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- Marcus Reilly Estate Agents Ltd.
- 0208 240 7064
- 07854 507343
- hello@marcusreilly.co.uk
Anti-Money Laundering statement AND CLIENT guide
Contents
Page Contents
Our Anti‑Money Laundering Commitment
Keeping you safe and legal
At Marcus Reilly, we believe buying or selling a home should feel safe, transparent, and refreshingly stress-free. That means playing our part in protecting the property market from money laundering and financial crime — ensuring property transactions aren’t used to disguise illegal funds.
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) is something we take seriously, but hopefully can explain simply. Below is our plain‑English version of what the law requires us to do, and how we make it as smooth and pain-free as possible for you.
You’ll find a more detailed guide further down this page, including all the documents you may need and how to prepare them.
Why We Ask for AML Information
UK estate agents, together with solicitors and conveyancers, banks and lenders, and some letting agents, are legally required to follow the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. The law requires each organisation to independently carry out its own checks. Get ready — you will be asked for the same information several times!
None of us do this because we expect anything ‘dodgy’ from you — or anyone in the property chain; we do it because it keeps the whole system trustworthy for everyone.
What This Means for You
To comply with the law, we must carry out a few checks before we can market a property or agree a sale:
1. Verifying Your Identity (Customer Due Diligence)
We’ll ask for proof of who you are — usually a passport or driving licence — and something that confirms your address. This applies to buyers and sellers, and also to all joint owners or purchasers, plus anyone contributing funds.
(See our checklist of acceptable documents.)
2. Understanding the Source of Funds (Buyers Only)
If you’re buying, we need to understand where the money is coming from — savings, sale of another property, inheritance, investments, gifted deposits, and so on. This isn’t us being nosey; it’s a legal requirement to ensure funds are legitimate.
3. Extra Checks for Higher‑Risk Situations
For higher-risk situations (like overseas clients or unusual payment routes), we may perform “Enhanced Due Diligence.” We’ll always explain what’s needed and why.
4. Keeping Records (As Required by Law)
We retain AML records for a defined period. Rest assured, all your documents are stored securely and handled with strict confidentiality.
Reporting Obligations
We are legally required to report anything that doesn’t look quite right. We aren’t allowed to tell you if a report has been made — that’s part of the law — but rest assured, this only happens in extremely rare circumstances.
Your Complete Anti-Money Laundering Guide
A practical guide to help buyers and sellers
Buying or selling a home is a big moment — and we want every part of the journey to feel clear, calm and well‑supported. Anti‑Money Laundering (AML) checks are a legal requirement for all estate agents, solicitors and financial institutions. And while they’re nothing to worry about, they can cause early delays if documents aren’t ready.
This guide explains what you’ll need, why everyone asks for the same information, and how being proactive helps keep your move running smoothly.
The Smart Move: Create an “AML Pack”
AML checks are a common early-stage sticking point because each professional (agent, solicitor, broker) must legally complete their own checks. You will be asked for the same documents multiple times, just at the point where you’re excited to make or receive offers.
The best way to keep the momentum going is to gather these into one digital or physical folder — a simple set of documents you can share with us, your solicitor, and your mortgage broker to help keep the whole chain moving, including:
- Proof of Identity: Passport, UK/EU driving licence, or National ID card.
- Proof of Address: Utility bill (but NOT a mobile phone bill), bank statement, or Council Tax bill dated within the last 3 months.
- Proof of Funds: Official statements (not just screenshots) showing the build-up of savings or evidence of sale proceeds.
- Gifted Deposits: A letter from the donor, plus their ID and proof of funds.
The complete list of acceptable documents is below.
Are AML Checks a Major Cause of Delays?
They are certainly not the biggest source of delays — those tend to come from searches, enquiries, mortgage processing and leasehold paperwork.
But AML is one of the most common early‑stage sticking points, especially when:
documents aren’t ready
gifted deposits need extra evidence
funds come from multiple sources
overseas documents need certifying or translating
How AML Readiness Supports the Chain
The good news? AML delays are completely avoidable. And being prepared early helps the entire chain. That’s why at Marcus Reilly we treat AML readiness as part of our chain‑management protocol — because property chains rely on momentum, and missing AML documents can:
delay solicitors starting work
delay mortgage applications
delay issuing contracts
create uncertainty for other parties
Being proactive with AML is one of the simplest ways to keep your sale or purchase moving — a small step that makes a big difference.
What should be in your “AML Pack”?
Because multiple professionals will ask for the same documents, we recommend preparing a simple AML Pack at the start of your journey.
