EA asking for certified ID

[Mommyrose]

We are about to put our house on the market. EA has asked for ID - that’s fine. He has now asked for the ID to be certified (true copy) ? Can’t this be done once we instruct solicitor? (After finding a buyer)?

Can't you just take your passport or photo driving licence into their office and they can take their own copies?

Have you asked why they specifically want certified copies?

Sorry, I should have mentioned - We are using an online EA

In that case are you able to ask the solicitor you intend to use to certify them for you?

It’s for anti money laundering purposes.. estate agents are required by law to do so when you list your property with them so they can check you aren’t on watch list.

@bbcessex - That’s fine. But is getting it certified a standard process? They can check with a scanned copy of my passport?

We had to do this with a local high street EA but we were buyers. We'd already had anti money laundering checks via solicitor. The EA told me it had become mandatory for all EAs to request this. Pain in the arse but a quick visit to the post office and it was sorted

I know it’s a pain.

If I recall, the regulations mean the agents have to see originals in person, and if not, copies must be certified.

There are heavy penalties if they are found to break money laundering / know your customer rules so that’s likely why.

Ok - sounds like a standard practice then. I will get it certified. Thanks all

Normally the solicitors (who'll need ID in any event) will be asked by the agents to send certified copies. The agents won't take a scan as they either need an original or a copy someone else has made from the orginal which is what the cert copy will be.

It might be worth checking how much the notary or solicitor will charge for certify two copies at the same time as you'll need to provide ID when you appoint someone to do your conveyancing. I'm lucky, I work with a solicitor so he certified mine.

You can do it for about a tenner in post office. I had. No fuss. If it works for government it will work for your estate agent.
It's understandable they want it certified as you can actually buy fake "photocopies" quite easily nowadays and it's so there is as well for less of a chance of a scammer trying to sell someone else's hous (yup. Really happens)