84% of property professional to start charging for AML checks

The Rising Cost of Compliance and Why More Agents Are Passing It On

But over the past few years, the cost and complexity of staying compliant has started to bite — and it’s changing the way many estate agents operate.

A bit more admin here, another check there, another check there. ID checks. PEPS and Sanctions. Source of Funds. Risk Assessment. It all adds up to a lot more work and a lot more costs for regulated sectors. With most property transactions involving multiple parties, it’s easy to see how the cost of onboarding can quickly become unsustainable if left unchecked.

A recent survey of 250 estate agents and property professionals, conducted by Credas, found that 84% of agents say they either already charge for AML checks or plan to within the next 12 months. That’s largely driven by cost. The average small, independent agency now spends around £16,000 a year on compliance-related activities and that’s before factoring in lost time to admin and manual processes.

The research also revealed that 72% of professionals are planning on increasing the amount they charge in the next 12 months.

Q. Are you planning to increase that price in the next 12 months?

48% of those survey wished that their current AML provider had the capability to collect payments within the ID journey.

Cut your costs with Credas Payments

In response to that demand, new tools like Credas Payments are starting to emerge. It allows agents to collect payment for ID checks at the point of verification — removing the need for separate invoices, reconciliations, or awkward payment chasing. It’s a small change, but one that could make a big difference to both efficiency and profitability.

As compliance becomes more complex — and more expensive — solutions that streamline both the process and the payment side are likely to become essential, not optional.

You can find out more about Credas Payments here: www.credas.com/payments