Choosing the right tenant is one of the biggest decisions a landlord makes. With tenancy fraud rising fast, here is how Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) helps you verify tenants properly, and why it matters more than ever in 2026.
As a landlord, choosing the right tenant is one of the most important decisions you will make. A good tenant can give you years of hassle-free rental income. The wrong one can lead to rent arrears, property damage, legal disputes and serious financial loss.
Unfortunately, tenancy fraud is climbing fast across the UK. Advances in technology and artificial intelligence have made it easier than ever for fraudsters to create convincing fake documents. As a result, spotting a fraudulent application using traditional checks alone has become genuinely difficult. This is exactly where Identity Document Validation Technology, or IDVT, comes in. We first covered this in our guide to the tenancy fraud risk landlords take without this technology, and here we explain it in full.
IDVT (Identity Document Validation Technology) is a government-approved digital process that confirms a tenant's identity and checks whether their ID documents, such as a passport or driving licence, are genuine. Instead of relying on someone visually inspecting a document, IDVT uses biometric and database checks to prove the document is real and belongs to the applicant. It adds a strong layer of fraud protection to tenant referencing, and from 1 October 2026 it plays a central role in digital Right to Rent checks.
Why This Matters Right Now
Three numbers explain why identity checks have moved up every landlord's priority list this year.
Want tenants verified properly, without the hassle? Let our team handle referencing for you.
What Is IDVT?
To begin with, IDVT stands for Identity Document Validation Technology. It is a government-approved digital verification process that confirms a tenant's identity and validates the authenticity of identity documents, such as passports and driving licences.
Instead of relying on a landlord or letting agent visually inspecting a document, IDVT uses advanced technology to verify that the document is genuine and that it belongs to the person presenting it. In simple terms, it adds an extra layer of security to the referencing process, and it helps protect landlords from identity fraud.
Importantly, the technology is not new or experimental, either. The Home Office formally approved the use of IDVT for Right to Rent checks back in April 2022, and its role has only grown since. Today, as bodies like Propertymark have noted, it is a mainstream part of professional tenant screening.
↑ Back to top
Why Tenant Fraud Is a Growing Problem
Today's fraudsters are more sophisticated than ever. Gone are the days when fake documents were easy to spot. Modern tools now let criminals create highly convincing fakes, and the numbers show the problem is accelerating. According to Goodlord, confirmed tenancy fraud rose by roughly 49% in 2025 compared with the year before, while fraud flagged by referees jumped 78%.
For example, the most commonly faked documents include:
- Payslips
- Bank statements
- Employment references
- Proof of address documents
- Identity documents
Worryingly, some fraudsters now build entire false identities, supported by several documents that all look genuine at first glance. For a self-managing landlord checking a PDF by eye, that is almost impossible to catch.
If a fraudulent applicant does secure a tenancy, the fallout can be severe. Typically, it includes:
- Rent arrears
- Property damage
- Legal costs
- Lengthy possession proceedings
- Lost rental income
- Compliance problems
The hard truth: the cost of removing the wrong tenant usually far outweighs the cost of proper referencing at the start. Prevention is not just cheaper, it is far less stressful.
How Does IDVT Work?
In practice, IDVT combines several verification technologies to establish two things: that an identity document is genuine, and that the applicant is really who they claim to be. Here is what happens behind the scenes.
Biometric facial verification
First, the applicant takes a selfie, which is compared against the photo on their identity document. This confirms the same person is applying for the tenancy.
Liveness checks
Next, these make sure the person completing the check is physically present and real, not using a photo, a screenshot or a pre-recorded video.
Digital Right to Rent checks
In addition, IDVT supports Right to Rent verification, helping landlords meet their legal duty to confirm a tenant can lawfully rent in the UK.
Fraud database checks
Furthermore, documents can be cross-checked against databases, including police records, to flag anything reported lost, stolen or fraudulent.
Passport chip authentication
Finally, many modern passports contain a security chip that can be read electronically to confirm the document is authentic.
By combining these methods, IDVT provides a far higher level of security than a manual document check ever could. Crucially, it also creates a secure digital record of the check, which matters for compliance.
↑ Back to topNot sure your current checks would catch a modern fake? We use IDVT on every applicant.
Manual Checks vs IDVT
Currently, many self-managing landlords still verify tenants by asking them to email copies of their documents. While that may seem straightforward, it leans entirely on visual inspection and personal judgement. The problem is simple: even experienced landlords struggle to spot a modern forgery.
So here is how the two approaches compare side by side.
| Traditional manual checks | IDVT checks |
|---|---|
| Depend on visual inspection | Automated digital verification |
| Open to human error | Reduced risk of human error |
| Struggle with sophisticated forgeries | Detects document manipulation |
| Leave little proof of the check | Create a secure audit trail |
| Slow and manual | Faster and more reliable |
In today's market, relying purely on visual inspection is increasingly risky. Fraud has simply moved beyond what the human eye can reliably catch.
↑ Back to topThe 2026 Right to Rent Rule Change Landlords Must Know
Here is the timely part, and it is important. From 1 October 2026, the rules around digital Right to Rent checks are tightening. If you carry out electronic Right to Rent checks, you must now use a registered digital verification service provider, known as an RtR DVSP, rather than any tool of your choosing.
