Case Study: Mannleys Estate Agents
How Mannleys Estate Agents Streamlined AML with Smart Compliance
For Mannleys Estate Agents, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance had become a growing challenge. Manually collecting client documentation, conducting risk assessments, and keeping up with ever-evolving regulations were costing them valuable time and resource.
Smart Compliance became the solution that helped Mannleys streamline their AML checks and removed the burden of compliance from their team. We spoke with Christian, the Telford branch sales manager, to understand how their partnership with Smart Compliance transformed the way they handle AML.
The Challenge: Compliance Overload
Before partnering with Smart Compliance, AML checks at Mannleys were manual and time-consuming. Christian and his team were responsible for gathering paperwork, verifying identification, and ensuring every file met HMRC requirements. This process caused delays and took the team’s attention away from their core focus: listing and selling properties.
“When we, like most estate agents, were responsible for collecting paperwork, ID, and relevant documentation, it became a bit of a minefield trying to stay up to date with what was required. We had an overall compliance check for the business, and we were found wanting in that area,” Christian explained.
The Solution: Smart Compliance
Christian and his team turned to Smart Compliance, an end-to-end solution designed to streamline AML compliance for partnering agents.
“We don’t have to collate all the ID and documents ourselves anymore. Smart Compliance does it all, and we get a clean, tidy compliance pack at the end of the process,” Christian said, “It’s been a massive relief.”
Not only does Smart Compliance take care of Mannleys’ compliance process, but it also reduces their risk by offering an HMRC guarantee on every compliance pack.
Implementation: Fast and Effective Integration
The team at Mannleys quickly integrated Smart Compliance into their workflow. Christian described the system as easy to use—his team simply uploads client details, and Smart Compliance takes care of the rest.
“The portal is simple. We enter the client’s details, and everything else is taken care of,” he explained. “We can focus on the things that matter—getting properties on the market and dealing with buyers and sellers. We don’t have to worry about chasing documents or whether everything is compliant.”
The Benefits: Time Savings, Reduced Risk, and Happy Clients
Since using Smart Compliance, the benefits have been clear. Mannleys has seen a significant reduction in the time and effort spent on AML checks, allowing the team to focus on core business activities.
- Efficiency and Time Savings: Smart Compliance has saved Mannleys hours of administrative work. “It’s saved us a huge amount of time. We don’t have to wait for all the ID and documentation. Everything is done quickly, and we get to focus on selling,” Christian said.
- Reduced Risk: Smart Compliance ensures every file is risk-assessed and fully compliant. “We know the compliance is taken care of, and that’s a massive weight off our shoulders,” Christian added.
- No cost to the Agent: The Smart Compliance solution is at no cost to the agent, as the fee is passed on to clients. Despite initial concerns, client resistance to the compliance charge has been minimal. “I was worried clients wouldn’t want to pay, but in three months, only one person had an issue, and we just absorbed the cost,” Christian noted. The value Smart Compliance provides far outweighs any pushback.
Conclusion: A “No-Brainer” Solution
Partnering with Smart Compliance has greatly benefited Mannleys Estate Agents. By utilising the end-to-end AML service, they’ve saved time, reduced risk, and streamlined operations—allowing them to focus on their core expertise: selling properties.
Christian’s advice to other estate agents? “It’s a no-brainer. Smart Compliance takes all the hassle away, keeps us compliant, and lets us get on with what we’re here to do. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.”
Watch the full interview here:
