Anti-money laundering checks – what are they and why do they take place?

In order to comply with regulatory requirements, we are required to undertake some key checks when you purchase one of our homes. During the buying process, you will hear this referred to as Anti Money Laundering (or AML) checks. AML checks are in place to:

• Verify your identity and your address
• Confirm the source of your funds
• Comply with legal obligations

A Sales Consultant will invite all customers to a reservation appointment when they’re ready to reserve a home. The appointment will go through the reservation process including the above checks.

All customers will be asked to provide original documents for the Sales Consultant to witness first hand and then take a copy. It is a legal requirement that this evidence is held by Bromford on file for a period of 5 years. Please note, a proportion of our cases get pulled for internal audit. If this is the case for you, your home will remain on allocation and we will be in touch.

Proof of identity

To satisfy the proof of identity check, customers should bring one of the following original documents:-

• Current signed passport
• Original birth certificate (UK birth certificate issued within 12 months of the date of birth in full form including those issued by UK authorities overseas such as Embassies High Commissions and HM Forces)
• EEA member state identity card (which can also be used as evidence of address if it carries this)
• Current UK or EEA photocard driving licence
• Full old-style driving licence
• Photographic registration cards for self-employed individuals in the construction industry -CIS4
• Benefit book or original notification letter from DWP
• Firearms or shotgun certificate
• Residence permit issued by the Home Office to EEA nationals on sight of own country passport
• National identity card bearing a photograph of the applicant

Proof of address

To satisfy the proof of address check, customers should bring one of the following original document (note the same document can’t be used for both proof of identity and proof of address):

• Utility bill (gas, electric, satellite television, landline phone bill) issued within the last three months
• Local authority council tax bill for the current council tax year
• Current UK driving license (but only if not used for the name evidence)
• Bank, Building Society or Credit Union statement or passbook dated within the last three months
• Original mortgage statement from a recognised lender issued for the last full year
• Solicitors letter within the last three months confirming recent house purchase or land registry confirmation of address
• Council or housing association rent card or tenancy agreement for the current year
• Benefit book or original notification letter from DWP (but not if used as proof of name)
• HMRC self-assessment letters or tax demand dated within the current financial year
• Electoral Register entry or NHS Medical card or letter of confirmation from GP’s practice of registration with the surgery

Documents will need to be provided individually for all joint buyers, and we cannot accept any of the following documents:

• Provisional driving license,
• Mobile phone bills
• Credit card statements.

For more information on the Anti Money Laundering process please view our policy here.