Guide to AML Checks with Our Preferred Partner Lifetime Legal

Guide to AML Checks with Our Preferred Partner Lifetime Legal

An Anti-Money Laundering (AML) check is a legal requirement designed to prevent financial crimes such as money laundering, fraud, and terrorist financing.

These checks verify the identity of individuals involved in property transactions to ensure that funds used in purchases are from legitimate sources.

Please Watch Our Important Guide
to Your AML Check Here

Why Do Estate Agents Have to Conduct AML Checks?

Estate agents in the UK are legally required to carry out AML checks under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, enforced by HMRC. Property transactions are a common target for money laundering, as large sums of money can be moved through real estate purchases.

If agents fail to comply with AML regulations, they risk severe penalties or potential issues with the transaction.

Who Are Lifetime Legal?

Like many agents, Sowerbys now choose to partner with Lifetime Legal, dedicated AML specialists. Their service ensures full compliance with legal requirements while providing confidence that every necessary verification has been thoroughly completed before progressing a sale.

By using specialists, Sowerbys eliminates the risk of errors and delays, allowing transactions to move forward smoothly and securely.

Guide to the AML Check Process

  1. When you instruct Sowerbys to sell your home or have an offer accepted, we will agree a time for Lifetime Legal to call you to carry out the AML and identity checks. Once booked, Lifetime Legal will email you to confirm the date and time window for the call.
  2. This call will happen within an agreed two-hour window at a time that suits you. You will be called from an 0118 number, so please look out for it. Occasionally, and depending on your network, it may appear as withheld or “suspected spam”. The call will last 10 - 15 minutes. If you miss it, Lifetime Legal will leave a message with a number for you to call back on.
  3. Please have either your passport, driving licence, or National Insurance number ready for the call - for all owners selling or buyers purchasing.
  4. Lifetime Legal will ask you to reconfirm some of your basic details, such as names, address, and some transaction details that we have already provided. This forms the basis of a legally required risk assessment and is a standard part of the process.
  5. Lifetime Legal will then talk you through the next stage and explain the facial recognition identity check. This is the quickest and most secure way to confirm your identity and is commonly used worldwide. You will receive a text message with a unique link, which can be opened in any web browser. Clear instructions will guide you to take a selfie and upload a photo of an in-date identity document, such as your passport.
  6. Once you've completed the check, it will be processed within a few minutes, and you’ll be notified when it’s complete.
  7. For more complex transactions - such as probate, trusts, or company purchases - your case will be referred to the Enhanced Due Diligence team, who will guide you through the additional documentation required.

Your AML Check and Optional Added Benefits

The Cost of the Lifetime Legal AML Check

All parties involved in property transactions - including lenders, estate agents, and solicitors - are legally required to carry out independent AML checks.

  • The charge for AML verification is £48 per group of sellers or buyers.
  • This fixed fee covers all buyers or sellers involved on your side of the transaction.
  • Both the seller(s) and buyer(s) pay £48 for their respective checks.

Additional Optional Benefits Included

Lifetime Legal also offer an optional service called the Lifetime Legal Membership. This provides:

  • Fall-Through Protection - If a transaction falls through, Lifetime Legal offers protection that can help recover expenses already paid.
  • Legal Support - Members receive additional legal guidance and assistance with compliance-related matters.
  • A Free Will or Mirror Will - Lifetime Legal can provide a free will service, a valuable consideration when buying or selling property.

Opting into Lifetime Legal Membership

When completing your AML check, you’ll be offered the option to join Lifetime Legal. It’s completely up to you whether you choose to accept this - there’s no obligation. Here’s how it works:

  • You can choose to opt in or out during your initial call.
  • If you opt in, your first three months are free. After that, it’s £8.99 per month, and you can cancel at any time.
  • Many people choose to keep the membership until their move completes, as it includes Fall-Through Protection - helping to safeguard your transaction if things don’t go to plan.
  • You’ll receive reminders by text and email before the free period ends, so you can decide whether to continue.