Most people assume all UK addresses are included in the Royal Mail Postcode Address File (PAF). But nearly one million UK addresses are missing. Student accommodation, converted Victorian houses, apartment blocks with shared letterboxes, care homes, and subdivided buildings all create what Royal Mail calls Multiple Residence (multi-residence) properties.
To capture these addresses accurately, organisations need more than the standard PAF. That’s where the Multiple Residence dataset comes in. It adds essential sub-address details for properties where several households share the same base address.
In this article, we explain what the dataset includes, why it’s so important, and how Autoaddress supports it out of the box (with no additional cost or configuration required).
What is multi-residence data?
The Postcode Address File (PAF) contains over 30 million postal delivery points, but it doesn’t always include enough detail for buildings where several households live behind the same main entrance.
The Multiple Residence file fills that gap. It contains address details that identify individual dwellings within a property, such as:
- Flat or unit numbers
- Room or apartment identifiers
- Floor details
- Sub-building descriptors
- Access or delivery points
These records ensure each household can be clearly identified even if they share a postal delivery point.
How common is multi-residence data?
It’s more common than most organisations realise!
There are approximately 900,000 Multiple Residence records in the UK. This means that almost one million individual dwellings do not appear with full detail in standard PAF.
Therefore, this dataset is essential for accurate address capture and delivery.
It’s more common than most organisations realise!
There are approximately 900,000 Multiple Residence records in the UK. This means that almost one million individual dwellings do not appear with full detail in standard PAF.
Therefore, this dataset is essential for accurate address capture and delivery.
Why does multi-residence data exist?
Royal Mail introduced this dataset to solve recurring problems caused by missing sub-address information:
1. Failed or misdirected deliveries
While a courier may reach the correct building, identifying the correct individual flat can be difficult, particularly in large apartment complexes with dozens of units.
2. Difficult or failed identity checks
Financial services and utilities struggle when customers provide an address that doesn’t match official datasets.
3. Confusing user experiences
Customers often have to manually type their flat or unit number, leading to non-standard formats or missing information.
4. Fraud prevention
Accurate sub-address identification helps ensure the right person is associated with the right dwelling.
The Multiple Residence dataset reduces all of these issues by adding structured, reliable sub-address details.
Why Google Places API can't solve this problem
1. Google Places does NOT include Multiple Residence data
Google does not license Royal Mail’s Multiple Residence dataset. This means it frequently returns only the main building address, without any of the crucial sub-address detail.
2. Google focuses on navigation, not postal accuracy
Google prioritises map-based locations and points of interest. Royal Mail prioritises postal delivery to the correct door. Those goals are not the same.
3. Missing sub-addresses lead to failed deliveries
As Google returns only the base address in autocomplete, customers often do not notice that their sub building information is missing.
4. Not acceptable for identity or compliance checks
Regulated industries require the address to match official postal data. Google can’t provide that.
5. Convenience ≠ Accuracy
Google autocomplete feels fast, but for UK operations, postal and sub-address accuracy is what actually reduces friction and cost.
This is why businesses that switch from Google Places to a service built on PAF and Multiple Residence frequently see immediate improvements in delivery success and address quality.
How Autoaddress supports multi-residence automatically
Many address providers treat Multiple Residence as a special add-on. You must request it, configure additional datasets, or pay a higher tier.
We take a different view.
Included by default at no additional cost
Autoaddress provides full PAF + Multiple Residence coverage as standard. You don’t have to ask for it, enable it, or pay extra.
Our matching engine recognises and presents sub-addresses seamlessly
Users are shown the correct unit, flat, or room information when selecting their address.
Improved accuracy across eCommerce, fintech, and utilities
Every sub-address recognised by Royal Mail is surfaced clearly to the user.
Better user experience, fewer failed deliveries
Customers find their exact dwelling quickly, reducing manual edits and errors. This “always included” approach ensures you never miss out on nearly a million valid UK addresses.
Use cases where multi-residence data is essential
eCommerce & Delivery
Reduces failed deliveries by capturing the exact flat or unit.
Financial Services & FinTech
Supports accurate identity verification and fraud prevention.
Insurance
Risk varies by unit — correct sub-addresses matter.
Local Government & Housing Providers
Better tenant identification and property management.
Utilities
Ensures accurate customer assignment for services and billing.
Frequenty Asked Questions
No. It extends PAF with additional sub-address details not included in the core file.
No — Google does not license this dataset and often returns only the base address.
No. We include it by default, unlike many competitors.
Because there are 900,000+ UK properties where the base address alone isn’t enough to identify the correct residence.
