ID1 Form Solicitor Verification from 17/04/2025*
You'll need an ID1 for a number of property transactions, changes, transfers, or charges. They are valid for 3 months, so don't get one too early (but you can complete the form now and book in advance).
We can provide ID1s remotely online, with a free ID5 included. We offer same-day appointments and issue the certificate right after your video call. So, you could book a video appointment in the morning and have your completed colour copy by email that afternoon.
How to get your ID1 verified
- 1
You complete our online ID1 Form. There is no need to send us a hard copy of the ID1 Form, original documents or a passport-sized photo.
- 2
You scan a copy of your passport or a UK photo driving licence to us. Copies can be scanned by printer or a photo from your phone. This is attached to your online form.
- 3
You book an appointment time to suit and a video call is arranged with our solicitor.
- 4
Completed ID1 and ID5 (used for video verification) forms are posted to you for signing, and you send these to your solicitor/Land Registry.
You cannot submit this form on behalf of someone else unless you have their power of attorney. We cannot accept appointments to verify the identity of any individual who did not submit their form.
If you would like to pay for an appointment for the client, who will complete the form themselves, we can take your payment over the phone.
What's the difference between an ID1 and an ID2 Form?
It's important to use the correct identity verification form for your situation. Here's a simple breakdown:
- ID1 Form: This form is specifically for the verification of identity of an individual. It is used for personal property transactions, changes to property registration, and other actions where an individual's identity needs to be confirmed at the Land Registry.
- ID2 Form: This form is used for the verification of the identity of a representative of a company or other corporate body. If the property transaction involves a company, a charity, or another type of organisation, the ID2 form will be required instead of the ID1.
Ensure you are using the ID1 form if you are acting as an individual in your property matter.
Land Registry Official Guidance
For the most comprehensive and up-to-date information, you can always refer to the official guidance on the ID1 form provided by HM Land Registry. You can find this guidance on the government website.
How much do solicitors charge for ID1?
Our solicitors can help wherever you are based, for a competitive Fixed Fee of £100 INC VAT.
This fee includes a free ID5 Form required for video ID verification. So, there's no need to post original documents or passport photos, simply upload using our online form and then book your video appointment.
We can also help with an ID2 Form for a company or a corporate body.
Why do I need an ID1?
The Land Registry ID1 Form is used by the Land Registry to verify the identity of any individual to:
- Any conveyancing related transaction.
- Transfer of equity (whether for money or not).
- Change of registration or charge etc.
An ID1 will be required for anyone with a personal charge or interest in the action - where they are not represented by a conveyancing solicitor.
The ID1 form must be signed by a conveyancer (there are a number of varying qualifications to check), a Chartered Legal Executive or an HM Land Registry officer. The cost can vary and many solicitors don't offer the verification service.
What if I don't have a passport or driving licence?
We only provide remote ID1 verification for clients who can provide an out-of-date passport or driving licence along with 2 of any of the following:
- Credit card bearing the Mastercard or Visa logo, an American Express or Diners Club card, or a debit or multi-function card bearing the Maestro or Visa logo which was issued in the United Kingdom and is supported by an account statement less than three months old.*
- Utility bill less than three months old.*
- Council tax bill for the current year.
- Council rent book showing the rent paid for the last three months.
- Mortgage statement for the mortgage accounting year just ended.*
- Current firearm or shotgun certificate.
* These must be postal statements; they must not be statements sent electronically.
We cannot accept any other form of ID.
- Appointments from 17/04/2025.*
- Convenient remote appointments via video call.
- Can be done wherever you are in the world.
- Certificate issued same-day
- Fixed Fee of £100 INC VAT.
Consequences of incorrectly completed ID1 Forms
We always recommend instructing a competent solicitor to help complete the ID1 Form. Submitting an incorrectly completed ID1 form can lead to several issues and delays in your property transaction. Common consequences include:
Delays in Land Registry processing
The Land Registry has strict procedures for verifying identities. If your ID1 form contains errors, omissions, or inconsistencies, it will likely be rejected. This can cause significant delays in the registration of your property or the completion of your transaction.
Example: Imagine you are buying a new home and have a time-sensitive mortgage offer. If your ID1 form is rejected due to a simple mistake like a misspelt name or an incorrect date of birth, the delay in processing could potentially cause your mortgage offer to expire, requiring you to reapply or even lose the property.
Requests for further information
Instead of outright rejecting the form, the Land Registry might issue a query, requesting clarification or additional information to resolve the discrepancies. This back-and-forth communication can significantly prolong the conveyancing process.
Example: Perhaps the address you provided on the form is slightly different from the address on your identification documents. The Land Registry will likely raise a query, and your solicitor will need to contact you to resolve this, adding days or even weeks to the timeline.
Potential legal complications
In more serious cases, significant errors or inconsistencies on the ID1 form can raise red flags with the Land Registry regarding the true identity of the parties involved or the legitimacy of the transaction. This could lead to more in-depth investigations, potential legal challenges to the transaction's validity, or even suspicions of fraud or money laundering.
Example: If the details on your ID1 form are significantly different from your identification documents without a clear explanation (like a recent name change with supporting documentation), the Land Registry might flag this as a potential issue.
This could lead to a more thorough investigation, potentially involving further requests for evidence or even intervention from regulatory bodies, causing significant stress and potentially jeopardising the entire transaction.
What if you live overseas?
As long as you have a stable internet connection and video call capabilities, our ID1/ID2/ID5 verification can take place absolutely anywhere in the world!
