Your conveyancer is required to carry out identity checks in line with strict rules and regulations to help prevent offences such as money laundering, mortgage fraud or financial crime. Ultimately, they will need to ensure that you are legally entitled to buy or sell the property to prevent fraudsters from selling property they do not own. These checks apply to all clients, whether they are new or existing. Here, Stephanie Nield explains the process of identity checks and what you need to provide to your conveyancer.

These checks need to be carried out before your conveyancer starts working on your transaction and it is therefore important that you provide any and all required information as soon as possible to avoid any delays.

ID verification will also be required for any family members providing gifts towards the deposit for your purchase.

What will you need to provide?

There are two stages to the ID required:

Evidence of your identity/name – This can usually be proven using a current and valid passport or a full photo-card driving licence. Please note a provisional driving licence cannot be accepted for these purposes.

Evidence of your current address – This can be proven using correspondence or documentation dated within the last 3 months. Examples of acceptable documents are:

1. Utility bill (gas, electricity, water etc.)
2. Bank statement
3. Mortgage statement
4. A solicitors’ letter confirming a recent house purchase
5. HMRC self-assessment letters or tax demands
6. Council tax bill
7. Home insurance certificate
8. Benefits agency letter
9. Car insurance certificate

A mobile phone bill or credit card statement will not be sufficient.

All documents you provide should show your current name. If you have recently changed your name, you will need to provide proof of this change and ensure that your ID documents are updated.

At Beyond, we will use a digital service to help verify your ID during which you will be asked to upload documents to a secure online portal accompanied by a photo of yourself.

Business clients

We are required to verify the identity of the owners and controllers of the company which we are acting on behalf of, which means we will need the following:

For limited companies – certificate of incorporation and a list of names and addresses of all shareholders and directors along with evidence of identity and address for the individual dealing with the transaction and any other individuals with 25% or more of the shares.