Guide to buying and documentation required
Our property auctions are live-streamed via our website with remote bidding online, by telephone and by proxy.
You will need to provide your personal details in order to register. 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.
If you create an account, you can save your details at any time and come back to them to finish your application, but please ensure you submit your form at the end in order to proceed.
You will also need to register your debit card details with SagePay and complete an anti-money laundering (AML) check with Credas (if you are a new application or every 12 months if you already have an account) and a link will be sent to each party by email and text message.
Buying in your sole name
Your name, address, date of birth, email address and mobile number.
Buying in joint names
Name, address, date of birth, email address and mobile number yourself and each party. They must be detailed on the registration form prior to bidding for them to be included in 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 the name, address, date of birth, email address and mobile number 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 property 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 (such as a relative i.e. 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 the name, address, date of birth, email address and mobile number 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, name, address, date of birth, email address and mobile number for yourself and 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 [email protected] to confirm that they have been appointed to act on your behalf. You will need to provide your name, address, date of birth, email address and mobile 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 £1,920 inc. Vat (£1,600 plus 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
Once you have completed all the necessary details, you will be directed to SagePay who will authenticate and securely store your card details, but NO payment will be taken unless you are a successful purchaser. 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 10% deposit, subject to a minimum of £5,000 plus the administration fee of £1,920 inc Vat (£1,600 plus Vat). There is a maximum amount we can automatically take from your card and you must be available by telephone on the auction day to make a top-up payment if required. If you do not register your card details with SagePay prior to the auction, you will not be able to bid.
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Check
After submitting your card details, you and each party in your application will receive a link by text message and email from Credas to complete an AML check. This will include taking a photo of your identification such as your passport or driving licence and completing a liveness check by taking a selfie. If you create an account when registering to bid, you will only need to complete an AML check when you first register and every 12 months thereafter.
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 AML check and take your debit card details for payment of the deposit and administration fee. Once approved, you can bid for the property.
