Identity checks with Estate Agent

[Blackislemum]

It’s been about 7 years since I purchased a property but we are going through the process again ( Scotland ) and we have had an offer accepted on a flat. The estate agent whom the seller is using has asked us to send photocopies of our passports for identification checks. We are going through the conveyancing process and have had checks done with our solicitors so surely the estate agent doesn’t need this info also. My main concern is where that information will be stored etc - I would have thought the conveyancer at their end would do this ? Is this normal process these days ?

I'm in England but our estate agents did this too. I shared your concerns but it's part of their legal checks apparently.

Same here

They have to do it as estate agents are now caught by anti money laundering regulations and penalties for non compliance. They don't want to do it but they are not allowed to rely on the solicitor or the mortgage lender's checks. They are subject to data protection law to safeguard the information but I agree that it feels as if loads of people have access to sellable information.

They have to its the law