A new government guide on electronic signatures should prove helpful to estate agents and – particularly – letting agents still hesitant on whether to adopt the technology.
The guidance, issued over this summer by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, looks at different types of electronic signatures and emphasises that high-value transactions need better quality electronic signatures which are very securely linked to the owner.
The guide also gives a useful link to the tScheme, set up by the industry itself to self-regulate and approve “trust” services.
Other useful links are given including to a new Regulation which will apply from July 1, 2016.
Eye ran a question and answer interview with one of the main providers to the industry, DocuSign, back in March.
As we were at that time only a matter of days old and did not have many readers, you may not have seen it. So here it is.
The ability to use electronic signatures is now in some software programs.
The cost benefits alone are a factor.
One agent who uses a VTUK feature called Rmail which allows electronic signatures via Mailsoft, is Mark Rowe, of RPS Estate & Letting Agents on the south coast.
He reckons cost savings in terms of postage, printing and paper per year are in the region of £4,000 and the saving of time worth another £20,000.
He said: “It is the best thing we have added to our administration cycle in a long time.”
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electronic-signatures
Digital signatures are fine for landlord/vendor terms. You cannot use them for Guarantor's though – as a deed needs to be signed by hand and witnessed.
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