How we look out for you

Finding a room, a flatmate or a place to stay means trusting someone you haven't met yet. Here's what we do to make that easier, and a few things you can do too.

We check new rooms and stays

When someone publishes a room, a live-in homeshare, a stay or a holiday rental, it's checked straight away, and checked again whenever its wording or price changes after it's live. If a listing asks for money before a viewing, pushes you to talk or pay outside Among Our People, or shuts people out because of race, body type, HIV status, gender expression or being trans, it's held back until one of us has looked at it. Photos are checked too, and listing photos marked as made with AI are held for a second look.

Live-in homeshares need a verified ID

Applying to share someone's home means confirming who you are first: a photo of your ID and a quick selfie, checked by Stripe. We don't keep a copy of your ID. Anyone else can verify too, and a Verified badge then shows on their profile.

What each badge means

• •ID verified. The person scanned a government photo ID and took a live selfie, and Stripe confirmed the two match. It tells you they are who they say they are. It isn't a background or criminal record check.
• •Credential badge. A professional uploaded a diploma or certificate, and someone on our team checked that it matches their name and their trade before the badge appeared. It doesn't tell you how good their work is, or whether they hold the licence their country or state requires today.
• •References. These are documents a member adds to their profile themselves: a landlord reference, proof of income or a guarantor, or a character reference. A host sees them when the member applies for a room. We don't check them, so read them as you would any reference, and contact the person who wrote one if it matters to you.

You choose when to talk

For rooms and homeshares, messages only open once both of you have shown interest. Phone numbers, email addresses and web links are blocked in listings, profiles and enquiries, so nobody can pull you off the site before you're ready. People who aren't members can't see anyone's contact details.

Report and block

There's a Report option on every listing, profile and chat. We read every report ourselves, and the person won't know it came from you. You can also block someone. They won't be able to message you or apply to your listings, and you won't see each other on Among Our People.

A few things that help

• •Never pay a deposit or rent before you've seen the place, in person or on a video call.
• •Keep the conversation on Among Our People until you've met.
• •Meet somewhere public the first time, and tell a friend where you're going.
• •If something feels off, report it. You're never wasting our time.

If you ever need us, write to mail@amongourpeople.com. ✦