AML Check Fee

_Andrew_

Start of 2026 and just found this thread as the seller's EA is looking for ~£83 for the AML check.

Not something I've seem before and seems a bit much given our solicitor will be doing the same check as will our broker.

How much does this really cost the EA to do?

Is it just confined to the more cut-price EAs?

It also seems unfair if the vendor changes their mind and you lose your payment.

The EA's blurb:

"Should a purchaser(s) have an offer accepted on a property marketed by >EA name is here<, they will need to undertake an identification check and asked to provide information on the source and proof of funds. This is done to meet our obligation under Anti Money Laundering Regulations (AML) and is a legal requirement. We use a specialist third party service together with an in-house compliance team to verify your information. The cost of these checks is £82.50 +VAT per purchase, which is paid in advance, when an offer is agreed and prior to a sales memorandum being issued. This charge is non-refundable under any circumstances.

Myci85

Hate to tell you but £82.50+VAT is near enough £100.

I came across just the one EA doing this when we were buying, and I would never use that EA myself because of this charge which I feel is unnecessary. No mention of the charge until we asked to put an offer in, then they tried saying we needed to pay it whilst waiting to hear if the offer was accepted. When I queried what happened if the offer was refused, they said not to worry, as the check would remain valid for any other property we might buy through them! So they wanted us to pay out on the off chance the house we ended up buying was one through them. No thank you!

Bigphil1474

We bought in 2024 and there was no requirement from the EA for AML checks - we did do an ID check with the EA selling our house, and we did provide proof of funds (i.e. that we could afford it) for the house we bought, but not AML checks. These were done through our solicitor (at great length). If it's a legal requirement then why don't all EA's do it? We bought with proceeds of sale for 65% and savings for the balance.

monkey-fingers

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81546585#Comment_81546585

Let's be fair, if the check is costing you £3.80 and you only do it after a serious offer, even at a 50% drop-out rate, it's pence in the big scheme of things.

For many, who are trying to avoid unscrupulous practices, it could be the difference between an instruction or not.

Let's say there are 2 local estate agents.

1 says "Our fee is 1% and no other add-ons"
The other says "Our fee is 1%, plus an £80 AML charge for you and anyone who makes an offer"

If that were the only difference, I'd be avoiding like the plague.

As an aside, the other thing I would be asking is "Do you have a mortgage advisor and solicitor that you aggressively push to buyers?"
Because if you do, I'm not going anywhere near you. Sick of the "You can't make an offer unless you speak to our mortgage advisor". That should be illegal.

theartfullodger

Entirely up to you to agree terms you are happy with. Likewise agent needs to agree terms they are happy with.

Obvs ain't nothing gonna happen unless there is agreement.

At that price in terms of the overall deal it's chicken-feed.

Good luck!

saajan_12

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81857198#Comment_81857198

Agree fully with what they say, they need to do an AML check, outsourcing it is fine. But that doesnt' mean the buyer needs to pay when that's the terms the seller agreed to. If I was feeling cheeky I'd say "thanks understood, please let us know when the seller has paid your fees".

No different to other costs the agent incurs for this transaction and might be lost if the sale doesnt' go through, eg time for viewings, liaising with your solicitor, etc.

Yorkie1

Interesting that there's no obligation on the EA to disclose their commission …

artyboy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81869899#Comment_81869899

No, but when it was something that was done in-house by the EA, it was normal just to include it as an overall part of the service.

Now there are companies specialising in outsourcing these checks (and there are plenty of them), it's easy for EAs to quantify it as a discrete cost that they can pass on to their clients.

Doesn't make it right or wrong, but as components of any service get 'unbundled', it becomes more transparent what they actually cost. Those of a similar age to me might recall that booze, food, and checked baggage were all standard with economy flights once…