Guide to buying and documentation required
Our auctions are live-streamed via our website with remote bidding online, by telephone and proxy.
You will need to provide two forms of identification in order to register, However, if you are bidding on behalf of your partner, family member, a company or someone else or bidding as a non UK citizen please read the information below for further advice.
Buying in your sole name
You will need to provide 2 forms of original identification for yourself , your national insurance number and length of time at current address.
Buying in joint names
You will need to provide 2 forms of original identification, national insurance number and length of time at current address for yourself and each party. They must be detailed on the registration form prior to bidding for them to be included on the contract as it cannot be amended afterwards.
On behalf of your partner, family member or 3rd party
If you are bidding on behalf of someone else you will need to provide 2 forms of original identification, national insurance number and length of time at current address for yourself and for each person who wishes to purchase the property. You also need to provide a letter of authorisation, signed by each person, authorising you to bid on their behalf. As the bidder you take full responsibility and if you don’t provide all the necessary documentation, the property will go in your sole name and you will be legally obliged to complete the purchase.
Funds being provided by a 3rd party (not including a bank or financial institution)
If your fund are being provided by a 3rd party such as a relative or friend, you are required to provide 2 forms of identification, national insurance number and length of time at current address for each party.
On behalf of a company
You can bid on behalf of a company if you are one of the shareholders and have more than 25% share capital. You will need to provide the certificate of incorporation, company registration number, personal details, 2 forms of identification, national insurance number and length of time at current address for yourself all shareholders owning 25% or more share capital. If you are not a shareholder listed on Companies House, you will also require a letter of authority signed by the majority shareholder(s) granting you permission to bid.
Non UK citizen/resident
You can still buy a property at auction if you are a non UK citizen or resident. Wherever possible, you should use funds from a UK bank account (you will need to provide a recent bank statement as proof) and appoint a UK Solicitor who will need to email us at r[email protected] to confirm that they have been appointed to act on your behalf. You must also provide 2 forms of identification (which must be certified as a true copy by a bank, solicitor or governing body in our own country), length of time at current address and national insurance or passport number for yourself and each party that wishes to be named. You will need to transfer 10% of your maximum bid (subject to a minimum of £5,000) and administration fee of £1,680 inc. Vat which must clear in our client account prior to the auction sale. This will be refunded if you are unsuccessful which can take up to 10 working days. If you don’t have a UK bank account please contact our team on 0121 312 1212 to discuss your individual circumstances.
Payment of Deposit and Administration Fee
If you are bidding in the auction room and successfully purchase a property, you must pay your deposit and administration fee by debit card on the fall of the gavel. For lots offered on behalf of Birmingham City Council, you are required to pay the deposit and administration fee by banker’s draft which will be checked prior to your bid being accepted.
If you have registered to take part, as part of our registration process, you will need to submit your debit card details which will be authenticated and securely held with SagePay. In the event that you make a purchase we will automatically take a payment from your registered card, you must therefore ensure you have sufficient funds in your bank account for the deposit and administration fee.
Online auction
Properties offered via our online auction can be found within the properties page or by performing a property search. They will be indicated by an ‘online auction’ flag. You must create an account and register your interest. We will undertake an Anti-Money Laundering (*AML) check and take your debit card details for payment of the deposit and administration fee. Once approved, you can bid for the property. (*The AML check will leave a soft footprint on your credit report but it should not affect your credit rating).
