The Government has introduced changes to the house buying process from this month in response to continued social distancing measures.
The new rules – which have been in force since 04 May – mean a home buyer can now seek verification from professionals in more industries, such as police officers and magistrates, rather than just conveyancers and chartered legal executives.
The verification process is required to authenticate a home buyer’s identity and for signing deeds to prevent property fraud.
According to HM Land Registry, verification can now be undertaken by people who work, or have worked, in certain professions including:
- Retired conveyancers, chartered legal executives, solicitors and barristers
- Bank officials and regulated financial advisers
- Medical doctors, dentists and veterinary surgeons
- Chartered and certified accountants
- Police officers and officers in the UK armed forces
- Teachers and college and university teaching staff
- Members of Parliament and Welsh Assembly members
- UK civil servants of senior executive officer (SEO) grade or above
- Magistrates
Likewise, the Government department says it will now accept deeds signed using the “Mercury” approach in an effort to promote social distancing.
Under this method, each individual signature must be signed in pen and witnessed in person, and then captured digitally with a scanner or camera and sent to the conveyancer, who will then combine each document to create the final agreement.
Commenting on the changes, HM Land Registry said: “From Monday 4 May, we have introduced temporary changes when verifying a person’s identity and for signing deeds. In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak HM Land Registry is regularly reviewing its practice, policy and procedures, taking guidance from customer feedback.”
For further information about the changes, please click here.
