Anti-Money Laundering

The information contained in these terms of business is underpinned by our internal Anti-Money Laundering Policies, which our staff are trained on. 

4.1 Anti-Money Laundering Checks: We adhere to the Money Laundering Regulations Act 2017 and the Proceeds of Crime Act. These laws require us to perform thorough checks on sellers to verify their identities and confirm that they own the property or have the legal authority to sell it on behalf of a trust or third party or as an estate beneficiary. If you choose to work with a solicitor not recommended by us, we will also conduct due diligence on them.

If, at any stage, we suspect illegal or improper activity, we may report it to the police and the National Crime Agency by submitting a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR).

While these checks may seem inconvenient, they are essential to protect everyone involved. Money laundering weakens financial systems and supports criminal activity. By cooperating with our checks, you are helping to safeguard the property market from illegal funds and prevent organised crime from advancing its operations.

4.2 Proof of Identity: As the seller, you will be required to provide our solicitors with proof of identity in the form of one of the following documents from each list:

List 1  – Identity Documents

• An identity card from any EEA member state.
• A valid UK driving licence.
• A valid passport with a current signature.

List 2  – Proof of Address

The following can be accepted:

• Police Registration Certificate: Dated within the last 12 months, showing your full residential address.
• Telephone Bill: : dated within the last 6 months for a landline or mobile (not pay-as-you-go), showing the service address and/or account number. General letters cannot be accepted.
• Official Confirmation of Electoral Register Entry or Poll Card: Must be issued within the last 12 months, showing the full name and complete address.
• Tenancy Agreement: Must be issued within the past 12 months, with the full name and complete property address, and must be from a local council, housing association, solicitor, or recognized letting agent.
• UK, EU, EEA Mortgage Statement: Must be from the last 12 months, showing the account number. General mortgage correspondence is not permitted.
• Council Tax Bill: Must be from the last 12 months, showing the service address and/or account number. General council correspondence is not permitted.
• Home or Motor Insurance Certificate: Must be from the last 12 months, including the insured or registered address and policy number. General insurance correspondence is not permitted.
• Bank, Building Society, or Credit Union Statement:Must be from the last 3 months, showing the account number and recent transactions. General letters cannot be accepted.
• NHS Medical Card or Letter from GP Confirming Registration: dated within the last 3 months, including your date of birth and NHS number. General NHS/GP correspondence is not permitted.
• Utility Bill: Must be from the past 6 months (such as gas, electricity, or water), including the service address and/or account number. General utility correspondence is not permitted.
• HMRC Tax Notification: Must be from the last 6 months, including the national insurance number and tax calculation. General HMRC correspondence is not permitted.
• UK Solicitor’s Letter Confirming House Purchase/Land Registration Must be issued within the past 3 months, including the full name of the new property owner and complete property address.
• Credit Card Statement: issued within the past 3 months, showing the account number and recent transactions. General letters are not permitted
• Benefits Entitlement Letter: dated within the last 12 months, issued by DWP or Jobcentre Plus, confirming the benefit that was payable at that time (e.g., PIP, pension, disability, single parent, housing).
• UK/EU/EEA Driving Licence: If not used as an identity document, it must be active and not revoked, and can be either a full or provisional licence with a photographic ID.

4.3 If you are selling the property as a beneficiary of a will, as a company, or as a trustee, the following documents will be necessary:

Limited Company

For Representatives of a UK Limited Company:

• Nominee Director Declaration and General Power of Attorney (if the company is offshore).
• Identity Proof from Lists 1 & 2 (Section 4.2) for all individuals or entities which own 25% or more of the company’s shares or voting rights.
• Certificate of Incorporation.
• Most recent Annual Return or Confirmation Statement, detailing current company officers.
• Memorandum of Association.
• Articles of Association.

Probate

For Estate Beneficiaries or Representatives:

• Letter of Administration (if A will was left).
• Personal Representative’s Identity Proof from Lists 1 & 2 (Section 4.2), applicable to either the executor or administrator.
• Grant of Probate (if a will was left).

Costs

You will not pay any costs to us for our service, and there are no estate agents fees to pay, and in certain cases may be able to cover your legal fees if you choose to use one of our recommended solicitors. If you use your own solicitor, the costs will be payable by you.

Confidentiality 

At Any House Wanted, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality. We ensure that all information shared with us during the sale process is kept strictly private and secure. We will only disclose your details where legally required or with your explicit consent. Your privacy is our priority, and we take every measure to protect it through every transaction. Further information about how we protect your information can be found in our GDPR Policy