Direct money transfer (275k) between the buyer and seller.

trex227

From my experience I find the bigger the firm the more likely they are to have a specific policy that they will follow to the letter. The firm my spouse works for (who I previously worked for) are a big firm, with IT systems where boxes need to be checked and they have clear policies the staff follow.

The other firm I worked for was high street solicitors, although relatively large, was definitely more lax.

And the local firm my parents used asked for no proof of funds whatsoever when they bought some land a couple of years ago!

Definitely I’d go into some local solicitors and enquire about quotes and ask what proof of funds they need. Some people go too extreme with AML (for example the girl at the counter in the building society where my dad had had money for 30 years, wanting proof of the land he had sold 30 years ago before allowing withdrawal. Next time with a different staff member, no issue). As long as you can provide a plausible explanation and at least some paperwork you should be fine.