These forms are used to identify you, either because you are completing the transaction at a distance from your solicitor or because you are dealing with HM Land Registry directly. The form is fairly straightforward, and it will confirm your name, address(es) the title number of the property you are dealing with and the nature of the transaction. You will then sign that form and have your identity confirmed by one of the people named on the rest of the form.
Notaries are often used to verify an ID1 form and we are one of the professions listed. If you can’t see your local notary, it will be a legal professional, an authorised person in the armed forces or someone from the Land Registry itself. Each category has their own section to complete.
The third section is about how you have been identified. At the meeting with your certifier, you need to bring the documents shown in section three. It can be an original passport or driving licence, which are the type of documents I prefer to see, and ideally both for my records. However, if you don’t have these, you can be identified using an array of other documents, however it must be those from the list. You will also need to bring a photograph which the certifier will sign and date the back of, so please don’t glue it to the paper!
For me, I like to see my clients in face-to-face meetings, it’s a huge part of completing notarised documents, and some documents must be completed that way. However, as we have seen with the difficulties the pandemic has caused, sometimes this can’t be the case and virtual meetings take place. Virtual meetings are currently fine for this type of form. This way you would complete the first section of the ID1 form at home. The certifier then completes a separate ID5 form by identifying you on a video call. This could be Microsoft Teams, Zoom or the like, but it does need to be recorded by the certifier and kept in their records. We need to complete a screenshot of you on the call, attach it to the ID5 form and post it you. This was the two forms can be submitted at the same time to the Land Registry. Whilst this format is currently in use at the moment, the Land Registry are clear that they may withdraw this option at any time.
It is not just people that need to be identified and ID2 forms are used to identify corporate bodies, trusts and the like. They are very similar to ID1 forms, but you will be asked for additional information from your certifier. Whoever you choose to assist you will need to make sure that you can and are able to sign the form on behalf of the corporate body. This can be done by checking the register at Companies House, trust documents or other verifiable documents produced by the company.
The aims of the form are to make sure that the right person is signing the form, it may seem like a chore to have it done, but it does help prevent fraud.
If you need to have an ID1, ID2 and an ID5 form completed or have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.