What is the...

Annual Canvass

The Annual Canvass is a yearly process undertaken to update the Electoral Register held by each logical authority. The new Register of Electors is typically published on 1 December each year.

How do I check my Annual Canvass information?

Once the Annual Canvass has been published, local authorities across the UK will share the information with the Credit Reference Agencies. As this is quite a monumental task, it can often take a month or so before all Credit Reference Agencies have been updated by all local councils. Again, delays caused by the pandemic could see the process take longer.

You can check the status of your Electoral Roll listing, exactly as a prospective lender would see it, by viewing your Credit Report online. Our Multi Agency Credit Report takes data from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, ensuring you don’t miss anything important.

It's free for 30 days, then just £14.99 per month. Cancel easily online anytime.

When do I have to update my Electoral Roll information?

Most local authorities will send a Household Enquiry Form between July and December to update these details if required. It is your legal duty to ensure that all the information on this form is correct, or risk a £1,000 fine. Even if there are no changes to be made, you are obliged to confirm this online, by phone or by post.

This process can sometimes delay your Electoral Roll listing being reflected on your Credit Report, so some lenders may look for other methods to verify your address during this period when you make an application.

Electoral Roll listings published after the 1 September will often be included in the Annual Canvass, meaning these will not be published until 1 December.

Typically when the Credit Reference Agencies get this information from each local authority, it can take a month for them to publish the change, meaning that it can take an additional month before you can see it appearing on your Credit Report.

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