changes
- Job role changes
- Salary changes
- Absence over 10 days without permission
- Any issues with the worker
### 4. Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Records
For each sponsored worker, you should have:
- The original CoS reference number
- Evidence the role matches the CoS
- Proof the salary meets the going rate
### 5. HR Systems and Processes
Auditors assess whether you have robust systems in place:
- How do you track document expiries?
- What's your process for scheduling RTW checks?
- Who is responsible for compliance?
- How do you ensure changes are reported on time?
## Common Reasons for Audit Failures
Based on Home Office data, the most common compliance failures include:
1. Missing or incomplete RTW evidence (34% of failures)
2. Late change reporting (28% of failures)
3. Incomplete Appendix D records (22% of failures)
4. No designated compliance officer (16% of failures)
## How LuwaScore™ Helps You Stay Audit-Ready
LuwaSuite's proprietary LuwaScore™ system monitors your recorded compliance evidence across six domains. With expiry reminders, RTW follow-up scheduling, and audit trails, your team can see gaps that need attention.
## Conclusion
Audit preparation shouldn't be a last-minute scramble. With the right systems in place, you can maintain continuous compliance and approach any Home Office visit with confidence.
Ready to see your audit readiness score? Start your free trial today.