A DBS certificate will usually arrive within 5-7 working days at maximum. However, there may be cases when the applicant does not receive their certificate.

This could be due to:

• An incorrect address on the application form.

• Misleading or incorrect information on a DBS, which requires further verification.

• Further checks required by the local police force.

• The certificate getting lost in the post.

• The DBS check being sent to the wrong person (e.g. if the property has a shared mailbox).

A lost DBS certificate is not ideal, frustrating, and painful when they do (rarely) happen. It’s often out of your hands if it is lost, but there are ways around this.