What is the difference between address validation and address autocomplete?

Address autocomplete returns a list of candidate addresses as the user types: typically used in checkout or sign-up forms. Address validation takes a submitted address and confirms whether it matches a known, deliverable address in the database, returning the canonical form and UPRN. Homedata provides a browser widget for typeahead and an address match endpoint for submitted address and postcode matching. HTTP 200 returns address-level retrieve fields plus address_resolution for 5 tokens. HTTP 422 no_match or multiple_matches is never charged.

How does UPRN-anchored address validation work?

UPRN-anchored validation means every confirmed address is matched to its Unique Property Reference Number: the persistent OS identifier that links the address to Land Registry, EPC, council tax, and other government datasets. This means validated addresses can be immediately enriched with property data without a second address-matching step.

GET /address/match/ UPRN-anchored PAF-independent

UK address validation API

Validate UK addresses against 29 million UPRN-matched properties using OS AddressBase Premium data. A compliant alternative to Royal Mail PAF-dependent services, with the added benefit of instant property data enrichment via the same UPRN.

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Pay as you go: 100 tokens = £1 · First top-up matched 100% · API key in 2 minutes

October 2025 PAF ruling context

The High Court ruled in October 2025 that certain address API providers had distributed Royal Mail PAF data without a valid licence. Homedata's address data is sourced from OS AddressBase Premium, not Royal Mail PAF, and is unaffected by this ruling. If you are migrating from getAddress or a PAF-dependent provider, Homedata is a compliant drop-in alternative.

What's in the API

✓ Address match: requires a submitted address and postcode
✓ Address validation: confirms and canonicalises a submitted address
✓ UPRN returned with every result: enables instant property enrichment
✓ Royal Mail postal address format returned
✓ Latitude / longitude centroid
✓ Residential / commercial / mixed-use classification
✓ 29 million addresses: England, Wales, and Scotland

curl --get "https://api.homedata.co.uk/address/match/" \
  --data-urlencode "address=10 Downing Street" \
  --data-urlencode "postcode=SW1A 2AA" \
  -H "Authorization: Api-Key YOUR_API_KEY"
# 200: address-level retrieve body plus address_resolution; 5 tokens.
# 422: reason no_match or multiple_matches; never charged.
# Use the returned UPRN for further property data.

Pricing

Address match costs 5 tokens per successful request; 422 no_match and multiple_matches are never charged (100 tokens = £1), and your first top-up is matched 100%. See full pricing.

Frequently asked questions

What happened with the getAddress PAF court ruling?

In October 2025 the High Court ruled getAddress had infringed Royal Mail's PAF IP. Homedata uses OS AddressBase Premium data and is unaffected: a compliant alternative for developers migrating away from PAF-dependent providers.

What is the difference between address validation and autocomplete?

Autocomplete returns candidates as the user types (UX). Validation confirms and canonicalises a submitted address for backend/batch processing. Homedata provides both endpoints.

How does UPRN-anchored validation work?

Every validated address is matched to its UPRN, enabling instant enrichment with EPC, flood risk, sold prices, and more via the same API, no second address-matching step required.