Conveyancing - different solicitors for ID verification?

stonedave
stonedave Posts: 6 Forumite
Part of the Furniture First Post Combo Breaker
in Mortgages & endowments
Me and my partner are currently going through the process of remortgaging so I can go on the deeds of her house and both our names will be on the mortgage. We have a conveyancing solicitor, same one as she originally used. But they've said that I'll need to use a different solicitors for ID verification. It seems a strange request to me and not sure why this is necessary and obviously with more added cost.

Just wondered if anyone had experience with this and if it really ia necessary.

TYI 

Dave

Comments

  • tacpot12
    tacpot12 Posts: 9,148 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It's a common request, and is required by the Land Registry. It does add more cost, but you can still get the ID check done online for about £70. 
    The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.
  • stonedave
    stonedave Posts: 6 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture First Post Combo Breaker
    tacpot12 said:
    It's a common request, and is required by the Land Registry. It does add more cost, but you can still get the ID check done online for about £70. 
    Thank you. Why does it have to be a different solicitor that does it, any ideas?
  • tacpot12
    tacpot12 Posts: 9,148 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It will be to prevent moneylaundering. Having a second solicitor involved means that you need two crooked firms of solicitors rather than just one, which in theory is harder to find. 
    The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.
  • ACG
    ACG Posts: 24,391 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper I've helped Parliament
    Does it have to be a solicitor? 
    Can it not be the post office or if you have a mortgage broker can they not do it for you? 
    I am a Mortgage Adviser
    You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a mortgage adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice.
  • tacpot12
    tacpot12 Posts: 9,148 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It has to be a licensed conveyancer. 
    The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.
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