What our verification badges actually mean
Plenty of sites say their hosts are "verified" without saying what was checked. We do it differently: three badges, each with a fixed meaning, shown on every listing. No badge, no listing.
Tier 1
ID Verified
- ✓We have checked the host's photo ID (passport or driving licence) against their application.
- ✓We have seen proof of address matching the property listed.
- ✓The photos on the listing were supplied by the host for this property.
- ✓The host has signed a declaration covering the accuracy of their listing and our hosting standards.
We have not visited this home or seen it live on video.
Tier 2
Video Assessed
- ✓Everything in ID Verified, plus:
- ✓A member of our team has done a live video walkthrough of the home: the guest room, bathroom, kitchen and shared spaces.
- ✓We have interviewed the host on that call about their household, routines and experience.
We have not physically visited this home.
Tier 3
Home Visited
- ✓Everything in Video Assessed, plus:
- ✓One of our assessors has visited the home in person, checked the guest room and facilities, and met the host face to face.
Many of our launch hosts hold this badge through assessments carried out by London Homestays, our sister agency, which has been visiting host families since 2009.
What we don't claim
We host adult guests only (18 and over), so our verification is about honesty and accuracy: whether this home is what the listing says it is, and whether this host is who they say they are. We don't run criminal-record checks, and we won't imply that we do. If you need accommodation for someone under 18, that requires a different level of safeguarding. Our sister agency London Homestays provides fully managed placements in London, including for 16–17 year olds.