[win_ini]

In California - it's the Law. You need to provide picture ID before the property management company can you show you around the property. At least that's what the little sign in each leasing office I've visited said.... (????)

[swang]

Huh? Is this a viewing or something else?

I have rented apartments and looked at housing in several places in CA, not once has anyone asked me for my ID. Only when it got down to the serious brass tacks was that required.

[azakai]

Every apartment complex I've looked at (bay area) has required me to leave my photo ID with them at the leasing office while one of them took me on a tour to show me the apartment.

[swang]

Is this condominiums/highrises? When I was looking for my apartment here no one ever asked for that. But I also didn't really look at places that had a leasing office either.

[azakai]

Not necessarily in a high-rise. Basically a building or bunch of buildings with apartments that a single company owns and maintains and rents out. They tend to have a leasing office.

[bdowling]

An owner can allow whomever they choose onto a property. The practice you are describing is probably the result of caution on behalf of either the owner or the management company, almost certainly due to potential liability for harms that might occur.

[adrr]

Thats not law, they do that to prevent assaults against the agent, to get your info for their marketing database and also as evidence they are complying with fair housing laws. Some places do it some places don't.