VIRDEE ESTATES is committed to ensuring that it has adequate controls to counter money laundering activities and terrorist financing activities, in line with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (information on the Payer) regulations 2017.
VIRDEE ESTATES are registered with HMRC for anti-money laundering supervision under the Money Laundering Regulations.
Risk sensitive policies and procedures have been established in order to anticipate and prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.
A risk sensitive or risk-based approach is where businesses assess the risk of customers laundering money through their business. Whilst Virdee Estates take the starting point that most customers will not launder money we do identify criteria that may indicate a higher risk of money laundering – e.g. where there is no face-to-face meeting to establish identity.
Virdee Estates is committed to staff training in anti-money laundering legislation and this is also covered as a part of the induction of all new staff.
The Virdee Estates MLRO is Manoj Virdee based at the Handsworth office who will forward reports to NCA as necessary. His Deputy is Mohammed Mir also based at the Handsworth office.
Adherence to the “Customer Due Diligence” (CDD) identification procedures on every occasion will mitigate the risks of the business being used to launder money or fund terrorism.
It is Virdee Estates policy that all vendors and purchasers, landlords and tenants must be identified fully with a minimum of two forms of ID, evidence of identity being photographic and also evidence of residence e.g. a utility bill dated in the last three months.
Alternatively, or additionally in the case of extended due diligence, an approved online money laundering check must be made with an approved supplier.
A documented risk assessment will be completed as part of CDD in every case.
Seller clients will be identified before Virdee Estates enter into a business relationship and purchasers will be identified at the time a transaction is agreed, subject to contract.
Landlord clients will be identified before Virdee Estates enter into a business relationship and tenants will be identified at the time a transaction is agreed and before a rental agreement is completed.
Should a face to face meeting not take place then enhanced due diligence procedures will need to be adopted by asking for additional information or evidence to establish the customer’s identity, and ensuring that the documents supplied are certified. It would also be prudent to ensure that any first payments are made to a bank account in the customer’s name.
If the verification of the customer’s identity is done by documents this should be based on:
A government issued document with the customer’s full name and photo with either the customer’s date of birth or residential address such as:
A government issued document (without a photo) which includes the customer’s full name and supported by secondary evidence:
Supported by secondary evidence such as:
If you are acting as a Representative of an Estate we require the following:
As part of Customer Due Diligence (CDD) process a check will be made of the PEP and Sanctions register. If an individual is a PEP or has sanctions then the enhanced due diligence procedure will apply.
For customers other than private individuals
For customers who are not private individuals, such as corporate customers and private companies, the business must obtain information that is relevant e.g. company registration number, registered address and evidence that the individuals have the authority to act for the company – a search at Companies House will reveal details of directors and company secretary (PSC register).
If you are acting as a Representative of a UK Company we will also require the following:
If you are acting as a Representative of an Offshore Company we will also require the following:
If you are acting as a Representative of a Trust we require the following:
A report should be made if a member of staff/ the nominated officer thinks that there is a possibility, which is more than fanciful, that a person is or has been engaged in money laundering or terrorist financing.
The report should be made to Manoj Virdee, the Virdee Estates Money Laundering Reporting Officer, (or his deputy Mohammed ) at the Handsworth office as soon as is practicable.
Once the MLRO has considered the matter, a suspicious activity report may be raised with the National Crime Agency (NCA).
This list is by no means exhaustive but includes:
The following records are required to be kept for 5 years: