Proptech Credas uses facial recognition for rent ID checks
Proptech start-up Credas, founded by ex-Gocompare.com executive Rhys David, has developed facial recognition technology that the firm said "will revolutionise the way landlords and letting agents verify potential tenants". The verification app, the first of its kind in the UK, matches photos on essential documents with a "live" picture of the prospective tenant, with all data stored on the cloud. "The technology is incredibly flexible and we also offer integration options, to enable letting agents to hook up their own CRM to our verification engine," said David.

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A new firm is using real-time facial recognition technology with the aim of helping letting agents meet their Right to Rent obligations.

Start-up company Credas claims its facial recognition software can speed up ID verification and is the first of its kind in the UK.

Agents can verify essential ID documents and match the photos on those documents with the actual person, in real-time, by using an app.

By texting or emailing a link to the app, potential tenants can verify themselves from anywhere, and at a time that suits them.

The technology can verify up to 4,000 types of ID, and records each verification on a secure cloud-based platform – also helping agents to comply with the new General Data Protection Regulations being introduced next May.

Credas has been set up Rhys David, former executive at Gocompare.com, who has more than 15 years’ experience in technology processes and innovation.

He said: “Since its implementation in 2016, the Right to Rent legislation has increased costs and time spent verifying tenants for many private landlords and letting agents. Having to physically check that the photo ID matches the tenant can be difficult if they are relocating from another part of the UK. Credas solves all of these problems in one handy app.

“Our pioneering technology puts the UK’s most accurate verification tool at our clients’ fingertips, for a fraction of the cost of building this kind of application in-house. The technology is incredibly flexible and we also offer integration options, to enable letting agents to hook up their own CRM to our verification engine.

“We believe that Credas will revolutionise the way landlords and letting agents verify potential tenants.”

The verification process consists of three simple steps – a selfie, a photo of the photo ID, and a ‘liveness’ test, to ensure that the person is actually present when the verification photo is being taken.

Costs to agents depend on the number of verifications required – the more there are the lower the price – but will range between £1 and £5.

Businesses can buy as required, or pay monthly subscriptions.