Property managers flout privacy rules

Consumer NZ recently used mystery shoppers to find out how much information rental property managers were collecting from renters, potentially breaching the Privacy Act.

Alarmingly 6% of rental agents asked the mystery shoppers to include bank statements in their application for a rental, which is not allowed under the Office of the Privacy Commissioner’s (OPC) Guidance for Tenants.

About 10% of agents encouraged the shoppers to volunteer extra information with a cover letter and rental CV, which could include information such as age, gender, relationship status and employment status.

Some property managers said the more information the shopper gave, “the better their chances [of securing a rental property] and the smoother the process”.