New app to reduce identity checking workload for agents

A identity checking smartphone app has been launched that will remove the need for agents and landlords to manually verity a tenant or property buyer’s identification, and could help reduce the admin required for Right to Rent and Anti Money Laundering compliance. Yoti, which was launched last night in central London, has many applications but one of its key uses will be to enable landlords and agent to check tenants and property buyers and sellers identities more easily. The app, which is available on Android and Apple phones, requires users to jump through several identity-proving hoops. It also claims to have applications far beyond property including safer online dating, more secure age verification for pubs, off licences and supermarket, to prevent fraud, holiday rental scams and online shopping. £20m funding First set up in 2014, Yoti has approximately £23m in funding behind it provided by two of its founders – British businessmen Noel Hayden and Robin Tombs – and uses biometric information including face recognition and finger print identification to provide people – and businesses – with a way to provide and access sensitive information without a password or user name. It calls itself an ‘identity platform’ and its main…