Changing Trustees: Do You Need an ID1 Form?

Trustees change for all sorts of reasons. Someone retires, a new person is appointed, or a trust simply needs younger hands.

When the trust owns property, that change has to reach the register. So HM Land Registry will want to know who everyone is.

So here is when an ID1 form applies, who needs one, and what to bring. Our ID1 form verification online page covers the appointment itself.

When does a trustee change need an ID1 form?

HM Land Registry’s guidance on evidence of identity lists transfers that appoint or remove a trustee. Those transactions need identity evidence. The ID1 form says the same thing, covering transfers and deeds relating to the appointment or retirement of trustees.

However, this only applies where nobody is legally represented. If a solicitor or licensed conveyancer is acting for the trustees, they handle the identity checks themselves. So the ID1 becomes your job only when the trustees are managing the application alone.

Who has to be verified?

The guidance asks for identity evidence from both sides of the transfer. In a trustee change, that usually means:

• The retiring or outgoing trustees, who are transferring the property
• The continuing and newly appointed trustees, who are receiving it
• Any attorney signing on behalf of one of them

Each unrepresented person needs their own separately verified ID1. So a change involving two outgoing and three incoming trustees means five forms, not one.

When you probably do not need one

Two situations commonly fall outside the requirement.

A trustee has died. Where trustees hold the title jointly, the survivors carry on. Removing that name is usually done with a death certificate, so no transfer happens and no ID1 is needed.

The land is worth £6,000 or less. HM Land Registry does not ask for identity evidence where the value of the land does not exceed that figure. Instead, you may be asked for a valuation from a surveyor, estate agent or similar professional.

How the change reaches the register

There is more than one route, and Practice Guide 24 sets them out in full. In outline:

• A TR1 transfer. The existing trustees transfer to the continuing and new trustees. HM Land Registry suggests noting in the additional provisions panel that the transfer gives effect to the appointment of new trustees.
• A deed of appointment or retirement. Under section 40 of the Trustee Act 1925, a properly drafted deed vests the trust property automatically. For registered land, that still has to be completed by registration, with a certified copy of the deed.
• A court vesting order, where the court has appointed a trustee.

Whichever route applies, the application goes in on form AP1, with an ID1 for each unrepresented person. We arrange the identity check rather than the transfer itself, so read Practice Guide 24 or take advice on the deed.

Two rules that catch people out

Four trustees is the limit. A private trust of land cannot have more than four. If a deed names more, the legal estate vests in the first four who are willing and able to act.

A restriction is usually added. When two or more trustees are registered, HM Land Registry normally enters a Form A restriction on the title. That stops a sole surviving trustee selling on their own, which protects the beneficiaries.

What to bring to your appointment

• Valid photo ID — passport, UK driving licence, or biometric residence permit
• Proof of address dated within the last 3 months

Each trustee brings their own documents to their own appointment. If anyone lacks a passport or licence, our guide to what ID documents you need lists the alternatives.

Timing matters too. A signed ID1 lasts three months, so it is worth booking once the deed or transfer is close to ready. See how long an ID1 form is valid for how that is counted.

Common questions

Do both the outgoing and the new trustees need an ID1?

Usually yes. HM Land Registry asks for identity evidence from both sides of a transfer. So retiring and incoming trustees each need their own verified form.

We are appointing an extra trustee, not replacing one. Is an ID1 still needed?

Yes, in most cases. Adding a trustee still changes who holds the legal title, so the same identity rules apply. The new trustee and the existing ones are all parties to it.

One of our trustees has died. Do we need an ID1?

Not normally. Where the title is held jointly, the surviving trustees continue, and the name is usually removed with a death certificate. So no transfer takes place and no ID1 is required.

How many trustees can hold the property?

Four at most, for a private trust of land. If a deed names more than four, the legal estate vests in the first four who are willing and able to act.

Is an ID1 needed if the land is worth £6,000 or less?

No. HM Land Registry does not require identity evidence where the value of the land does not exceed £6,000. However, it may ask for a valuation instead.

Do charity trustees need an ID1 or an ID2?

It depends on whose name is on the title. Where individual trustees are registered, each needs an ID1. But a charitable company or a CIO is a corporate body, so see our ID2 form guide instead.

How much does it cost for several trustees?

Each ID1 verification is a fixed £79 per person, which includes the ID5 video verification. The price you see is the price you pay, and there are no hidden extras. So four trustees means four appointments, and our guide to what an ID1 form costs compares that with local firms.

Can the trustees all be verified on one call?

No. Each person is verified separately, because HM Land Registry needs a separate form for each one. But the appointments can be booked back to back on the same day.

How your video verification works

1. Book a time. Book online now and pay securely, or message us on WhatsApp first if you have a question. Same-day, evening and weekend appointments are often available.
2. Verify by video call. Then a solicitor checks your ID on a short, secure call. This is the ID5 process.
3. Get your forms. So your signed, stamped ID1 and ID5 are sent to you the same day.
4. Send to Land Registry. Then submit the forms with your AP1 and the transfer or deed.

Is one of your trustees abroad? Overseas verification is a fixed £99, covering the video call, your form, and the extra coordination and postage involved. Our guide to verifying from overseas explains how that works.

Related guides

• Who is allowed to verify your identity
• Transfer of equity and the ID1 form
• Probate and executors

Not sure which applies to you? Then browse the full set on our ID1, ID2 and ID5 guides hub.