Vetting Guide

Address History Is the #1 Vetting Delay (Here’s How to Fix It)

A plain-English guide to building a clean 10-year address timeline, understanding what counts, and preparing proof anchors without panic.

Independent guidance only. Preparation improves readiness, not outcomes.

Last updated: 25 February 2026

Why does address history delay police vetting?

Address history delays police vetting because it is the foundation for verification. If dates are inconsistent, gaps appear, or addresses are hard to evidence, checks take longer and may trigger follow-up questions. You do not need a perfect life history. You need a clear, consistent timeline that can be verified with basic proof anchors.

What you need to prepare:

A 10-year timeline with month and year ranges
A note of any short stays, halls, temporary moves or overseas time
Proof anchors for each period (tenancy, council tax, bank header, student letter)
Simple explanations for any uncertainty or gaps

Vetting checks usually cover

Identity and right to work

Address history (often 10 years)

Employment history and references

Financial footprint

Associates and close relationships

Social media and digital footprint

Overseas travel and residency

Contactability and consistency

Does your address history look complex?

If your address history is complex, the fastest improvement is organisation. The Vetting Evidence Pack Builder turns your timeline into a checklist with proof anchors and “this week vs this month” steps.

Open the Vetting Evidence Pack Builder No sensitive details.
Saves progress on your device only.

Address Timeline Builder Safe Mode

Structure your 10-year timeline without entering sensitive data. This tool helps you identify complexity and creates a safe template.

Addresses in last 10 years

Lived in Halls / Student Acc?Any temporary accommodation?Lived abroad (3+ months)?Any gaps or unsure dates?

No personal data is sent to server

Why address history matters more than people realise

When you fill out your vetting form, the address history section feels like boring admin. But for the vetting unit, this section is the master key that unlocks almost every other check they perform.

Identity Verification

Does your financial footprint (credit file) match where you say you lived? If you say Leeds but your bank says London, that is a flag.

Local Intelligence

The big one. If you lived in Manchester, they ask GMP for intel. If you forget to list it, they don't ask. That is a security failure.

Associates

Who else was registered at that address? Did you live with a known criminal? Without the address, they can't check co-habitants.

Think of it like a chain

Every month of the last 10 years must be accounted for. If there is a break in the chain (a gap), the vetting officer cannot proceed past that link. They have to stop the investigation, write to you, and wait for you to fix the chain. That is why a 10-minute application error can cause a 4-week delay.

Why inconsistent dates are worse than "not sure"

A common mistake is trying to be too precise when you don't actually know. The goal is a verification-friendly timeline, not a perfect memory.

THE MISTAKE

Guessing "March 2018"

You can't remember the exact date, so you guess "March".

RESULT: DISCREPANCY

Vetting checks your credit file. Council tax actually started in July. Now they wonder: "Where were you for those 4 months? Are you hiding something?"

THE FIX

Stating "Approx July 2018"

You write "Approx July" and add a note explaining why.

RESULT: HONESTY

Vetting sees the note. They check the credit file. It matches your approximation. "Candidate is honest and helpful."

What counts as an address?

There is often confusion about what needs to be declared. The general rule is: if you physically lived there for a continuous period (usually 28+ days), declare it.

Family Home / Parents' House

What usually counts: Even if you only sleep there on weekends, if it is your "permanent" base (e.g. while at University), it counts.

What people forget: Moving back in. If you finish one tenancy and move home for 2 months before finding a new place, that is a timeline entry.

How to document: List "Parents" as the Landlord. You obviously won't have a tenancy agreement, but your driving licence or bank statements likely stayed registered here.

Rental Tenancies

What usually counts: Any formal tenancy where your name was on the lease.

What people forget: The overlap. You often pick up keys for a new place before handing back the old ones. List the dates accurately, even if they overlap by a week. It shows accuracy.

How to document: Tenancy agreement is king. Council tax bill is second best. Keep the email from the letting agent confirming your move-in date.

Halls of Residence

What usually counts: Every single year of university usually has a different address. Year 1 Halls, Year 2 House Share, Year 3 House Share.

What people forget: The summers. You move out of halls in June. You move into the new house in September. Where were you in July and August? Usually back at your parents. Put that on the timeline!

How to document: University enrolment letters or accommodation office emails.

