Solicitor inappropriate questions?

hogweed

Thanks for everybody's comments, very helpful 😁

mills112

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81928884#Comment_81928884

do you work in the IT industry? I do. I also build apps as a hobby and doing something like that, I can program the app to steal the log in info. of course i wouldn't it, lol 😄

also when i did mine, I had to agree to let them continue to access my bank accounts for the next 3 months, so obviously they are storing the log on details somewhere to allow them to view the transactions even without the need for me to log in for them after the first log on! but i expect only as a read only basis as the banks will probably restrict access this way, but still feels very non secure to me. it is relying on the app to be bonefide and protected so that it can't be hacked and criminal codes added to it.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6660337/solicitor-inappropriate-questions

They would request for a view only access via their own software, that will trigger an authorisation request on your DiL's banking app to confirm she is happy to allow this. At no point does she give her log in details to anyone else or use anyone else's app.

Solicitors have a legal obligation to do AML checks, in the good old days you would walk to your solicitors with a stack of statements in hand and the solicitor would review them and also try to establish if they are genuine which is why they never wanted home printed statements. Openbanking just is doing the same using a more modern methodology and in principle means they dont have to check if the data is doctored as it comes straight from the bank.

monkey-fingers

OK, there are 2 issues here.
Firstly, there is the Open Banking thing. You've read up on that. It's perfectly normal these days.

Secondly, there's the redecoration of the rental. Unless she's decorated it herself, then no. She doesn't need to do that. She needs to fill and repaint any holes or marks.

Don't worry about it though. When the Landlord comes to try and get the deposit back, they won't be allowed it.

Shelter are great for stuff like this.
Have a good read. Particularly page 2 about redecorating.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/what_can_your_landlord_deduct_from_your_deposit

mills112

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81929670#Comment_81929670

when i did mine, it actually asks me to log into my bank account through the solicitor's app so i actually had to put my username and password into the bank app via the AML app as if i was logging into my account. it was a bit unnerving but there was no way round it as they didn't accept bank statement prints.

it was a horrendous AML app that the solicitors used and it was the first time I came across that.

Xenon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6660337/solicitor-inappropriate-questions

1 - Not a chance…bank statements are more than good enough-like it or lump it.

2 - Tell her to not a chance - fair wear and tear over 6 years she is trying it on.

monkey-fingers

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81930213#Comment_81930213

As has been answered many times here, it doesn't work like that any more.

But you're not giving the solicitor full access to your accounts. Look up open banking. It's just giving them electronic access to your bank statements - nothing more.

The problem with bank statements these days is that they're easily manipulated. I could edit a transaction in seconds using a PDF editor.

hogweed

Final word - she elected to produce a year's worth of printed statements, which were accepted.

So it's academic now…

But thanks again to everybody who answered - if a war breaks out over the rental property, I'll report back…

mills112

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81930626#Comment_81930626

it depends on the solicitors. my ex bought his house recently and the solicitors accepted printed bank statements. my FIL is buying a property now and the solicitors also accept printed bank statements.

find a solicitor that accepts printed bank statements is my advise as giving them access to your bank account is a security breach waiting to happen.

there are still lots of solicitors out there who will accept printed bank statements.

monkey-fingers

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81930635#Comment_81930635

Oh, I'm not saying that many don't.

What I'm saying is that Openbanking is very standard across the industry now.