Estate agent asking for details

sheramber

Presumably your ex knows your occupation.

Chief_of_Staffy

It's an infallible way of determining whether the seller is a money launderer. Apparently, if you ask a criminal their occupation, they are compelled to respond, "Criminal", and would therefore fail the check.

eddddy

Chief_of_Staffy said:

It's an infallible way of determining whether the seller is a money launderer. Apparently, if you ask a criminal their occupation, they are compelled to respond, "Criminal", and would therefore fail the check.

Yep - but when HMRC (and the government) instructed Estate Agents to do AML checks, they would have thought about the possibility that a criminal might lie.

So if HMRC investigated an estate agent, and the estate agent said "I asked the seller all the right AML check questions, and I just accepted whatever they replied" - I don't think that would be acceptable to HMRC. I think HMRC would go ahead and fine the estate agent for failing to do a proper risk assessment.

FWIW, here's a list of Businesses that were fined for not complying with the money laundering regulations in 2025 to 2026.

One estate agent seems to have been fined £9,394 for failing to carry out proper AML risk assessments

Another chain of 3 estate agents seems to have been fined a total of £10,000 for failing to carry out proper AML risk assessments

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/businesses-not-complying-with-money-laundering-regulations-in-2018-to-2019/businesses-that-have-not-complied-with-the-money-laundering-regulations-2025-to-2026

I suspect that many estate agents are now being super-diligent with their AML checks and risk assessments, because they fear being fined.

monkey-fingers

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81880634#Comment_81880634

Na, there are ways to have an occupation that wouldn't sound illegal.
For instance, a burglar could say that they were a "House Inspector"
Someone dealing in stolen goods could say they were a "Salesman"

For example, I was unemployed for a while last year. I'd lost my company car and had to purchase my own and insure it.

I used the MSE job tool for insurance. I threw in £500 as an example.

If I put myself down as retired (the definition is all over the place), then it's £161.
If I say I'm "of independent means" (I was - I had 2 years salary), it would be £290.