Living with Partner / Friends

What usually counts: You move in with a boyfriend/girlfriend but don't sign the lease.

What people forget: Just because "it wasn't official" doesn't mean it wasn't your address. If you slept there, list it.

How to document: Bank statement headers changed to that address? Mobile phone bill? Or just a simple note: "Living with partner, not on mortgage/lease."

Temporary Accommodation / Short Stays

What usually counts: Airbnbs for 1 month+, staying on a friend's sofa between house sales.

What people forget: Listing these periods as "Homeless" or "No Fixed Abode" is acceptable and honest if you didn't have a secure tenancy. It's better than leaving a blank gap.

How to document: Booking confirmations (Airbnb/Hotel), or a letter from the friend you stayed with.

Living Abroad

What usually counts: Working holidays, gap years, or working engagements overseas (usually 3+ months).

What people forget: The exact dates they left and returned to the UK. Check your passport stamps or flight tickets.

How to document: You will likely need a Police Certificate from that country. This is the hardest "proof anchor" to get, so start early.

How to rebuild your 10-year timeline (step-by-step)

Most people cannot remember where they were 8 years ago in June. That is normal. Do not try to do this from memory. Follow this forensic method to rebuild your timeline without stress.

Start backwards from today

It is easier to work backwards. Write down your current address foundation. When did you move in? Check your tenancy agreement or mortgage completion statement. That is your first locked-in date.

Use your "Digital Anchors"

Your memory is fallible; your email inbox is not. Search your emails for these keywords:

"Tenancy" "Deposit" "Order Confirmation" "Delivery" "Flight"

Build month/year ranges

You often don't need the exact day. "June 2018" is usually sufficient. If the form demands a day and you don't know it, use the 1st of the month and add a note explaining it is an approximation.

Capture overlap

Life is messy. You might pay rent on two places for a month while moving. Capture this overlap, don't hide it.

Period Address Type Proof Anchor Notes

Jan 22 - Pres Rental (Bristol) Council Tax Current home

Dec 21 - Jan 22 Parents (Bath) Bank Header Overlap during move

Jun 19 - Dec 21 Halls (Bath Uni) Uni Enrolment Student accom

Treat halls properly

University timelines often look fragmented. Don't be afraid to list them block by block:

Sep 18 - Jun 19: Student Halls
Jun 19 - Sep 19: Parents' Address
Sep 19 - Jun 20: Student House Share

Build your 10-year timeline without stress

Waiting for vetting is stressful enough. Don't let paperwork add to it. Use the Evidence Pack Builder to organise your proof anchors now.

Start Pack Builder

No sensitive details.
Saves progress on your device only.

Proof anchors that actually help (without oversharing)

A "proof anchor" is a document that locks you to a location for a specific time. You do not need to send these with your application, but you must have them ready. If vetting queries a date, having the PDF ready to email back in 5 minutes looks infinitely better than taking 2 weeks to "find it".

Gold Standard

✅ Tenancy Agreements (Signed)
✅ Council Tax Bills
✅ Utility Bills (Gas/Elec/Water)
✅ Solicitor Completion Statements

Silver Standard

🆗 Bank Statement Headers
🆗 Driving Licence History
🆗 P45 / P60 from HMRC
🆗 University Enrolment Letters

How to organise documents

Create a folder on your computer for "Vetting Evidence". Inside that, create sub-folders for each timeline block.

/Vetting Evidence/
  ├── 01_2022-Present_Flat4_Bristol/
  │    └── Council_Tax_2023.pdf
  ├── 02_2020-2022_Parents_House/
  │    └── Bank_Statement_Jan2021.pdf
  └── 03_2019-2020_GapYear_Thailand/
       └── Flight_Tickets.pdf

Common mistakes (and how to fix them)

Leaving unexplained gaps

Never leave a gap. If you were sofa surfing, write "Sofa Surfing". If you were travelling, write "Travelling". A blank space is a red flag.

Inconsistent Month/Years

Don't say "Jan 2018" on one form and "Mar 2018" on another. Check your own records before writing it down.

Ignoring Hall of Residence

You must declare student accommodation. It is a minefield for vetting because of the turnover of people. Be specific about dates.

For more on what trips people up, read our guide on Common Vetting Mistakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need 10 years of address history for police vetting?

