Introducing Smart Compliance Plus
Revolutionising Estate Agent Regulatory Compliance
At Smart Compliance, we’re always looking for ways to make regulatory compliance simpler, faster, and more efficient for estate agents. That’s why we’re excited to announce the launch of Smart Compliance Plus, a new service developed in partnership with Kotini—leaders in proptech innovation.
A Strategic Partnership to Drive Efficiency
This strategic alliance combines Smart Compliance’s expertise in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) services with Kotini’s automated material information solution. The partnership reduces hours of administrative work into a streamlined, efficient process, freeing up agents to focus on growing their business.
Amy Shields, Commercial Director of Smart Compliance, shared her enthusiasm about the partnership:
“Many of our clients were looking for a solution to manage Material Information requirements before Smart Compliance Plus. We saw this as a fantastic opportunity to enhance our service, and a chance meeting with the founder of Kotini, an expert in the field, allowed us to collaborate and develop a solution. As a result, estate agents now have a streamlined service that satisfies both HMRC and Trading Standards compliance.”
Key Features of Smart Compliance Plus
Smart Compliance Plus delivers a comprehensive compliance solution with the following key benefits:
- No Cost to Estate Agents
- Expert-Managed AML Services: Including enhanced due diligence (EDD)
- Comprehensive Material Information: Parts (A, B, and C) available in both PDF and link formats.
- HMRC Guarantee on Every Compliance Pack
Kieran Witt, CEO of Kotini, highlighted the practical advantages for estate agencies:
“Today’s estate agencies need solutions that deliver both efficiency and an exceptional client experience. Kotini automates the heavy lifting of compliance, while Smart Compliance’s AML expertise ensures nothing is missed. Together, we’re securing seller commitment, preparing properties for sale, accelerating transactions, and reducing fall-throughs—giving agents more time to focus on what they do best: listing and selling properties.”
Ready to Transform Your Compliance Process?
Smart Compliance Plus is now available to estate agencies throughout the UK. If you’re ready to revolutionise the way your agency handles compliance and take your business to the next level, get in touch with us today.
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:
Case Study: Luke Strzadala of Hat and Home
Revolutionising Compliance in Estate Agency: Luke Strzadala of Hat and Home Shares His Smart Compliance Journey
Luke Strzadala, Managing Director at Hat and Home, recently shared how Smart Compliance has revolutionised his agency’s workflow, providing significant time savings, peace of mind, and seamless compliance management.
Complete Compliance Outsourcing
One of the standout benefits for Luke has been the ability to outsource all Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance to Smart Compliance. This has allowed his team to focus on their core activities, like generating business and serving clients, without the burden of tedious admin tasks. The HMRC guarantee provided by Smart Compliance has been a key factor for Luke, giving his business the confidence to operate smoothly and with complete peace of mind.
“For us, it’s peace of mind but also just efficiency,” Luke explains. “If there’s a problem, you and your team are literally a phone call away.”
Streamlined and Efficient AML Processes
Smart Compliance has transformed a 20–30-minute AML check into a process that now takes about a minute. This is due to its seamless integration with the CRM system, allowing agents to quickly order compliance packs directly from their existing platform. This efficiency has not only saved time but has also boosted the team’s morale by allowing them to focus on revenue-generating activities rather than compliance paperwork.
“The integration with our CRM really helps… It has saved so much time for the team, which means they’re freed up to be doing business generation, which is what they enjoy most and what they’re best at,”
Client Trust and a Seamless Experience
For Hat and Home, maintaining client trust is paramount. Smart Compliance has ensured a smooth and secure process for clients, who feel confident and well-supported throughout their transactions. The feedback from their clients has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Our clients feel like they’re dealing with a trusted partner of ours, which I think is always really important.”
A Smooth Transition to Better Compliance
Rolling out a new system can be challenging, but the transition to Smart Compliance was smooth for Hat and Home. Luke appreciated the thorough preparation and training provided, which ensured all staff were comfortable and able to quickly adapt to the new process.
