Estate agent wants copies of our passports - is this the norm?

syklops · 19-02-2014 2:59pm #1

I've been renting in Ireland and abroad for over a decade and this is a new one on me. Is it common now? We have already paid the deposit and the first months rent(we moved in last night), they have the details for my bank and we supplied as requested a reference from our previous landlord and a reference from work. I've nothing to hide but I feel a bit uncomfortable giving that information to someone else to store "on file".

I'd appreciate thoughts on the matter.

snubbleste · 19-02-2014 3:06pm

No.

syklops · 19-02-2014 3:06pm

snubbleste wrote: »

No.

So have I a right to feel uncomfortable?

djimi · 19-02-2014 3:09pm

I dont even have a passport. Its not the norm, and there isnt much that they can do about it if you say no.

miezekatze · 19-02-2014 3:22pm

We had to provide copies of our IDs in order to get our last apartment. The agent was going a bit OTT at the time with regards to references and all that though.

syklops · 19-02-2014 3:23pm

miezekatze wrote: »

We had to provide copies of our IDs in order to get our last apartment. The agent was going a bit OTT at the time with regards to references and all that though.

Ours was a bit OTT as well. Any chance its the same agent?

runawaybishop · 19-02-2014 3:26pm

Have you signed the lease?

miezekatze · 19-02-2014 3:27pm

syklops wrote: »

Ours was a bit OTT as well. Any chance its the same agent?

It was Hooke & Macdonald in my case, that was about 5 years ago though.

syklops · 19-02-2014 3:27pm

runawaybishop wrote: »

Have you signed the lease?

Yes.

runawaybishop · 19-02-2014 3:28pm

syklops wrote: »

Yes.

Grand so, tell them to bugger off.

clumsyklutz · 19-02-2014 3:31pm

The last two places I have rented I have had to give some form of photo id, didn't matter what, just had to be something with my picture on it. I would have thought it was quite normal, I don't really see what the issue is.

Rasmus · 19-02-2014 3:51pm

Any official photo ID should suffice. I wouldn't give a copy of my passport, not because the agent would be untrustworthy, but once it is out there, it's out there.

eyescreamcone · 19-02-2014 3:54pm

I rent out some houses.
If someone didn't give me a copy of photo ID (passport or driving licence) I wouldn't sign them up and would look for someone else.

syklops · 19-02-2014 3:55pm

eyescreamcone wrote: »

I rent out some houses.
If someone didn't give me a copy of photo ID (passport or driving licence) I wouldn't sign them up and would look for someone else.

ok. Whats the purpose of keeping it on file? Where does it get filed? Is it destroyed at the end of their tenancy?

Victor · 19-02-2014 3:58pm

eyescreamcone wrote: »

I rent out some houses.
If someone didn't give me a copy of photo ID (passport or driving licence) I wouldn't sign them up and would look for someone else.

What would be wrong with simply seeing the ID, without taking a copy?

eyescreamcone · 19-02-2014 4:04pm

Victor wrote: »

What would be wrong with simply seeing the ID, without taking a copy?

I like to keep all the details in a file rather than in my memory.

Tenants are less likely to do a runner/misbehave if they think that the landlord can find them easily afterwards.

However, landlords have practically zero power to do anything even if rent is not paid. It's all a charade.

syklops · 19-02-2014 4:10pm

eyescreamcone wrote: »

Tenants are less likely to do a runner/misbehave if they think that the landlord can find them easily afterwards.

How does having my ID or passport details enable you to find me were I to do a runner? Considering as I said, they already have a work reference from my job and a reference from my previous landlord, and they have my bank account details. What does having the passport details add to it?

Calhoun · 19-02-2014 4:11pm

eyescreamcone wrote: »

I like to keep all the details in a file rather than in my memory.

Tenants are less likely to do a runner/misbehave if they think that the landlord can find them easily afterwards.

However, landlords have practically zero power to do anything even if rent is not paid. It's all a charade.

How are you protecting this sensitive data? Do you destroy these records once the tenant has moved on?

djimi · 19-02-2014 4:12pm

eyescreamcone wrote: »

I like to keep all the details in a file rather than in my memory.

Tenants are less likely to do a runner/misbehave if they think that the landlord can find them easily afterwards.

However, landlords have practically zero power to do anything even if rent is not paid. It's all a charade.

Would you agree to a tenant asking to keep a copy of your photo ID on file, for the same reason?

Rasmus · 19-02-2014 4:12pm

eyescreamcone wrote: »

I like to keep all the details in a file rather than in my memory.

Tenants are less likely to do a runner/misbehave if they think that the landlord can find them easily afterwards.

However, landlords have practically zero power to do anything even if rent is not paid. It's all a charade.

Do you furnish tenants with a copy of your ID?

runawaybishop · 19-02-2014 4:13pm

eyescreamcone wrote: »

I rent out some houses.
If someone didn't give me a copy of photo ID (passport or driving licence) I wouldn't sign them up and would look for someone else.

OP is signed up already though. I'd have serious concerns about data security.

djimi · 19-02-2014 4:15pm

runawaybishop wrote: »

OP is signed up already though. I'd have serious concerns about data security.

As would I. Whatever about giving that sort of information to financial institutions etc, I have no assurance that my information will be stored correctly when handing it over to a private individual (be it a letting agent or a private landlord).

eyescreamcone · 19-02-2014 4:18pm

Rasmus wrote: »

Do you furnish tenants with a copy of your ID?

They've never asked

bumper234 · 19-02-2014 4:19pm

eyescreamcone wrote: »

They've never asked

WOULD you furnish a tenant with a photocopy of your passport if asked?

Skatedude · 19-02-2014 4:22pm

No way i would give anyone a copy of my drivers licence or passport without knowing what security is in place to protect MY information. will it be secured or available to other without my knowledge? Will all the copies been destroyed later. are they scanned into a pc and if so what standard of encryption and data protection will you be using etc.

I'd have no problem showing a landlord my passport etc and confirming my details, but a copy can be used in so many dodgy ways.

eyescreamcone · 19-02-2014 4:24pm

bumper234 wrote: »

WOULD you furnish a tenant with a photocopy of your passport if asked?

No

bumper234 · 19-02-2014 4:27pm

eyescreamcone wrote: »

No

Bit hypocritical of you then

eyescreamcone wrote: »

I rent out some houses.
If someone didn't give me a copy of photo ID (passport or driving licence) I wouldn't sign them up and would look for someone else.

eyescreamcone · 19-02-2014 4:30pm

bumper234 wrote: »

Bit hypocritical of you then

If the prospective tenant doesn't like the terms then they are free to search elsewhere.

bumper234 · 19-02-2014 4:31pm

eyescreamcone wrote: »

If the prospective tenant doesn't like the terms then they are free to search elsewhere.

true, you also possibly lose out on good tenants due to that attitude. Heads up....if someone is going to do a runner they usually don't care what info you have on them.

Zillah · 19-02-2014 4:33pm

eyescreamcone wrote: »

No

Bit of a joke then, aren't ya?

OP: You've already moved in and signed a lease, they can't go making additional demands now, especially if they can't make assurances as to how the data will be protected. I would tell them you are not comfortable giving scans of any confidential ID, but that you'd be happy to show it to them.

eyescreamcone · 19-02-2014 4:34pm

bumper234 wrote: »

true, you also possibly lose out on good tenants due to that attitude. Heads up....if someone is going to do a runner they usually don't care what info you have on them.

I have never had anyone say that they would not give a copy of their ID.

Thank you for the heads up - it might come in useful some day.

Estate agent wants copies of our passports - is this the norm?

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