Property sector ‘confused’ by government digital ID scheme, claims provider

A lack of clarity surrounding the definition of certified digital identity service providers is causing confusion within the property sector.

That’s according to identity verification provider, Credas Technologies.

Credas said that non-certified providers are adding to this confusion by “copying the language and rhetoric” used in the government’s Digital Identity Trust Framework, giving the impression to estate and letting agents that their products are government certified when they are not.

The framework is designed to enable businesses such as estate and letting agents to use digital identity service providers (IDSPs) to complete ID verification checks on their behalf. The guidance sets out exactly how IDSPs can become certified to complete ID checks for the Right to Work, Right to Rent, and DBS schemes. This framework offers a set of rules that companies must agree to follow in order to conduct secure and trustworthy checks.

However, while this trust framework refers to Right to Rent, Right to Work and DBS schemes, Credas said there are also a number of commercial schemes that are not certified under the government’s Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework, even if some of the IDSPs within the scheme are. 

By mimicking the language used by the DIATF, it said “these uncertified schemes are confusing agents and landlords by giving the impression that they themselves are government certified.”

“Real confusion” about certified providers

The government provides a live list of certified IDSPs and if a company or scheme does not appear on this list, it is not certified. But Credas pointed out that various providers are certified to different degrees and, just 18 of the 34 that appear on the government list are certified to carry out right to rent checks. 

“It’s quick and easy to find the official list of government-certified digital ID verification providers,” said Tim Barnett, CEO of Credas Technologies.

“Unfortunately, in recent months we have witnessed real confusion amongst many estate and letting agents between authentic UK government certification and those being offered by some private companies that hold themselves out to be government certified but are not.”

Barnett added that “DCMS and HMRC are now engaging with a number of stakeholders in the property buying and selling sector … which should result in a clearer picture for estate and letting agents in the future.”