“Within a few days, we were basically up and running,” Luke recalls. “The sessions were interactive, and everyone understood why the change was necessary.”
Cost-Effective Compliance
A key takeaway from Luke’s experience has been the cost-effectiveness of Smart Compliance. While outsourcing compliance might seem expensive, Luke found it to be a cost-saving exercise, helping Hat and Home avoid the hidden costs of less efficient AML processes.
“It’s not costing us as a business any money to have this service,” Luke points out. “All in all, it’s actually been a cost-saving exercise.”
Adding Extra Value
Beyond compliance, Smart Compliance offers additional opportunities for estate agents to provide value to their clients. Services like Mover Protection ensure clients are covered if transactions fall through, through no fault of their own. This enhances their peace of mind and adding another reason to choose Hat and Home.
“We talk about Mover Protection… The idea is that if someone lets you down, —which does happen and often isn’t your fault, you could potentially get your money back.”
A Successful Partnership with Smart Compliance
For Hat and Home, the partnership with Smart Compliance has delivered multiple benefits, from enhanced efficiency and peace of mind to cost savings and improved client trust. By outsourcing their compliance needs, they have streamlined their operations and maintained a strong focus on serving their clients and growing their business.
If you’re an estate agent looking to enhance your compliance process while saving time and building stronger client relationships, Smart Compliance could be the solution you need. As Luke concludes, “It’s been brilliant—definitely a must-have for added peace of mind and operational efficiency.”
Insights from the Lifetime Legal Helpline:
Top Legal Concerns Affecting Your Clients in 2024
As we move through 2024, the Lifetime Legal Helpline continues to provide invaluable insights into the legal concerns of your clients. With call volumes increasing by 107% from January to July, we’ve uncovered significant trends.
The Lifetime Legal Advice Line: A Valuable Resource
Our advice line offers free, impartial legal guidance, designed to eliminate concerns about high costs and the inconvenience of traditional solicitor appointments, saving your clients both time and money. As long as they are members, your clients will benefit from unlimited access to expert legal advice over the phone, covering a wide range of legal matters.
Breaking Down the Call Categories
We’ve categorised calls into three main areas: business (5%), personal (41%), and property and estate (54%). The latter category, which includes property, tenancies, wills, probate, and powers of attorney, clearly dominates, highlighting a strong focus on property-related legal matters.
Property-Related Trends on the Rise
The most notable trend is the increase in property-related enquiries, peaking in July when they accounted for 24% of all calls. This increase reflects growing legal concerns in property transactions and disputes. As an estate agent, you can leverage this trend by proactively addressing common issues, enhancing client communication, and providing access to expert legal advice through resources like the Lifetime Legal advice line.
Residential Tenancies: A Growing Concern
Calls regarding residential tenancies showed a consistent increase, climbing from 11% of all calls in January to 23% in June. This trend suggests that tenant and landlord issues are becoming more common and potentially more complex.
Wills, Probate, and Powers of Attorney: An Interesting Pattern
We observed a high of 24% of all calls related to wills, probate, and powers of attorney in February, which decreased to 6% in June. Interestingly, when analysing the number of free wills written during the same period, we noticed a relationship where fewer calls corresponded to more free wills being written. This may suggest that clients are being advised directly by the Wills team and then proactively creating their wills, also available free of charge for Lifetime Legal members.
Other Legal Concerns: Personal and Business Matters
While property-related issues dominate, our helpline data reveals important trends in other legal areas. Personal contract and consumer law queries showed fluctuations, peaking at 16% in July, indicating a growing demand for consumer rights advice. Personal employment law enquiries dramatically increased from 1% in January to 8% in July, reflecting rising workplace legal concerns. Business-related calls, although less frequent, were consistent in business contract and consumer law, peaking at 2% over the period. These trends emphasise the diverse legal needs of your clients, highlighting the value of comprehensive legal support.
