Gifted deposit from abroad and requested documentation?

David_2020

Hi.
I am in the process of the buying first flat in UK (and in live) and part of deposit was a gifted money from my mother. The solicitor ask my mother to sent him a bank statement, ID photo, proof of address to check source of money due the The Money Laundering Regulations 2007. I understand that, but my mom is living in Poland and she don't want to give here personal details as bank account number or full ID photo. Also solicitor request amiqusID verification.
I know is a long shot and maybe I'm asking in wrong forum, but do my solicitor can ask about that information from person who is living abroad? 
When I was looking for a lender, a letter from my mother with her signature and information that it is a free gift was enough.

MovingForwards

If your mom does not provide the documents, your solicitor cannot carry on with the work for you to purchase the property.
All solicitors have to undertake money laundering checks as the money goes their their account and then onto the seller's solicitors.
Your mortgage lender does not have any involvement with the money aside from asking who it came from.

If you want your purchase to go through, speak with your mom and explain its UK law. Alternatively, find a cheaper property and your own money for the deposit.

David_2020

That was quick and in point.
 Now I need only to convince my mom to take photo with number to finish amiqusID process. That will be not so easy. Any photo with numbers wake up in her head old fears (end of WW2, etc).

One more time thank you for quick response. 

[Deleted User]

 Though we were given £18k by my in laws in Australia. Sat in our account for about 3 months before we purchased. Weren't asked for anything other than our own bank statements. 

davidmcn

_shel said:

 Though we were given £18k by my in laws in Australia. Sat in our account for about 3 months before we purchased. Weren't asked for anything other than our own bank statements. 

If it's been in your own account for long enough, at some point it will be assumed to be your own money and not just a slow-moving money-laundering scheme. They need to draw the line somewhere (though where they draw it will vary). 

steampowered

Unfortunately this is standard procedure.

The anti-money laundering regulations require solicitors/conveyancers to make reasonable checks to confirm that the money being used to fund the deposit does not come from criminal activity. The standard way of confirming this is to ask for a copy of ID and a copy of bank statements proving where the money came from.

All UK solicitors or conveyancers are likely to ask for this.

greatcrested

Different solicitors do interpret theit Money Laundering obligations differently, but they do all have to undertake them.

For all the solicitor knows, the money from Poland may be the result of human trafficking or similar.

Having said that, huge amounts of Russian Mafia money seem to end up buying posh London properties, so the system does not work very well......

David_2020

Thank you all for responds. I need that advice's from you all to show my mom that its not special case with her I know this is standard procedure but for my mom is attack in white day. Ehhh... 

David

davidmcn

steampowered said:

All UK solicitors or conveyancers are likely to ask for this.

As will Polish ones, if that helps to reassure mum that it isn't some weird uk-specific practice. 

greatcrested

greatcrested said:

Having said that, huge amounts of Russian !!!!!! money seem to end up buying posh London properties.......

very strange censorship; m a f i a ?

hb2

greatcrested said:

greatcrested said:

Having said that, huge amounts of Russian !!!!!! money seem to end up buying posh London properties.......

very strange censorship; m a f i a ?

I did wonder what you had said!