ID1 form – do I really need to see a solicitor in person?

Blessdays

Hi all,

I’m currently going through a property transfer and have been asked to complete an ID1 form.

I’ve been told by one solicitor that I need to attend in person with ID and a passport photo, but I’ve also seen online that some firms offer this remotely using digital verification.

I’m a bit confused as to what’s actually acceptable now with Land Registry — has anyone done this recently?

Is remote verification accepted, or do most conveyancers still insist on in-person appointments?

Also, if anyone has done it remotely, how did the process work and was it accepted without any issues?

Thanks in advance!

NoMore

There's an ID5 form that also has to be completed by the solicitor if done by video.

Certificate to be given by a conveyancer where a person's identity has been verified by way of an online video call (ID5) - GOV.UK

Yes it's acceptable to Land registry. I did one remotely just last week and it took about ten minutes via zoom call. The completed ID1 and ID5 form landed in the post the next day.

Blessdays

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81948766#Comment_81948766

Hi thanks for your reply. Is ther any rule which says the ID5 has to be signed is 'wet ink'. As i used an online solicitors company but they are not issuing hard copies and have said that an electronic copy isn ok.

user1977

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81954543#Comment_81954543

Yes, wet ink only according to this (see at 10.3):

Practice guide 82: electronic signatures accepted by HM Land Registry - GOV.UK

Jemma01

I've had to do both with my solicitor, one was for their identity check (digitally), and one on request from my lender (HSBC) that they needed to do the verification in person. Thankfully they were 5mins walk from my workplace. I didn't complete nor sign anything, I just showed up with the IDs and they took photocopies of them and gave them back.

Blessdays

Thanks everyone for your advice. I found a decent ID1 company that handled my verification and they confirmed they will be sending a wet signed document. All done.

Diaz09

Just a heads up that some lenders have their own preferences on ID1 verification methods, so it's worth checking with your mortgage provider if you have one. I had a situation where my solicitor was happy with digital verification but the lender specifically requested in-person verification for their records. Saved me having to redo it later when it came up during the final checks.

Blessdays

Thanks everyone for the advice – just to close this off in case it helps others.

I initially used a company that did the ID1 verification remotely and they provided a digital copy, but this was actually rejected by the buyer’s solicitors who wanted a wet signed version.

I went back to the same company and to be fair to them they were quite helpful – they arranged for the original wet-signed ID1/ID5 to be issued and sent out, which resolved the issue.

For reference, this was the service I used: https://www.id1formverificationonline.co.uk/

So just a heads up for anyone else – even though digital verification is accepted in principle, in practice some solicitors/lenders still insist on a physical signed document, so it’s worth checking that early on.

All sorted in the end 👍