BreachOfPrivacy
Decisions/Federal (Canada)/Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act/PIPEDA Report of Findings #2016-002: Property management company agrees to scrap "bad tenant list"
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of CanadaPersonal Information Protection and Electronic Documents ActPIPEDA Report of Findings #2016-002Well-founded & resolved
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PIPEDA Report of Findings #2016-002: Property management company agrees to scrap "bad tenant list"

Organization: A property management company
Decision: Feb 19, 2016Published: Feb 19, 2016

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada investigated a complaint regarding a property management company maintaining a "bad tenant" list for a landlord association. The complainant alleged improper collection, use, and disclosure of personal information without consent. The OPC found that the list functioned like a credit reporting agency and that consent was not properly obtained, nor was there a mechanism for individuals to challenge the accuracy of the information. The property management company agreed to destroy the list and cease its collection, leading to the matter being resolved.

  • Adequacy of consent for collecting and using tenant information.
  • Whether the "bad tenant" list functioned as a credit reporting agency.
  • Ensuring the accuracy of personal information and the ability for individuals to challenge it.
  • Appropriateness of the purpose for collecting, using, and disclosing tenant information.

Complaint well-founded and resolved

The OPC determined that the 'bad tenant' list was maintained without informed consent, that it functioned as an unlicensed credit reporting agency, and that individuals could not access or challenge the accuracy of the information. The company agreed to destroy the list and cease its practice, resolving the contravention.

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Recommended action / remedy

The property management company agreed to destroy the 'bad tenant' list and cease collecting information for such a list. Landlord association members now obtain explicit consent before sharing personal information about prospective tenants.

Statutory provisions cited
  • Principle 4.2 PIPEDA
  • Principle 4.3 PIPEDA
  • Principle 4.3.2 PIPEDA
  • Principle 4.6 PIPEDA
  • Principle 4.6.1 PIPEDA
  • Principle 4.10 PIPEDA
  • s. 5(3) PIPEDA

This summary is informational only and not legal advice.