According to SmartSearch these backlogs – caused by reduced capacity during the Covid-19 lockdown – provide strong validation for the increasing use of remote, document-free electronic verification in the home buying process.

Indeed, the anti-money laundering (AML) specialist said firms which were required to verify the identity of their customers and perform due diligence were reporting the delays were impacting on their business.

They were, SmartSearch said, unable to onboard new customers, or conduct significant transactions on behalf of existing ones, on the basis of ID that is close to or past its expiry date.

It said its one-stop Know Your Customer (KYC) and AML solution provided a ready answer to such problems because no documents were needed.

All that was required was a name, address and date-of-birth to conduct a full set of AML checks, including screening against global sanctions and politically-exposed persons (PEP) lists.

SmartSearch also attempted to correct the misunderstanding it was not possible to buy a house without a valid passport.

John Dobson, chief executive of SmartSearch, said: “The backlogs at the Passport Office and DVLA are further indications of the way we’re all having to think again about how we conduct business in the wake of Covid-19.

“Earlier this week, the presenter of BBC Breakfast read out a comment from a viewer, saying that it’s impossible to buy a house without a valid passport. Thankfully, that isn’t the case.

“SmartSearch provides an easy way for firms to circumvent these problems – while also making the onboarding and KYC process quicker and simpler for both staff and customers.”

SmartSearch’s system also provides ongoing daily monitoring so that any change in a client’s status is automatically flagged up.

Crucially, all this is done remotely, including via a fully-integrated SmartSearch app. With Covid-19 still very much a factor, this removes the need for potentially risky face-to-face contact, and is also much more convenient for customers.