Estate agents cannot ask for financial data to secure viewings, watchdog rules

Data Protection Commission says collection of prospective buyers’ personal information is not justified

A series of Irish estate agents have been asking prospective buyers to hand over detailed financial data before letting them view homes in recent months. Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has ruled that estate agents cannot ask prospective buyers to hand over detailed financial data before letting them view homes.

Last week it was shown that Savills required prospective buyers to provide proof of funds and to disclose gifts from family members before they could view the properties in the new Somerton project in Lucan, Co Dublin.

The practice was first revealed by Crazy Irish House Prices, an Instagram account that monitors the housing market. At the weekend, the Business Post further revealed that a series of Irish estate agents have been asking prospective buyers to hand over detailed financial data before letting them view homes in recent months.