Is it safe to give someone you met online your address?

Once somebody knows where you live, you can't make them unknow it.

That doesn't make your address something you should never share. Plenty of ordinary interactions require it.

It does mean there's a difference between giving your address to someone who genuinely needs to come to your home and handing it out early in an online conversation when it isn't necessary yet.

Often, they don't.

If somebody is buying something from you, your suburb or general area may be enough while you're arranging the transaction.

If they're interested in a spare room, they can usually decide whether the location works before receiving the exact street address.

If you're arranging home services, you may eventually need to provide the address, but that doesn't necessarily need to happen during the first message.

Share the information when it becomes necessary rather than automatically sharing it at the beginning.

The situation matters.

Someone collecting a sofa is different from somebody you've met through a dating app coming over for the evening.

A prospective flatmate viewing a room is different from a dog walker who may eventually have access to your home while you're away.

Think about what access the person actually needs and what you're comfortable with.

Before giving somebody your home address, establish who you're arranging to meet.

That can be as simple as checking the profile you're talking to, having a video call or asking some basic questions.

Also confirm whether the person you're speaking to is actually the person who will arrive.

For Marketplace collections, home services and other arrangements, it's fairly common for somebody to say that a partner, employee, friend or courier will come instead.

That may be completely legitimate. It's still useful to know before somebody unexpected appears at your door.

Sometimes a profile and a conversation are enough.

Other times, particularly when somebody is coming to your home, you may want a clearer idea of who you're dealing with.

A NoStrangers Trust Request lets you ask the other person to complete a live verification before you meet.

They choose what verified information they want to share with you, and you can verify yourself too.

That means both people can establish more about who they're meeting without sending identity documents or other sensitive information directly to each other.

Verification doesn't guarantee that somebody is safe or trustworthy. It gives you another piece of information before deciding whether you're comfortable sharing your address or meeting them.

For small items, you may prefer to meet somewhere public rather than giving out your address.

For a sofa, appliance or other large item, home collection may be the practical option.

You can wait until the collection is agreed before providing your exact address, confirm who is coming and, where practical, have the item ready near the entrance, garage or another suitable collection point.

Read: How to stay safe on Facebook Marketplace

A prospective flatmate needs to see the place they're considering living in, so eventually they'll need the address.

You still don't need to give your exact address to every person who enquires.

Talk first, establish that they're genuinely interested and arrange the viewing before sending the full location.

Remember that the person viewing the room is also entering a stranger's home. Both sides have a legitimate reason to want to know who they're meeting.

Read: How to find a flatmate or roommate safely

There is no rule saying a first meeting has to happen somewhere public, but giving somebody your home address changes the situation.

Before inviting them over, consider whether you've established that the person behind the profile is actually the person you've been talking to.

If you'd be more comfortable meeting somewhere public first, you can.

If you do decide to meet at home, let somebody you trust know what you're doing and keep control over whether the meeting continues.

Read: How to safely meet someone from a dating app

Cleaners, gardeners, tradespeople, movers, pet sitters and other service providers may genuinely need your address to do the job.

Where possible, establish who you're booking through and who will actually attend.

If you're dealing directly with somebody you found online rather than through an established company or platform, you may want to do a little more checking before giving them access to your property.

Only provide keys, alarm codes or unattended access when that level of access is actually required and you're comfortable with the arrangement.

Giving somebody your address doesn't mean you've agreed to let them into your home.

A Marketplace buyer may only need to reach the driveway.

A person arriving for a viewing may only need access to the areas you're showing them.

If somebody arrives unexpectedly, brings other people, or the situation is different from what you agreed, you can keep the door closed, rearrange or cancel.

If somebody refuses to leave your property or you believe you're in immediate danger, contact the appropriate emergency service or police in your location.

In most cases, nothing happens simply because somebody knows where you live.

If you've changed your mind about meeting them, tell them the arrangement is cancelled.

You don't need to open the door if they arrive anyway.

If somebody is repeatedly contacting you, threatening you, turning up unexpectedly or making you feel unsafe, keep records of the contact and seek help from the appropriate platform, police or local support service.

Sometimes sharing your home address with somebody you met online is necessary and completely ordinary.

You don't need to treat your address like a secret that can never be shared.

But you also don't need to give it to somebody before they have a genuine reason to know it.

Establish what the meeting is for, confirm who is actually coming, share your exact location when it's needed and decide what access you're comfortable giving them once they arrive.