Maximising the Benefits of Lifetime Legal Membership
As an estate agent using Smart Compliance, you can inform your clients about the benefits of our legal advice helpline. This invaluable resource is available for both personal and business-related legal enquiries, ensuring your clients receive support on a wide range of legal matters.
For estate agents not yet using Smart Compliance, now is the perfect time to consider partnering with us. By choosing Smart Compliance, you can offer your clients access to the Lifetime Legal advice line, along with many additional benefits. This service is available free for three months following their AML check with Smart Compliance.
Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your service offering and provide your clients with expert legal support when they need it most.
Industry Expert Sarah Hood Reviews Smart Compliance:
Industry Expert Sarah Hood Reviews Smart Compliance:
Effortless Compliance for Estate Agents
Sarah Hood, from Belvoir in Camberley, has been using Smart Compliance’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) service for just over a month. In an insightful interview, she shares how this service has transformed her workflow, offering her much-needed peace of mind.
The HMRC Guarantee: The Decisive Factor in Choosing Smart Compliance
Effortless management of AML processes is one of Smart Compliance’s key advantages. “It saves me so much time, effort, and worry,” says Sarah. As a busy manager, delegating AML to Smart Compliance ensures her office stays fully compliant with HMRC regulations without diverting time from their core responsibilities. The HMRC guarantee provided by Smart Compliance was the decisive factor in her decision to choose the service.
“It’s So Easy”: The Time-Saving Solution
By taking over AML responsibilities, Smart Compliance allows Sarah and her team to focus on what they do best—listing and selling properties. One standout benefit is the efficiency of the AML checks, which take just 30 seconds to process. “You just copy and paste all of the information into the very speedy form, press send, and off it goes,” Sarah explains. This quick process frees up the team and instils confidence that compliance is being managed effectively.
Membership Benefits: Adding Extra Value
In addition to AML services, Sarah enjoys the benefits of membership provided through Lifetime Legal. She recently took advantage of the free will-writing service offered to all Smart Compliance agents and found the process straightforward and efficient. “It took 10 minutes, and then they sent me a PDF to review,” she notes. This service, which would have otherwise cost approximately £200 provided both financial savings and the comfort of knowing her wishes have been communicated.
The Mover Protection benefit, offering up to £1750 back if a property purchase fails through no fault of the buyer, is another feature Sarah values. During her own recent and particularly stressful property purchase, knowing she could claim this amount back provided an added layer of security.
A Successful Partnership
Sarah’s experience with Smart Compliance has been overwhelmingly positive. By outsourcing the AML process to Smart Compliance, her team has saved significant time and is reassured that the process is handled correctly. This streamlined approach allows them to focus on what truly matters—serving clients and growing the business.
Key Benefits of Smart Compliance
Smart Compliance offers several key benefits:
- The HMRC Guarantee: Ensuring compliance with HMRC regulations.
- Increased Efficiency: Streamlining AML processes.
- Potential Revenue Stream: Creating opportunities for additional income.
This service is provided at no cost to agents, who also enjoy a complimentary Lifetime Legal membership for the duration of their partnership. Additionally, this membership is offered to your clients free of charge for three months, and includes:
- A complimentary will
- Mover protection up to £2570
- Unlimited access to a legal helpline
- Discounts and rewards on additional legal services and hundreds of household brands
You can watch the full interview with Sarah below. To discuss how Smart Compliance can help your business, you can book a meeting.
How to use a Desktop Authenticator
To streamline the login process for Lead Ladder or our portal, you can use a desktop authenticator instead of relying on your mobile phone. In this method, Amy uses a Google Chrome extension, making it faster and more convenient.
Watch the video below for details on how to set it up and troubleshoot any potential problems.
By following these steps, you’ll be able to access the system more efficiently and resolve any technical issues you might encounter. Should you need any additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in contact.
