AIBU to think that an email should suffice?

[Teaandabiscuitplease]

My tenancy is coming to an end and I tried to give notice by email. I got a shirty response back that they could not accept my notice as per item blah blah in my contract I have to be submit notice, signed, in writing, by post.

When I signed the contract for the tenancy it was an e-signature, so it's not even as though this estate agent is particularly old fashioned. In previous properties I did this by email as well and it was fine.

AIBU to think that an email, or at most a phone call, should be enough?

It does sound odd. But post it (signed for so you know it got there) and write 'as per email dated xxx I hereby give notice to end my tenancy on Y date'. Then you cannot be accused of breaching contract which is what I suspect they will be hoping for.

Whatever it says in the contract, surely?

Well yes, I'm going to send the letter, it just seems absurd!

It’s actually for your benefit that it’s to be signed and posted, I would send it recorded delivery.
By email they can claim it wasn’t received for example, but if they have a date stamped and signed-for letter then it’s irrefutable evidence of your intention to terminate. A lot of places require you to do this

It also means someone can't maliciously send an email from your account handing in your notice (say you had a joint email with a partner who became an ex partner)

It is standard practice for most contracts to require notices in writing. If you thought it was strange, why sign up to it in the first place?

I signed the lease about 5 years ago and in all honesty had forgotten that it said this.

I've always ended leases by email well twice so was surprised by the response.

Sending an email does count as 'in writing'. You're right OP it is weird! Some business don't realise we've been in the 21st century for 20 years...

This would probably be viewed as an unfair term, especially as you e-signed at commencement. An email should suffice, and it does count as ‘in writing’.

I suspect, as a PP has said, that they have been burnt by someone sending a malicious email and got into a mess trying to sort out when the tenant didn't actually want to leave.
I remember when mobile phone companies and dial up internet did this too. In their case it was just to make it harder to leave. Plus they took direct debits only from credit card that, back then, you couldn't cancel. Nightmare.

I've also been sorting out a land registry issue recently and had to deal with them via snail mail even though I only had to send scanned docs not originals so it seemed crackers. They sorted everything out really quickly though.