ID1 for a Transfer of Equity
An ID1 form is very common for a Transfers of Equity, as often one party chooses not to seek legal representation. The unrepresented party has to fill out the form themselves and the form itself has to be completed and witnessed by an approved person, normally a solicitor.
The person who witnesses the form is responsible for carrying out due diligence on the person filling out the form. Each separate person must fill out a separate form.
In most straightforward conveyancing transactions, such as a sale and/or purchase, all parties on both sides of the transaction are represented by a conveyancing solicitor or property lawyer, so this form does not come into play.
Why does the Land Registry require this level of due diligence on your identity?
Conveyancers have always had to take steps to verify the true identity of their clients under threat of discipline by their regulators and ultimately criminal prosecution.
In recent years, with an increasing legal focus on money laundering, terrorist financing and white-collar crime in general, the level of due diligence has risen.
Acts such as the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, The Terrorism Act 2000 and the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 have increasingly added layers of security which property lawyers must carry out. The person who completes the ID1 form to verify your identity has to comply with these.
You do not need to complete this form if the value of the land involved in the transfer or disposal does not exceed £6,000. This is the value of the land, not the consideration paid for it.
What type of documents are required for the ID1 process?
The identity documents which may be used to identify a party are either one document from the following list:
- Current valid full passport.
- Current UK, EU, Channel Islands or Isle of Man photocard driving licence (not provisional).
- Current Biometric Residence Permit issued by the UK Home Office to a non-UK national resident in the UK.
Alternatively, two items from the following list AND an expired passport or diving license:
- Cheque guarantee card (Mastercard, Visa, American Express or Diners Club) or debit card (Maestro or Delta) issued in the United Kingdom supported by an original postal statement less than 3 months old.
- Postal utility bill less than 3 months old.
- Council tax statement for the current year.
- Council rent book showing the rent paid for the last 3 months.
- Postal mortgage statement for the year just ended.
- Current firearm or shotgun certificate.
You'll also need a passport-sized photograph of yourself signed by a conveyancer.
All of these must be certified by a conveyancer or the Land Registry and will need to be attached to the form. You should also note that the Land Registry itself only certifies documents in person and only at the time the application for registration is submitted. So for most, online legal services are far preferable.
When should you complete the ID1 form?
You should have your Form officially certified by the time of the 'crunch point' in the action concerned, so in the case of a transfer of equity you'd receive your form to sign after the mortgage offer is submitted or just a week before the agreed completion date.
The reason it is left until the last minute is that the form only lasts for 3 months; past this date, the Land Registry may require a new form.
How do you fill out your form?
Section A
To be filled out by the person whose identity is being verified.
- Fill in your personal details in boxes 1-10. This will include your full name, date of birth, current address, any previous addresses in the last three years, a contact number, and an email address. This must be accurate.
- Box 11 - type of application. In this box, clearly state the nature of your transaction. If it's a sale/purchase then enter "transfer", if a mortgage is being paid off enter "discharge" and if a new mortgage is being registered add "charge", if the transaction is the grant of a lease add "lease" etc.
- Box 12 - Title Number. You need to put the title number of the property in this box. It's a unique identifier for the property registered at the Land Registry. You can usually find this number on an official copy of the register of title.
- Box 13 - Property Address. Provide the full postal address of the property, including the correct postcode. Ensure this matches the address associated with the title number in Box 12.
- Box 14 - Signature and Date. Once you have carefully completed all the relevant boxes in Section A, you must sign and date the form in Box 14. Use your usual signature. The date you sign should be the date you are completing this section.
Section B
To be completed by the person certifying the identity.
- Stating Credentials. The person certifying the identity must clearly state their full name, profession (e.g., Solicitor, Licensed Conveyancer), and the name of their firm or organisation. Crucially, they must also include their official registration number or other relevant credentials that authorise them to certify identity documents (e.g., their Solicitors Regulation Authority number).
- Confirmation of ID. The certifying person must confirm they have seen original or certified copies of the required identification documents (as outlined in the Land Registry guidelines). They will also need to specify the types of documents they have seen.
- Signing and Dating. The person certifying the identity must sign and date Section B to formally confirm that they have carried out the identity verification process in accordance with the Land Registry's requirements.
- Photograph Endorsement. Finally, they must also sign and date the back of your passport-sized photograph. This photograph must be a current and true likeness of yourself and will be attached to the ID1 form as part of the verification process.
Do I need an ID1 solicitor near me?
Historically your ID was verified in front of a solicitor in their office which meant you needed to find a solicitor who provides a verifying service near you.
With solicitors adopting video meetings through a video call, the need for finding a solicitor near you for verifying your ID has fallen away.
Our solicitor can witness your ID if you are near our offices or if you are overseas using video calls. Get in contact today to find out how we can help you.
If your conveyancer does complete the verification via an online video call then they must also complete an ID5 Form.
We can help provide this service for you, for a fixed fee of £100 INC VAT. We can issue the ID1 Form on the same day after your meeting via email.
Andrew started his career in 2000 working within conveyancing solicitor firms and grew hands-on knowledge of a wide variety of conveyancing challenges and solutions. After helping in excess of 50,000 clients in his career, he uses all this experience within his article writing for SAM, mainstream media and his self published book How to Buy a House Without Killing Anyone.
Caragh is an excellent writer and copy editor of books, news articles and editorials. She has written extensively for SAM for a variety of conveyancing, survey, property law and mortgage-related articles.
