The national property sales and lettings company is the latest property-related business partner with the SmartSearch digital customer verification and screening system.

Other companies in the property sector using the platform include JLL, Winkworth, and Alto, the cloud-based software for agents which is part of Zoopla.

DAPS UK is headquartered in Birmingham, and also has offices in the Black Country, Manchester, Liverpool, Dorset, and London, with a seventh office due to open in Manchester South later this month.

The SmartSearch service, which uses a single platform via a browser or API, provides companies with full sanction, politically exposed person, adverse media screening as well as ongoing monitoring. It also verifies individuals and companies in the UK and internationally.

SmartSearch recently launched a new service that enables businesses to check clients for residency in Russia, Belarus, and other high-risk countries.

Commenting on the new partnership, DAPS UK managing director Darren Anderson says SmartSearch was chosen because it “offers next generation identity verification and security, and gives peace of mind to our landlords”.

“We handle both sales and lettings, and with seven offices the volume of work involved in conducting identity checks was becoming overwhelming so we decided to invest in electronic identity digital verification to simplify the process and give us extra security,” Anderson explains.

SmartSearch managing director Martin Cheek adds: “We are anticipating further partnerships with businesses in the property sector, as in addition to the importance of being fully compliant with regard to anti-money laundering there is now the added pressure of checking for sanctioned companies and individuals following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”