The registrations every property sourcer needs. Done in the right order.
Sourcing legally in the UK means getting registered with the right bodies, in the right sequence. This page walks you through each one — what it is, who you pay, and how to do it properly. We guide you through all of it; the fees go straight to each provider, and we never mark them up.
Why the order matters
Most agents get compliant in the wrong order by registering first, then discovering their documents, training and structure aren't in place. That can mean paying twice, registering under the wrong details, or flagging yourself to HMRC before you're ready.
The right order is simple: get your training, documents and business structure sorted first — then register. That's exactly what our courses take you through, and it's why we tell customers not to pay for or set up any registration or insurance until the rest of their compliance is in place
The registrations, in sequence
The sequence matters — several of these depend on the one before it. Do them out of order and you'll hit dead ends (the redress scheme asks for your insurance; HMRC asks for your redress details).
Companies House
With the correct SIC code
If you're trading as a limited company, you register with Companies House first. The detail most agents get wrong: your SIC code. Property sourcing and deal packaging should be registered under SIC 68310 for "Real estate agencies."
This isn't a box-ticking nicety. HMRC and your AML supervision expect your Companies House record to reflect estate-agency activity, so the wrong or a vague code can create inconsistencies that complicate your AML registration later — and it's what banks, insurers and partners look at to understand what you actually do. Getting it right at the start saves untangling it further down the line.
ICO registration
Data Protection Supervision
If you handle personal data — and every sourcer does — you must register with the Information Commissioner's Office and have data privacy policy in place.
Paid to: ICO · Typical cost: £52 (£47 by direct debit), annually
Before you register: complete your data protection training and GDPR policy first.
Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance
Cover protects your clients for failures in service provision. For a policy to be fit for purpose it must state the service as being 'property sourcing' or similar. If it states 'estate agency' or other, it will likely not cover you.
It comes before your redress scheme for a practical reason: the redress scheme will ask for proof of insurance when you join.
Paid to: your insurer · Typical cost: ≈ £150 (varies by business), annually
We are partnered with specialist provider Insurance-Desk. Any agent can apply via the link below. NAPSA Members can get discounted cover when they apply.
Redress Scheme Membership
You must belong to a government-approved redress scheme so clients have a route to complaint resolution — either The Property Ombudsman (TPO) or the Property Redress Scheme. Have your insurance in place first, as they'll ask for it.
Paid to either:
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) · Typical cost: from £277.96 +VAT, annually · Register here
Property Redress · Typical cost: from £190 +VAT, annually · Register here
We are partnered with both schemes and work closely to stay up to date on complaints and general activity to benefit our members.
HMRC Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Supervision
Property sourcers and deal packagers are under the scope of the money laundering regulations, which means registering for AML supervision with HMRC. Registering with HMRC for AML supervision is a requirement for any sourcing or deal packaging business carrying out estate agency work.
Paid to: HMRC · Typical cost: from £740 (one director/premises), annually
Before you register: You need your AML training, policy, risk assessments, and controls and procedures in place.
The honest bit
We don't take a cut of any of these. Every fee above is paid directly to the body concerned, at their price. We guide you through the process, in the right order, but we never mark it up. We'd rather you knew the true first-year cost upfront than found out later.
You'll see services that offer to "do it all for you," including register your business, hand you a folder of policies, sort your insurance. The catch: done-for-you doesn't transfer the responsibility. If HMRC or the ICO comes knocking, you are accountable — not the company that filled in your forms. A stack of documents you don't understand is false security. Our approach is different: we teach you to understand and defend your own compliance, so you're genuinely covered, not just paper-work.
How we help you do it right
Just need the direct setup path? Our 10 Steps to Setting Up Your Business course (£12.99 +VAT) walks you through every registration in the correct order through video guidance. Get the 10 Steps course
Want the whole thing handled properly? The Complete Sourcing Programme includes your training, your solicitor-built document suite, guided setup, and a full year of NAPSA membership, everything you need to launch compliant and stay that way. See the Complete Sourcing Programme
Not sure where to start? Book a free call