What is a DBS Check address history?

The DBS Check address history is a vital part of the application form. On any DBS application, you’ll need to provide your full address history for the last five years. This means listing all the addresses you’ve lived at, without any gaps.

The address history is instrumental in ensuring the accuracy of the check, so it’s important to fill this section in correctly.

But what if your address history isn’t so straightforward?

There are lots of reasons why your address history might not fit neatly into the standard format. For example, a student who lives at university during term time may also still live at their parents’ address between terms. We also often receive queries from people who have been travelling for an extended period, and aren’t sure how to list this on the application form.

Other common scenarios include:

• Working away from home
• Living on a canal boat, cruise ship or merchant vessel
• Living overseas
• Living in a refuge or sheltered accommodation
• Being in prison
• Having no fixed abode
• Being a member of HM Armed Forces

If you have an unusual DBS Check address history, your first port of call should be the DBS unusual addresses guide, this can be found here.

This guide explains how to fill in the application form in various unusual address scenarios. Each scenario has specific rules to follow, so make sure you read the guide carefully.

However, often the usual DBS Check address history guidance still applies. The DBS recommends that you do the following to begin with:

• Give the address where you’re currently living, first, on the application form. The DBS will write to this address to send you the results of your check.
• Make sure the address you provide is complete. The only field that isn’t mandatory is the county.
• Provide any other addresses you’ve lived at in the last five years.
• Provide the month and year that you moved into and out of each address.

The most important things to remember are:

You need to provide a complete address history going back a full five years prior to the date you submit your application.

The first address you provide – your current address – should be where you want the DBS to write to you with your DBS certificate.

What to do if you have overlapping addresses

If you have any overlapping addresses – for example, as a student living in student accommodation – you won’t be able to complete an online DBS application.

In these cases, you’ll need to fill in a paper application form. We can provide paper application forms to organisation who require them upon request.

How do you amend the address history?

For guidance on how to amend the address history, please see the attachment below.