Free preparation pack

Gifted Deposit Evidence Preparation Pack

An evidence pack for a deposit that includes gifted money: what is usually needed from the person giving it, how to record the facts, and how to prepare a clear audit trail from source to completion.

Time needed: About 30 minutes, plus time for the person giving the gift to gather their own records.

Read the full guide

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Who this is for

Buyers whose deposit includes a gift from family or another person, and the people giving it, who want the paperwork ready before it is requested.

What this pack cannot do

This pack is not legal, tax or mortgage advice. It cannot tell you whether a particular gift is acceptable, and it does not cover the tax position of the person giving it — that needs qualified professional advice.

Gift evidence checklist

Some items belong to you and some to the person giving the gift. Agree early who is getting what, so nothing is chased at the last minute.

A written statement from the person giving the giftIt records that the money is a gift rather than a loan, in their own words.
Their confirmation of whether they retain any interest in the propertyThis is asked in almost every case and should be answered once, clearly.
Their identity and address documentsThe giver is usually verified as well as the buyer.
Their evidence of where the money came fromSource of funds is examined separately from the amount.
Their bank statements showing the funds heldThey show the money existing before it moves.
Your own statements showing the funds arrivingTogether with theirs, this completes the trail.
A record of the date and method of transferTiming is part of the trail and is easy to record accurately at the time.
Details of every other part of your deposit and its sourceA deposit built from several sources needs each source evidenced.
Conveyancer's requirements, once you have oneTheir checks are separate from the lender's and may ask for more.

Deposit source tracker

One row per source of money. This is the page that answers 'where did the deposit come from?' in one go.

Source: Gift, savings, sale proceeds, bonus, inheritance, other.
Who it came from: For a gift, their name and relationship to you.
Amount: For your own records only.
Where it is held now: Which account the money currently sits in.
How long it has been held: Approximate is fine if that is all you know.
Evidence I hold for it: Name the documents.
Evidence still to obtain: And who has to provide it.
Date of transfer, if it has happened: Record it when it happens, not later.

Conversation and timing worksheet

The awkward part of a gifted deposit is usually the conversation, not the paperwork. Prepare it once.

What exactly you are asking for, and by when.
What the person giving the gift will be asked to provide, listed plainly for them.
Whether they understand it is a gift with no retained interest, and that they may be asked to confirm this in writing.
Whether they need their own professional advice about their position.
When the money should move, and why timing may matter to your evidence trail.

Things you may not know yet

These are professional questions, not checklist items.

Whether the specific relationship of the giver affects what is required.
How gifts from outside the UK are evidenced.
What the person giving the gift should consider about their own tax or legal position.
Whether any part of your deposit would need extra evidence because of how it arose.
How the conveyancer's checks differ from the lender's.

Questions for a qualified adviser

Bring your deposit source tracker.

Looking at my deposit sources, which would you expect to need the most evidence?
Is there anything about the gift I should establish before an application is submitted?
Given everything above about a gifted deposit, what would you want to see before you would consider an application ready to submit?
Which of my documents would you expect a lender to question, and how would you present it?
Is there anything in my situation where lenders differ enough that it changes who I should apply to?
What would you advise me to do first, and what can safely wait?
How long would you expect my preparation to take from here?
What should I avoid doing in the meantime, and why?

One-page adviser handover summary

Print it, take it, and keep the tracker with it.

What I am trying to do: One sentence: buy, move, remortgage, or find out whether now is realistic.
Where I am in preparation: Just started / gathering documents / documents ready / ready to talk to an adviser.
The three facts an adviser needs first: Write the three things you would want them to know before anything else.
Documents I already have: List by name only. Do not attach anything to this page.
Documents I still need: Include who you have to ask, and how long they usually take.
Things I cannot explain yet: Anything you know will be asked about but cannot yet answer confidently.
My questions, in priority order: Take these to the appointment written down.

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