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Photo id

Hello again everyone,

I've just received confirmation that my reference checks on my future home have been completed by my letting agent.
They have now requested that we give them our names as shown on the photo id that we will be presenting.

I have a problem in that I do not have photo id, and I was not aware that having a photographic proof of identity was a legal requirement for signing a contract.

I do have an expired passport which has a 12 year old picture of me, but since I have not needed to leave the country in the last 10 years I did not renew it, and as I do not drive I do not have a driving licence. Simply put I do not have this photo id that they have asked for.

Is it even enforceable to demand a photo id for a contract to rent accomodation?
thanks

Comments

  • DVardysShadow
    DVardysShadow Posts: 18,949 Forumite
    There is no legal requirement to have photo ID when signing a contract. Certainly not for lettings.

    It may however be a requirement of the Agent or Landlord. But as not everyone has photo ID, and the National ID card nonsense will been scrapped, it is not a reasonable requirement.
    Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam
  • mr_fishbulb
    mr_fishbulb Posts: 5,224 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I would still consider an expired passport to be photo ID.
  • clutton_2
    clutton_2 Posts: 11,149 Forumite
    do you have an ID from work with your photo on it ?

    this is all about prevention of fraud measures..... terrorists and marijuana farms always use rental addresses and then utterly destroy them

    most places want ID these days... after all someone is loaning you an asset of many tens/hundreds of thousands of pounds - they are entitled to know who they are dealing with......
  • Jediben
    Jediben Posts: 16 Forumite
    edited 27 May 2010 at 4:32PM
    I've got a feeling I've come across in this thread a lot more stressed about this situation than I probably should be. I've called the LA directly and the lady there is going to check if my work id will be sufficient for this purpose.
    They could probably call me Chicken Licken with all the running about in a panic I've done this week! :)

    Edit: Terrorists? I expect they have a hell of a time with their references...
  • mr_fishbulb
    mr_fishbulb Posts: 5,224 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Jediben wrote: »
    Edit: Terrorists? I expect they have a hell of a time with their references...
    Yup - the terrorists have moved away from the larger hijackings and car bombs, and now believe the best way to attack the west is to damage our rental properties so it takes the landlord extra time to redecorate when they leave. Bin Laden has plenty of money so they don't need to worry about losing their deposit (although sometimes they can get this back if the landlord hasn't put it in a deposit scheme).

    Death to the infidels!
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