To think this is a bit pedantic of the buyer/solicitor?

[MinesaBottle]

We own a share of the freehold in a building with two maisonettes. The upstairs neighbours (who are lovely) are selling and everything is moving along, we’re waiting for a few forms to sign etc.

However the buyer (or their solicitor) is adamant that they need ID from us to prove who we are. Is this normal? Our solicitor, who we’ve used for ten years, has gone back to them to confirm we are who we say we are and we signed the ID1 form when we bought ten years ago. Surely that should be enough? There’s been talk of video calls with us from the buyer’s solicitor!! I really don’t want to hold anything up but I just find it a bit OTT, or is this now usual?

I think it's bloody weird! I can't imagine why they need to know.

I've never heard of such a thing, and I think I'd find it slightly intrusive, tbh. I only found out my NDN's surname this summer, and I've lived here since 1993.

Normal for ID to be confirmed in a property sale.

No, they aren’t selling so what is the purpose?

Obviously but can’t our solicitor confirm it? We didn’t get asked for this when the last set of neighbours sold. Even our solicitor thinks it’s a bit pedantic.

It’s required as standard anti money laundering checks if you are entering a business transaction with them. Why would presenting ID or going on a 10 minute video call be any problem?

This is why UK needs a national ID card👀

I had to show my ID, but i think that was more to check if i am legal...

It isn’t a problem but we aren’t the ones selling. As co-freeholders we only need to sign the transfer form for the deeds.

I am not sure they need to confirm it, you're not their client, are you? You are your solicitor's client.

Ask them why.

It’s Anti Money Laundering rules, any property transactions (as joint freeholder you are a party) are very tight now but as a buyer I’d want assurances the people signing the form are who they say they are. Not sure why that is weird?

I have no idea if its required or not but certainly solicitors can be pedantic. Justifiably so I suppose, if probably whole cases can be sacked off on minutiae.

We remortgaged and the banks solicitor insisted or my id because the broker didn't put my exact name that matched the deeds. Tbf, we complained to the broker - it was their error. A) they'd put mrs instead of miss and b) didn't put my middle name on the paperwork. So they'd sent through a mortgage for mrs Jane Smith, but my deed was miss jane Mary Smith.

Maybe things have changed in the last couple of years then since the last neighbours sold? I’ll ask why they are so adamant about it. We don’t have an issue with showing ID if necessary, although I’d want to be certain the people seeing it are who they say they are

Much tighter Money Laundering Regulations were bought in around October 2017 I think.

@MinesaBottle

Maybe things have changed in the last couple of years then since the last neighbours sold? I’ll ask why they are so adamant about it. We don’t have an issue with showing ID if necessary, although I’d want to be certain the people seeing it are who they say they are

Ask th3m for an ID😂

Interesting - our last set of neighbours sold to the current ones in 2018. It’s quite possible that when our neighbours bought their place their solicitor asked ours for the ID1, there already was one so it was all done between them. I just find it a bit odd that this buyer’s solicitors want to see us and our ID face to face!

No it’s not weird. It’s to do with the transfer of the share of freehold.
You will need to sign the freehold transfer deed to effect the share of freehold transfer to the new buyers, even though you remain a co-freeholder.
The new buyer’s solicitor can’t register the transfer without certifying to the Land Registry that everyone who has signed the Transfer deed is who they say they are. To do that, they need to verify your ID at the least. I’m surprised they aren’t asking you to complete a new ID1, but perhaps they are relying on the assurance from your solicitor.
It must seem a faff, but it’s the bare minimum any decent property lawyer should be doing.
Attempted property fraud is rife and regulations are tight.
Sorry it’s a pain though!

Perfectly normal and compulsory. I'm amazed your solicitor hasn't told you; its part of law governing money-laundering regulations.

My solicitor has worked for me for many years, and handles all my business in person; prompt, highly professional., and nothing is too much trouble. We have only met twice and do almost all our business by email and phone . Whenever I'm moving large sums of money around (as in property transactions) she requires proof of the source of finance and proof of ID. She is also very careful about the proper security of money moving between my accounts and hers.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

This is why UK needs a national ID card👀

I had to show my ID, but i think that was more to check if i am legal...

The last thing we need is ID cards - do you read the news ever?

@DynamoKev it's the same info gov has about you anyway 🤷🏻 It literally just states, dob, place of birth, name, valid to and from, nationality.

Oh the new ones have biometrics, but same with the passports

[quote SchrodingersImmigrant]@DynamoKev it's the same info gov has about you anyway 🤷🏻 It literally just states, dob, place of birth, name, valid to and from, nationality.[/quote]
My opposition isn’t based on the data, it’s based on the evidence of successive governments that they cannot run projects of that kind, and that it would be massively expensive and intended to solve a “problem” that doesn’t exist

Tbf you are right there.

It isn’t a problem but we aren’t the ones selling. As co-freeholders we only need to sign the transfer form for the deeds.

Just show them your ID. Why wouldn’t you?

As PP said, it’s anti money laundering rules, they need to check who you are of you are signing legal documents. They can’t just take someone else’s word for it.

Like I said, I don’t mind doing what we need to do. I just thought it was a bit odd as haven’t had to do it before, but maybe that says more about our respective solicitors!