AIBU about the letting agent request? **Thread title edited by MNHQ**

[Mesmermancer]

Lettings agent have sent me an e-mail stating: "Good day "my name". We would like to inform you that in order to avoid increasing you rent we urgently need a photograph of your I.D. Please send us a reply with a photo from your phone. Thank you."

I've lived here for three years, recently got a new passport as my old one expired before I moved here. My details were passed through this letting agent from my old property (same landlord) so I didn't have more tenant checks etc/pay anything to them. I am guessing they just need my ID for purposes related to paperwork, but AIBU that the way they have worded it and the threats of ncreasing rent is weird (even the email title was "Avoid Increasing Your Rent! (my address)". It's signed-off with all the usual things this letting agent uses so I'm sure it's legit and not a scam.

I guess my AIBU is AIBU to not send the photo of my ID until the letting agent explains why it is needed, rather than just demanding in a two line e-mail? It doesn't seem very professional to me.

Tell them that you routinely pass things like that through your accountant and solicitor. So can they please put in writing the precise figures of how much they are intending to increase your rent, from what date and why, and quote the relevant part of the AST allowing that.

My first thought after scam was that it was to ensure it was still you that was resident and that you hadn't sublet it.
As others have said though I would call in the office with your photo id if at all possible and let them copy it there and then.