Temporary housing online check-ins

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We're introducing regular online check-ins for all households who live in temporary housing.

Check-in is designed to be fast and secure. It uses the location and camera on your smartphone.

Roll out

We're currently in the process of piloting check-ins to only a small number of households. So, there's nothing for you to do at the moment.

We will contact all our households in temporary housing once check-ins are rolled out. 

Why we're introducing check-ins

By regularly checking-in online, you help us to:

  • Make sure you're living in the temporary housing we provide to you
  • Prevent subletting and unauthorised use
  • Reduce in-person tenancy inspections
  • Keep an up to date record of who lives in all our temporary housing

This allows us to protect public funds from temporary housing fraud, and give people fairer access to housing.

How to check-in

We'll send you a text message and an email when it's time to complete a check-in. You'll have 12 hours to do it.

You must be inside your temporary housing and use a smartphone to check-in. You must use mobile data and not be connected to Wi-Fi.

The check-in has three simple steps.

1. Confirm your location

You'll see a map that shows your current location. This should match the location of your temporary housing. 

If the location is correct, you can confirm it. If it isn't correct, you can tell us why.

2. Confirm your identity

You'll then be asked to take a photo of yourself using your smartphone camera. You should follow the on-screen instructions.

If you aren't happy with the photo you take, you can try again.

3. Complete your check-in

You'll now be asked to complete your check-in.

This will submit your check-in details to us.

What we do after you check-in

Once you complete your check-in, we will:

  • Check the location you submitted is the same as your temporary housing location
  • Compare your photo with the photo identification we hold on file for you

Successful check-in

If your location and identity information match, we won't take any action. We'll contact you when it's time to check-in again.

Unsuccessful check-in

If your location or photo does not match, we may carry out further investigations and inspections.

You'll need to keep completing regular check-ins.

If you don't check-in

If you fail to complete regular check-ins, we'll carry out further investigations and inspections.

As a result of this, you may be asked to leave your temporary housing.

If you can't check-in

You should contact us immediately if you can't complete a check-in for any reason, including:

  • You're away from your temporary housing
  • You don't think your smartphone is compatible
  • You're having difficulty checking-in

Get your smartphone ready

You must use a smartphone to check-in.

You must use mobile data and have location and camera sharing permissions turned on.

Use mobile data and disconnect Wi-Fi

If you're not sure how to turn mobile data on or disconnect from Wi-Fi, support is available.

Location sharing

Find out how to check the location settings on your smartphone.

Camera permissions

Find out how to check camera permissions on your smartphone.

If you're away from your housing

You should let us know if you're going to be away for a night or more from your temporary housing. For example, you might have an overnight stay in hospital, or a short trip.

Contact your allocated housing officer, or email tavisits@wandsworth.gov.uk so we're aware.

Contact us

If you have any questions about temporary housing check-ins, please contact tavisits@wandsworth.gov.uk.

Your privacy

We take your privacy and the protection of your data very seriously.

Check-in is confidential and secure. Your location and identity data will only be used to confirm your temporary housing details.

You can read our housing privacy notice for more information about how we handle your data. 

Up to Housing

Updated: 04/12/2025