Your pack should include:
Proof of identity
Proof of address
Proof of funds (buyers only)
Gifted deposit information (if applicable)
Documents for all joint owners or purchasers
Having this ready early:
speeds up onboarding
helps your solicitor start work sooner
prevents last‑minute document chasing
supports the whole chain
reduces the risk of delays to exchange or completion
Proof of Identity (ID)
We need to confirm who you are. Acceptable documents include:
Primary ID (one required):
Passport
UK or EU driving licence
National identity card
Biometric residence permit
For joint owners or buyers:
AML checks apply to every individual involved, including:
joint purchasers
joint sellers
anyone contributing funds
anyone with a beneficial interest in the property
Proof of Address
If your ID doesn’t show your current address, you’ll need a separate proof of address.
Documents must be recent (within 3 months unless stated otherwise):
Utility bill (gas, electric, water)
Council tax bill (current year)
Bank or building society statement
Mortgage statement (annual)
HMRC correspondence
Driving licence (if not used as ID)
Proof of Funds (Buyers Only)
We must understand where the money for your purchase is coming from. You’ll be asked for this by several professionals: your estate agent, your solicitor and sometimes the seller’s solicitor, and your mortgage broker. In all cases you will need formal documents. Screenshots of some items are OK for early conversations — but formal AML checks require official statements.
Acceptable proof of funds includes:
Savings
Recent bank statements showing the build‑up of funds
Savings account statements
Evidence of transfers between your own accounts
Sale of another property
Completion statement
Bank statement showing receipt of funds
Gifted deposits
Gifted deposit letter
ID and proof of address for the donor
Donor’s proof of funds (e.g., savings, sale of property)
Inheritance
Letter from executor or solicitor
Grant of probate (if applicable)
Bank statement showing receipt
Pension lump sum
Pension provider statement
Bank statement showing receipt
Investments
Investment provider statement
Evidence of sale or encashment
Overseas Buyers or Sellers
If you live abroad or your funds originate overseas, we may need:
certified copies of ID
translated documents (if not in English)
enhanced due diligence depending on the country
We’ll guide you through this step by step.
How We Help
We’ll always:
explain exactly what we need and why
keep the process friendly and jargon‑free
handle your documents securely
only ask for what the law requires
support you if you’re unsure what counts as acceptable evidence
Our aim is to make AML checks feel simple, clear and stress‑free.
Final Tip: Start Early
The moment you decide to sell — or start viewing homes — gather your AML documents. It’s one of the most effective ways to keep your move running smoothly.
AML Checklist for Buyers & Sellers
Download the checklist here.
For Everyone
[ ] Passport or driving licence
[ ] Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, council tax, etc.)
[ ] Documents for all joint owners or purchasers
[ ] Contact details for your solicitor
[ ] If living abroad: certified ID + translations (if needed)
For Sellers
[ ] ID and address documents for all legal owners
[ ] Details of your onward purchase (if applicable)
[ ] Information about anyone with a beneficial interest
For Buyers
[ ] Proof of funds (bank statements, savings, investments, etc.)
[ ] Evidence of sale proceeds (if using equity from another property)
[ ] Gifted deposit letter (if applicable)
[ ] Donor’s ID and proof of address
[ ] Donor’s proof of funds
[ ] Inheritance documentation (if applicable)
[ ] Pension provider statement (if applicable)
Optional but Helpful
[ ] A single “AML Pack” containing all documents
[ ] A folder for solicitor paperwork
[ ] A timeline of your financial position (if funds come from multiple sources)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Discovery Session the same as a Valuation?
Your fully informed valuation is included, but the Discovery Session goes much further—giving you the details behind the number and the strategies to achieve it.
Check out our full Discovery process here.
How long does a Discovery Session take?
The initial Discovery Session is about 45-60 minutes and will leave you with a good understanding of your options. Should you become a client, the process never stops as we get to know you and your goals and objectives.
Check out our full Discovery process here.
Do I need to prepare anything in advance?
No — but if you have any plans, questions or concerns, please bring them along.
Check out our full Discovery process here.
Is there any obligation?
None at all. The session is designed to help you make informed decisions. All the information we discuss is yours to use as you wish.
Of course we hope that you will consider working with us, based on the value we offer — but it’s not an obligation.
Can we do it remotely?
Yes — we offer both in-person and video sessions.
Of course, it is more difficult in a video session since we don’t get to see the inside of your property.
So it depends on what you need at the stage you’re at. Even if we can’t do a full discovery session, we’re sure you’ll get good value from our discussion.
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