1. Identity Verification
The first step is to verify an owners identity, this is critical to verifying property ownership.
Our verification process is carried out by Stripe, a global financial infrastructure service provider.
Owners must use their mobile phones to capture pictures of their identity documents along with a selfie photograph.
Stripe then securely carry out bio-metric photo ID matching and they use machine learning algorithms to check for and prevent fraudulent document usage.
2. Property Ownership Verification
Once an owners ID has been verified they can then upload copies of their land registry certificates, utility bills, and local rental license permits.
Documents are checked for image manipulation and then details are matched to the ID verification.
We also carry out a number of searches including reverse image and property advert checks which allows us to build a full picture of the property ownership status and advertisement history.
Certificate Lock
Once we have verified an owner and property their online certificate is published all details on it are locked, stopping anyone from attempting to change or add further contact details.
The only way details can be changed is by the owner passing through full identity verification again.
This way you can be sure that you are definitely contacting the property owner and that the certificate details have not been tampered with.
Staying Safe
If the property you are looking at does not match the details on the certificate or if you are asked to contact the owner using any methods other than the ones listed you should cease contact and then report the problem to us.
Simply click on the ‘Report incorrect details’ button on the property certificate, this will open a short form allowing you to let us know the issue.
We will then automatically contact the verified property owner and will alert you of their response.
Do not make payments to anyone who is not listed on the certificate until you have heard back from us after reporting a problem.