Tenants on blacklists written by landlords, managers: Can post anything they like
4 Feb, 2021 04:42 AM
4 minutes to read
Tenants have objected to blacklists. Photo / Michael Craig
A tenant chief says landlords can post anything they like on blacklists they share, yet there was no recourse for people who rented properties against such lists. Penny Arthur, the Christchurch-based manager of the Tenants Protection Association, said more than one blacklist existed and they weren t fair. We became aware of it at the end of last year, Arthur said of tenant blacklists. There are a number of landlord Facebook groups where landlords can post anything they like about tenants, she said, indicating the tenant might not know nor would be able to object.
“There’s enough there to have a closer look at the sector, it affects a lot of people up and down the country.”
Demand for rental accommodation meant more competition for properties, making applicants feel pressured to provide personal information that went beyond what was required by landlords, he said.
MONIQUE FORD/STUFF
Privacy Commissioner John Edwards is looking into the information that landlords are asking of applicants, and what they’re doing with it. Landlords could legitimately collect personal information to select a tenant, such as proof of identity or whether they had any pets, and to determine if they could pay the rent. However, other information about a tenant’s nationality, marital status, gender or banking history were almost never justified.
What landlords say about bad tenant blacklist after complaints to Privacy Commissioner
4 Feb, 2021 04:30 AM
4 minutes to read
Landlords have responded to Privacy Commissioner John Edwards hitting out at some of them for holding tenant blacklists and requiring more information than is legal. Edwards announced he will focus on the collection, retention and disclosure of information by landlords and property management agencies after his office received many complaints.
Sharon Cullwick, executive officer New Zealand Property Investors Federation, said bad tenant or blacklists were not a fair or transparent way to find out tenant details because they were one-sided and could unfairly keep someone out of the market because of inaccuracies.
POOL VISION
Commissioner Mike Bush says police can track those returning from overseas through their smartphones, but only with their consent. (First published April 2020) Previously, there were few repercussions for those that broke the rules. Overseas-based businesses that operate in New Zealand must also comply with the new law, regardless of whether they have a physical or legal presence in the country. The changes come as the Privacy Commissioner s annual report reveals details of some of the hundreds of breaches reported in the year to June 2020. These include a power company which revealed man’s new address to his abusive ex-partner, which she then used to drive to his property and leave abusive notes in his mailbox.