Once you’ve submitted a formal offer on a property, a member of our team will get in touch to arrange your ID and proof of funds checks. Once your offer’s been accepted and these checks are complete, we’ll remove the property from Ostrich and you can move forward with the purchase.
Why are these required?
We’re legally required to verify your ID and carry out checks linked to anti-money laundering regulations. These also confirm the funds for your purchase are available and help us understand where they’re coming from.
We use Thirdfort because it keeps things safe and hassle-free. You can do everything in the app in a few minutes, with no printing, posting, or scanning.
What you need to do
1. You’ll get an SMS from Thirdfort with a link to download their app.
2. Download the Thirdfort app from the App Store or Google Play.
3. Open the app and work through the checklist. It may ask you to:
ID check: Take a photo of your passport or driving licence, then record a short video selfie.
Passport chip scan, if your phone supports it: Hold your phone near your passport to scan the chip.
Proof of address: Upload a recent utility bill, council tax bill, or bank statement.
Source of funds questionnaire: Answer a few questions about where the money for your purchase is coming from.
4. Once you’ve completed everything, Thirdfort will let you know your report’s been securely sent to us.
Depending on how you’re funding your purchase, we’ll ask you to provide some additional details.
If you’re funding your purchase with a deposit, or cash, we’ll ask for bank statements in your name showing the funds are available, or a letter from your financial adviser or solicitor confirming the funds.
If you’re buying with a mortgage, at this stage we’ll ask for a copy of your mortgage agreement in principle.
If any of the money is coming from a gift or loan, we’ll also need to run additional ID and proof of funds checks on the person providing it, so we can confirm the funds are available and being provided willingly.
FAQs
What are source of funds checks and why are they important?
Source of funds checks confirm where the money for your purchase is coming from. It’s a legal requirement and helps protect against fraud and financial crime.
Do I have to complete the ID checks?
Yes. ID checks are a legal requirement when you’re buying a property. They help protect you and keep us compliant with anti-money laundering regulations.
Is Thirdfort secure?
Yes. Thirdfort uses bank-grade encryption and handles your data in line with GDPR. Your information’s kept secure and confidential.
Can I just send you a copy of my passport instead?
No. A photo or scan on its own isn’t enough for us to confirm the ID is genuine and that it belongs to you. Thirdfort does this securely in the app, using checks like a short video selfie and, where available, passport chip scanning.
If you can’t use Thirdfort for any reason, get in touch and we’ll talk you through the alternatives.