> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.ratemyflat.co.nz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Verifying your tenancy

> How to prove you lived in a home and give your review more weight.

Anyone can leave a review on ratemyflat, but verified reviews carry more weight in the Healthy Homes Score. Verification is how the platform tells the difference between lived experience and unverified opinion — without ever showing your name on the public profile.

## Why verify?

Verifying your tenancy turns a standard review into a verified one. Because the verification team has confirmed you actually lived in the home, your feedback weighs more in the home's score and signals to other tenants that it's grounded in real experience. Verification also unlocks the ability to upload photos as evidence for specific Healthy Homes attributes.

## Accepted documents

To verify your tenancy, upload a document that shows your name, the home's address, and the dates you lived there. Accepted documents:

* **Tenancy agreement:** The signed contract between you and the landlord or property manager.
* **Bond receipt:** Confirmation from Tenancy Services showing your bond lodgement.
* **Utility bill:** A power, water, or internet bill in your name at that address.
* **Other tenancy documents:** Any official correspondence (e.g. a rent increase notice) that links you to the home.

## How to upload

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open My Homes">
    Sign in and go to **My Homes**. Select the home you've reviewed to open its private view.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload your document">
    Find the "Documents" or "Verification" section and select **Add document**. Upload a clear PDF or photo of your proof of tenancy.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review process">
    The verification team checks the document against your claim.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirmation">
    You'll receive an email once your tenancy is approved. If anything's missing, the team will let you know.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## If your document is rejected

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Read the admin note">
    If a document is rejected, the verification team leaves a note explaining why. Common reasons: blurry photos, missing addresses, or the document being in someone else's name.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How to appeal">
    There's no formal appeals button. Fix the issue mentioned in the admin note and re-upload the corrected document — that automatically triggers a new review.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Verification expiry

Once your tenancy for a home is verified, it doesn't expire. Even after you move out, your review stays a "Verified Review", continuing to carry weight in the home's score.