Chapter:
15 - Housing
Mover:
Aggi Court
Seconder:
Molly Glendenning
 
 
Source:
Branch: Canberra South Telopea
My Private Notes


Preamble
To apply for a rental property in the ACT, tenants have to provide extremely sensitive data to real estate agents. This data includes drivers’ licences and other IDs, along with employment and rental history. This data is collected by a centralised “RentTech” platform. Renters are forced to apply using these systems, or miss out on houses. There is no information on the data security of these systems, or who has access to them.

The ACCC has found that these platforms are reselling this data, with the privacy policies of some RentTech platforms facilitate the collection, use and sharing of consumer data with unidentified third parties.[1]

This is an enormous violation of renters right to privacy here in Canberra and must be addressed.

[1] https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Digital-platform-services-inquiry-March-2024-interim-report.pdf?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

General Resolution

Data Rights for Renters

​Motion:
1. ACT Labor Conference calls on the ACT Labor Government to ban the use of centralised renter data bases or "RentTech" by real estate agents in the ACT. 
2. The ACT Labor Government will launch a committee inquiry into the practices of real estate agents in the ACT and the potential legislative reform necessary. The inquiry will examine:
a. The use of "RentTech" and privacy issues faces by tenants;
b. What ACT real estate agents have used platforms that sell the data of prospective tenants
c. Legislative reforms necessary to prevent these practices