ID1 Verification for an Elderly or Housebound Parent

Arranging an ID1 for a parent who cannot easily leave the house is one of the harder jobs families face. Because the form is built around an in-person appointment, it can look impossible at first. So this guide explains what is actually required, and where the real limits are.

Your parent is the person who must be verified

This is the point that catches most families out. HM Land Registry verifies the person named on the title, not the person helping them. So you cannot be verified in your parent’s place, even if you are doing all the paperwork.

You can still do almost everything else. For example, you can book the appointment, gather the documents and sit with them throughout. But your parent must be present for the check, and they must sign the form themselves.

If you are also a party to the transaction, you will need your own separate ID1. Because each person needs their own form, a transfer between a parent and an adult child usually means two verifications.

Why video verification suits housebound people

A video appointment removes the two hardest parts of the process. First, there is no travel. Then, because the solicitor takes a screenshot during the call, there are no printed passport photographs to organise.

That second point matters more than people expect. An in-person ID1 needs two identical colour photographs on photographic paper, taken in the last three months. So a booth trip becomes another obstacle for someone who cannot get out.

On a video call the process is different. Your parent shows their document to the camera while the solicitor guides them. Then the solicitor completes form ID5 instead of Section B of the ID1, and the screenshot replaces the photograph.

Our guide on Practice Guide 67 explains the rules behind this route in more detail.

What if your parent has no passport or driving licence?

Many older people let their passport lapse and gave up driving years ago. So the top-tier documents are often unavailable. There is still a route, but it needs planning.

The form sets out two lists. List A covers a current passport, a photocard driving licence or a biometric residence permit. So one of those is enough on its own.

But if none of them exist, two documents from List B can be used instead. Then no more than one of each type is allowed.

List B is broader. For example, it covers a council tax bill for the current year or a recent utility bill. It also covers a council rent book, a recent mortgage statement or a firearm certificate.

A card statement also counts. However, the card must be a UK one. Then the statement must be posted, not printed at home.

Sometimes the documents simply do not exist. Then HM Land Registry’s own advice is to send what you have. So add a covering letter setting out the full position.

A letter from the care home, doctor or nurse can help. It should confirm that your parent lives there.

Our guide on what ID documents you need sets out the full lists.

If your parent may lack mental capacity

This is where we have to be straightforward with you. Signing an ID1 means certifying that the information is correct and understanding what that means. So a person who lacks the capacity to understand the form cannot validly complete one.

No verification service can get around that, and ours is no exception. Because a false certificate can amount to fraud, a solicitor who pressed on anyway would put your parent at risk.

HM Land Registry recognises this situation directly. Its guidance accepts that it may not be possible to provide form ID1 for a person who lacks capacity. So a different route applies instead.

Where there is a power of attorney

An attorney can act on your parent’s behalf. However, HM Land Registry treats the donor and the attorney as separate people. So identity evidence will still be needed for the attorney. Our guide on power of attorney and the ID1 form covers that side in full.

The rules differ by document type. First, take an enduring power of attorney registered with the Office of the Public Guardian. Then medical evidence is not usually needed.

A lasting power of attorney can work differently. So if your parent appears to lack capacity, HM Land Registry will want proof of that. For example, a letter or report from a doctor.

Where there is a deputy

A deputy appointed under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 does not need to provide an ID1 for themselves. Instead, evidence of their appointment goes in with the application.

Where there is neither

Then the family usually has to apply to the Court of Protection first. Because that is a legal process rather than an identity one, a solicitor is the right person to speak to. We verify identity only, so we cannot advise on capacity or deputyship.

Helping on the day

A few small things make the appointment easier for an older person.

• Set the device up in advance. Test the camera and the sound before the appointment starts.
• Sit with them. You can be in the room, and many people find that reassuring.
• Have the document ready. Keep the passport or licence to hand rather than hunting for it mid-call.
• Help with Section A. You can write it out for them, but they must sign and date it themselves, by hand.
• Pick a good time of day. Because tiredness affects concentration, mornings often work better.

The call itself is short. Our guide on how to fill in form ID1 walks through each panel of Section A beforehand.

Frequently asked questions

Can I complete an ID1 on behalf of my elderly mother?

No. The ID1 must be completed and signed by the person whose identity is being verified. However, you can help her fill in Section A, arrange the appointment and be with her during the call.

My father is housebound. Does he still have to attend an appointment?

Not in person. A conveyancer can verify identity by online video call, so the appointment happens at home on a phone, tablet or computer. Then the solicitor completes form ID5 alongside the ID1.

My mother has no passport and no driving licence. What can she use?

She can use two documents from List B instead, and no more than one of each type. For example, a council tax bill for the current year and a posted utility bill less than three months old.

What if my parent lives in a care home and has no bills in their name?

Send the application with as much identity evidence as you have, plus a covering letter explaining the position. A letter from the care home, doctor or nurse confirming your parent lives there can support it.

Can my parent be verified if they have dementia?

It depends on whether they can understand and sign the certificate on the form. Because a person who lacks capacity cannot validly complete an ID1, an attorney or deputy route is usually needed instead. So it is worth speaking to a solicitor about the right approach.

Does having power of attorney mean I do not need an ID1?

Not quite. HM Land Registry treats the donor and the attorney as separate people. So identity evidence is usually needed for the attorney too. The exact requirement depends on the application and the type of power.

Do my parent and I both need to be verified?

You do if you are both parties to the transaction. Each person needs their own separate form, so that would mean two appointments.

You can read more about our ID1 form verification online service, or browse all our ID1 and ID2 guides.