Agent wants to see my ID

D7895510

Hi all

First Time buyer here so probably asking the obvious......

I have after some months of negotiation agreed to buy a lovely 3 bed semi :T

Got a letter through the post from the agent saying they need to verify my ID! Bit confused really as I thought only the solicitor needed to do this.

The particular agent is known for being "cowboy ish" so do agents really need to see my ID? They have previously asked for my AIP but I told them not a chance and would have my solicitor verify my financial position, which she did.

Thanks for your help x

ValHaller

Agents do not need to see your ID. Your solicitor will need to and you should advise the EA that you will confirm ID to your solicitor.

Don't take nonsense from them - they really have neither the right or any legal duty to do this.

G_M

And if they continue to bluster/insist, drop a note through the vendor's door explaining you are sincere in your offer to purchase and have /will instruct a solicitor who will be carrying out all checks, but that the agent is holding things up.

The agent may give a different story about you to the vendors!

D7895510

Thanks both. Will politely tell the agent to get lost on Monday

grifferz

We have had this the last couple of weeks in our quest to buy our first home.

When we made a credible offer, the agent repeatedly asked us to come in and show them our financial details, "to prove you can afford the property". We objected to this and just told them to speak to our mortgage broker each time.

Funnily enough after three rounds of that, they did call our broker and left a message on his voice mail, then he called them back and left a message on their voice mail, and then they never bothered to call him back. They never mentioned it again.

Once our offer was accepted they then said they needed to see our ID (photo ID and proof of address). We did think it was a bit irritating that we had to show the ID to our solicitor and also to the vendor's agent, and like you considered just telling them to take a hike.

But the facts of the matter are that

• we do want to buy this property
• it isn't much of a hardship to drop by the agent and show them our ID
• it's taken us a few months to find this property and it would be a big hassle to have to take a few months to find another like it

so.. okay it's irritating but what is the problem with showing them your ID? Is it worth winding them up over a point of principle?

I've read several "how to buy your first home" type books and something that all of them say is along the lines of, "yes estate agents are annoying and we love to hate them but it is good to get them on your side." In terms of hardship/benefit calculation, how does that stack up for you to have to drop by their office with some ID that you already had to collect to show to your solicitor anyway?

We were in the office less than 5 minutes...

k0sh

I have never asked for ID from a buyer. I would only do this if I had a suspicion that they were not genuine. Perhaps this EA has been bitten badly before? The solicitor will do this.

As for proof that you are "proceedable", any good agent should do this. If someone says that they have "cash", then I will ask to see proof. Same for AIP mortgage, or at least talk to the FA.

I have even been misled by an FA before and false starts like this do not endear the EA to their clients!

We have to double check things as there are a lot of strange people out there!

fionajbanana

The solicitors ask for ID for money laundering regulations. I can remember it was something with your name and address like a bill and a photo ID like a passport.

grifferz

fionajbanana wrote: »

The solicitors ask for ID for money laundering regulations. I can remember it was something with your name and address like a bill and a photo ID like a passport.

The question is why the vendor's estate agent would require it.

The ones in our case (a well known name in high street estate agents) just said it was for money laundering regulations as well. Asked them why they couldn't be satisfied with solicitor's word them having taken ID for the same purpose; they just insisted they needed it, and we didn't feel like arguing the point.

megadishu

A good agent is following regulations in asking to see your identification. You can ask the solicitor to. Infirm to the gent that they have seen your identification. It is part of the money laundering act that industries have to comply with.

I also expect a good agent to ask to see proof of deposit and mortgage in principle to prove that you are in a position to buy. The agent represents and is paid by the vendor. The property should not be taken off the market until the agent representing the vendor is satisfied that you are a good buyer.

Quite reasonable when accepting a vast sum of money. You should be happy the agent is checking all of this out. If a buyer did not produce all of this and refrused plus was rude back then I would look for a more committed buyer.

k0sh

There is no need for a EA to ask for ID. It is the sol's role to check for money laundering.

We only get ID for the seller, not buyer.

ValHaller

megadishu wrote: »

A good agent is following regulations in asking to see your identification. You can ask the solicitor to. Infirm to the gent that they have seen your identification. It is part of the money laundering act that industries have to comply with.

I also expect a good agent to ask to see proof of deposit and mortgage in principle to prove that you are in a position to buy. The agent represents and is paid by the vendor. The property should not be taken off the market until the agent representing the vendor is satisfied that you are a good buyer.

Quite reasonable when accepting a vast sum of money. You should be happy the agent is checking all of this out. If a buyer did not produce all of this and refrused plus was rude back then I would look for a more committed buyer.

The regulations lay no obligation on the Seller's Agent to check ID.

As for proof of funds (not deposit and mortgage), the agent should accept confirmation from the solicitor and be satisfied with that.

The agent works for the vendor, which is why he should keep his nose out of the buyer's affairs and accept 3rd party verification of funds and ID