An Empty Property. A Stranger. No One Else Around.
UK property transactions annually
of viewings are conducted by lone agents
to verify with Certifyd
The reality of estate agent viewings in the UK.
Identity verification for estate agent viewings protects both the agent and the viewer. Certifyd uses bi-directional authentication — both parties cryptographically prove their identity to each other before or at the point of meeting. The estate agent confirms the viewer is who they booked as, and the viewer confirms the agent is genuinely from the estate agency. This creates a verified meeting record: who met whom, when, and where — critical for personal safety and professional accountability.
Estate agents are classic lone workers. They meet unknown people in empty properties, often alone, multiple times per day. The viewer booked online or by phone — the agent knows their name and nothing else. The risk is real: agents have been assaulted, robbed, and worse during viewings. The National Association of Estate Agents has repeatedly highlighted personal safety as a sector concern.
The risk runs both ways. Viewers also meet strangers claiming to be estate agents in properties they don’t own. Fake estate agent scams — where criminals impersonate agents to collect deposits or gain access to properties — are a growing problem. The viewer has no way to verify that the person with the keys genuinely works for the agency.
Certifyd’s bi-directional verification solves both sides. Before the viewing, both parties verify through their device-bound passkeys. The agent confirms the viewer’s identity. The viewer confirms the agent is a genuine, current member of the estate agency. A verification record is created for every viewing. For agents, this is both a safety tool and a professional differentiator.
This is broken.
Here's why.
Agents meet unknown people alone in empty properties with no independent identity verification.
Viewers meet people claiming to be agents with no way to verify they genuinely represent the agency.
Fake estate agent scams involve impersonating agents to collect deposits or access properties.
When incidents occur during viewings, there’s often no verifiable record of who was present.
Simple verification.
Every time.
Before the viewing, both the agent and the viewer open Certifyd and verify through their devices
The agent’s identity and agency membership are cryptographically confirmed to the viewer
The viewer’s identity is cryptographically confirmed to the agent
A tamper-proof record is created: who met whom, when, and at which property
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“I do six viewings a day in empty houses with people I’ve never met. My only safety measure is texting my colleague the address. That’s it.”— Estate agent, South London
Common questions.
Certifyd verifies the viewer’s identity before the viewing begins. The agent knows exactly who they’re meeting, with a cryptographic record of the viewer’s verified identity. If a viewer can’t or won’t verify, the agent has grounds to refuse the viewing or bring a colleague. Every viewing creates a tamper-proof record of who was present — a deterrent against bad actors and evidence if an incident occurs.
Fake estate agent scams are a growing problem. Viewers hand over deposits to people who don’t work for the agency, or attend viewings with people who have obtained keys illegitimately. Certifyd verification confirms that the person at the property is a current, active member of the estate agency. If they can’t verify, the viewer knows not to proceed — and certainly not to hand over money.
Yes. The estate agency registers as an Organisation on Certifyd and adds each agent as a member. When any agent conducts a viewing, they verify through their device-bound identity, confirming they are a current member of the agency. This works across branches, teams, and individual agents — providing a consistent verification standard for every viewing.
Absolutely. Verification takes 30 seconds. An agent conducting 8 viewings per day adds 4 minutes of verification time total. In return, every viewing has a verified identity record for both parties. For agencies concerned about agent safety and professional liability, this is a minimal time investment for significant protection.
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Verify every viewing — for agents and viewers
Book a demo to see how Certifyd works for your team, or tell us about your verification needs and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Read: Two-Way Verification Explained