Client Money Handling Procedures
14/05/2020
Client money handling procedures
To comply with the law, agents taking client money must;- Get a certificate confirming membership of the scheme you join, and provide it to anyone who asks, free of charge.
You’ll need to display the certificate:
- In any office where you deal with the public
- On your website
- Have set up a separate bank account for clients’ money;
- Have the title of their Clients’ money bank account easily distinguished from other accounts of their business;
- Have in writing from their bank confirmation that all money is held by the business as an agent;
- Have the banks written confirmation that the bank is not entitled to combine the clients’ money account(s) with any other account or to exercise right of set-off or counterclaim against money in that accounting respect of any sum owed to it or any other account of the business;
- Have and maintain systems and controls which enable you to monitor and manage clients’ money transactions and any credit risk arising;
- Have accounting systems and client data securely controlled and protected;
- Obtain client’s written approval to make payments from their account;
- Bank all clients’ money at the earliest reasonable opportunity;
- Nominate authorised staff to handle money
- Ensure that records show any and all cash transactions
- Reconcile client accounts together with bank and cash balances at regular intervals in order to demonstrate control over the accuracy and completeness of accounting records;
- Ensure there are always sufficient funds in the account to pay all amounts owing to clients; and
- To pay amounts owing to clients as they fall due without delay.