Identity Verification for Land Registry Application

Domestic_Goodness

I need to apply to Land Registry for a compulsory First Registration of a house and want to do it without using a solicitor. However, I need to get my son’s identity verified to satisfy Land Registry requirements (he’s a co-owner of the property). The first solicitor contacted wants £70 just to verify my son’s identity – he has a valid UK passport, so it’s a five minute job. My son is a student, so I am wondering if verification by one of the College Fellows or the Dean would be accepted by Land Registry.
I appreciate the need to combat fraud, but it seems to me that this process is much more difficult than obtaining a UK passport; the list of people allowed to verify identity for a passport is much wider. Land Registry insist that only “conveyancers” i.e. solicitors are allowed to verify identity, so it seems to be a “closed shop” and they can charge whatever they like.
I would appreciate any advice.
Regards

[Deleted User]

I have this same issue but for changing my name on the register. The only option other than a solicitor is to make an appointment at one of the land registry offices. They verify your ID if you take the right documents free of charge

Domestic_Goodness

Unfortunately, that is not an option for us, as we are all in different parts of the country, and Land Registry will only verify all of us together at one office at the same time as we hand in the application.

G_M

1) LR Guide 20

Land Registry is committed to ensuring accessibility for all of our customers. If you are not able to attend one of our customer information centres and cannot go to a conveyancer to have your identity verified, you should contact Customer Support to discuss whether alternative arrangements are possible.

2) Shop around - why have you only asked one solicitor?

3) Approach a licenced conveyancer rather than a solicitor

Domestic_Goodness

1)The Land Registry website makes it quite clear that if you are able to visit a solicitor/conveyancer, you must do so. They state that they do not consider “inconvenience” to be a valid reason, so I doubt they will they accept “cost” as an excuse either. Believe me, I have read their website very thoroughly and there seems no way round it.

2)Yes, I have contacted more than one solicitor, but it is the weekend, so have only had one reply so far.

3)And yes, I have also been trying to find a conveyancer, rather than a solicitor, but they appear to be more concerned with offering total conveyancing packages than a one –off verification.

I do intend to carry on researching this, but I thought there might be people on MSE with experience/advice.

G_M

Pay £60 or so for a will?

When I got mine written the solicitor was happy to certify multiple copies of a POA at the same time for free. Not much different to ID verification.