When you instruct a solicitor to act for you in a property purchase, they will ask you to provide a range of documents at the outset of the transaction. Understanding what is needed and why helps you gather the paperwork quickly and avoids delays at the start of the conveyancing process.

Proof of Identity and Address

Your solicitor is required by anti-money laundering regulations to verify your identity and address before acting for you. You will need to provide a current photographic identity document, typically a valid passport or driving licence, and a recent proof of address such as a bank statement or utility bill dated within the last three months. For an online conveyancing firm, these documents are often verified digitally through a third-party identity verification service.

Evidence of Funds

The solicitor must verify the source of the funds being used to purchase the property, again as part of anti-money laundering compliance. For the deposit, you will need to provide bank statements showing the funds have been built up over time and demonstrating their legitimate origin. If the funds come from savings, employment income, the sale of another property, or an inheritance, the solicitor will need evidence of the source. Funds received as a gift from family require a gift letter from the donor confirming the gift is non-returnable.

Mortgage Offer

Your solicitor will need a copy of the formal mortgage offer from your lender once it is issued. The offer sets out the terms of the mortgage including the amount, interest rate, and any conditions. The solicitor checks the offer conditions, reports the terms to you, and undertakes to meet any pre-completion conditions before requesting the mortgage funds for completion.

Additional Funding Sources

If any part of the purchase price comes from a Help to Buy ISA, Lifetime ISA, gifted deposit, Help to Buy equity loan, or shared ownership purchase, the relevant documentation for these funding streams is required. Each has its own documentation and procedural requirements that the solicitor manages as part of the transaction.

Summary

Your solicitor needs proof of identity such as a passport or driving licence, proof of address, bank statements evidencing the source of the deposit funds, a gift letter if any funds are gifted, and a copy of the formal mortgage offer when received. Anti-money laundering checks on identity and source of funds are a legal requirement that the solicitor must complete before the transaction can proceed. Providing documents promptly reduces delays at the start of the conveyancing process.