Crucially, this matters because Right to Rent is a legal duty, not an optional extra, and it sits alongside the wider compliance changes covered in our Renters' Rights Act guide. You must check that every adult aged 18 or over has the right to rent before they move in, whatever their nationality. Getting it wrong is expensive: penalties can reach £20,000 per tenant, and serious breaches can even carry criminal liability.
As a result, for self-managing landlords, this raises the bar again. It is no longer enough to glance at a passport. To carry out a compliant digital check on a British or Irish tenant, you need an approved provider and a proper process. As a result, more landlords are choosing to let a professional agency handle it correctly.
Action point: if you currently do your own electronic ID checks, review your process now. From 1 October 2026, make sure any digital Right to Rent check runs through a provider on the government's approved list, or hand the whole process to an agent who already does.
Does IDVT Replace Tenant Referencing?
No, and this is an important point to understand. However, the reason is simple. Although IDVT is an excellent fraud-prevention tool, it is just one part of a complete tenant referencing process. It proves who someone is. It does not tell you whether they will be a good tenant.
Strong referencing should also include:
- Credit checks
- Employment verification
- Affordability assessments
- Previous landlord references
- Address history checks
- Right to Rent verification
Instead, think of it this way. Identity verification confirms the applicant is genuinely who they claim to be. Referencing then tells you whether they are likely to pay the rent and look after your property. You need both. One without the other leaves a gap.
↑ Back to topHow homefinders Protects Our Landlords
At homefinders, meanwhile, protecting our landlords is one of our highest priorities. That is why we partner with Goodlord, one of the UK's leading tenant referencing providers, to carry out thorough checks on every prospective tenant.
Specifically, as part of that process, we use Identity Document Validation Technology through Goodlord to verify tenant identities and add a strong extra layer of protection against fraud. However, we do not stop there. Our full referencing process also includes:
- Identity verification
- Credit checks
- Affordability assessments
- Employment verification
- Previous landlord references
- Right to Rent compliance checks
Protection you would struggle to match alone
By combining industry-leading technology with professional screening, we help reduce the risk of fraud and give our landlords real confidence in who is moving into their property. For a self-managing landlord, matching this level of protection alone can be difficult, time-consuming and costly. You can see the full picture on our landlord services page. That is exactly why many landlords choose us to manage the whole process for them, and to stay ahead of changes like the October 2026 rules automatically.
Tenant fraud is becoming more sophisticated, and visual document checks alone are often no longer enough. IDVT offers a smarter, safer and more reliable way to verify tenant identities before a tenancy begins. At homefinders, we use Goodlord's referencing platform and IDVT technology to give our landlords the highest possible level of protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the questions landlords ask most about IDVT and identity checks. First, the basics. After that, the rules and how it fits with referencing.
Understanding IDVT
What is IDVT?
IDVT stands for Identity Document Validation Technology. It is a government-approved digital process that confirms a tenant's identity and checks whether their ID documents are genuine. It uses biometric and database checks to prove a passport or driving licence is real and belongs to the applicant, adding strong protection against identity fraud.
How does IDVT work?
Essentially, IDVT combines several checks. The applicant takes a selfie that is matched to their ID photo, a liveness check confirms they are really present, and the document is validated against databases and, for passports, via its security chip. Together, these confirm the document is genuine and belongs to the person applying.
Is IDVT government approved?
Yes. The Home Office approved the use of IDVT for Right to Rent checks in April 2022. From 1 October 2026, electronic Right to Rent checks on British and Irish tenants must be carried out through a registered digital verification service provider on the government's approved list.
Can fake documents really pass a manual check?
Increasingly, yes. In fact, modern tools let fraudsters create highly convincing fake payslips, bank statements and ID documents, and some build entire false identities. Even experienced landlords struggle to spot these by eye. That is why automated verification like IDVT, which checks documents against databases, is now so valuable.
Rules and referencing
Do landlords legally have to use IDVT?
You do not have to use IDVT specifically, as manual and Home Office online checks remain valid routes. However, from 1 October 2026, if you carry out an electronic Right to Rent check on a British or Irish tenant, it must be done through a registered digital provider. Many landlords use IDVT through an agent to stay compliant easily.
What happens if I get a Right to Rent check wrong?
Unfortunately, the penalties are serious. Getting a Right to Rent check wrong can lead to a civil penalty of up to £20,000 per tenant, and in serious cases, criminal liability. A correct check, properly recorded, gives you a statutory excuse against a penalty, which is why a compliant process matters so much.
Does IDVT replace tenant referencing?
No. IDVT confirms who someone is, but it does not tell you whether they can afford the rent or will look after your property. A full referencing process also needs credit checks, affordability and employment checks, and previous landlord references. IDVT is one important part of that wider process, not a replacement for it.
How can self-managing landlords access IDVT?
In practice, self-managing landlords can use a certified provider directly, though it takes setup, cost and know-how to run compliantly. Many find it simpler to use a letting agent who already carries out IDVT and full referencing on every applicant. At homefinders, we do this as standard through Goodlord's platform.
Let your property with total confidence.
We verify every tenant with IDVT and full Goodlord referencing, so you do not have to. Family-run in East London since 1988.