Yes. For standard recruitment vetting (RV) and CTC/SC clearance, forces almost always require a full 10-year continuous address history. This is because your address history forms the backbone of the intelligence checks. It tells them which local police forces to ask for information about you. Even a 3-month gap means there is a period of your life they cannot check against local intelligence systems. If you are young (e.g. 18-20), they may only ask for 5 years or back to your 16th birthday, but you should prepare 10 years just in case.

What counts as an address for vetting?

Anywhere you have 'lived' for a significant period (usually 28 days or more, though some forces say 3 months) counts as an address. This includes your parents' home, university halls of residence, private rentals, shared houses, and temporary accommodation (e.g. staying with a friend between moves). It is not defined by where your post goes or where you are registered to vote; it is defined by where you physically slept. If you spent 3 months backpacking, that is a 'travel' entry, not an address, but must still be declared.

What if I cannot remember exact move-in dates?

Do not guess. Guessing leads to inconsistency, which looks like dishonesty. If you cannot find the exact date on old tenancy agreements or bank statements, use the first of the month (e.g., '01/09/2018') and add a note in the 'Additional Information' section saying: 'Move-in date is approximate as original tenancy agreement is lost. Confirmed residence via October 2018 bank statement.' Vetting officers accept honest approximations, but they do not like unexplained contradictions.

Do halls of residence count in address history?

Yes, absolutely. University halls are a distinct address. You must list the specific block and room if possible (e.g. 'Room 12B, Maple Court, University of...'). You must also list your 'home' address for the holidays if you went back there. This often means your timeline looks like a sandwich: Home (Jun-Sep), Halls (Oct-May), Home (Jun-Sep). It is tedious to type out, but essential for a clear check.

What about staying with family or a partner?

If you stayed there for more than a few weeks and it was your primary base, it counts. It doesn't matter if you didn't pay rent or sign a contract. You list the address, and for the 'Landlord' or 'Agency' details, you list the owner (e.g., 'Parents' or 'Partner'). If verification is needed, the vetting unit may ask for a letter from them confirming you lived there during those dates.

Will address gaps fail vetting?

Gaps do not mean failure, but they do mean delay. A gap is a black hole where the force cannot verify your conduct. If you have a gap, you must explain it. 'Homeless/NFA', 'Living on a canal boat', 'Travelling in SE Asia' are all valid explanations. The problem arises when you leave a gap blank. The vetting officer has to pause your file, email you, and wait for a reply. Pre-empt this by listing 'Gap - Travelling' as a timeline entry.

What documents can prove where I lived?

Proof anchors need to be from an official source. The 'Gold Standard' documents are: Tenancy Agreements, Council Tax bills, Utility bills (Gas/Electric/Water), and Bank Statements (headers only). 'Silver Standard' documents include: Driving licence history, P45/P60s, letters from government bodies (HMRC, DWP), or university enrolment letters. Personal letters or Amazon delivery slips are generally not accepted as formal proof.

Does living abroad make address checks harder?

Yes. UK police computers cannot check databases in Spain, Thailand, or Australia. If you lived abroad for more than 3-6 months, you will likely need to provide a 'Certificate of Good Conduct' (police certificate) from that country. This is your responsibility to obtain, and it can take months. Obtaining this in advance is the single best thing you can do to speed up your vetting.

Should I include temporary accommodation?

Yes, if it was your main residence. If you sold a house and stayed in an Airbnb for 2 months while waiting for a purchase to complete, list the Airbnb. If you stayed in a hotel for 3 nights for a wedding, do not list it. The rule of thumb is 'where did you keep your toothbrush and sleep every night?' For vetting, it is better to over-declare temporary stays than to leave a gap that makes them wonder where you were.

What is the fastest way to rebuild my timeline?

Don't rely on memory. Use your 'Digital Anchors'. Go to your main bank's app and search for 'Statement'. Download the PDF from every January for the last 10 years. The address at the top of each statement gives you a locked-in location for that date. Search your email for 'Order Confirmation' or 'Delivery' from Amazon or eBay to see where you were having parcels sent in 2017. These digital footprints are far more accurate than your memory.

Disclaimer: This guide is independent information. Always follow instructions from your force vetting unit and recruitment team. If you are unsure about disclosure, ask your force for guidance.