For applying to rent their properties, some landlords require us to fill out a detailed application. In the application, they ask for critical information such as:
1. Social Security Number
2. Birth date
3. Bank
4. Bank account numbers
5. Previous addresses
My questions are:
1. How do we know that the landlord is really what he claims to be? Maybe he is only collecting this information to sign up for credit cards in my name?
2. If I do disclose this information to the landlord, is there an authority I should make aware that I have given this information to such-and-such person?
3. What information by law, is a landlord really allowed to collect?
4. What does the landlord do with my information? What if he passes it on to a dishonest agency that claims to run credit checks but stores information on unsecure servers?
Thanks,
Salma
Read Similar Questions
- security deposits - weekly summer rental
- SSN request by Landlord after the signing of a lease 4 months ago
- Can I Break my Lease in Hardship Situations?
- Can I get My Security Deposit Back after Foreclosure
- Can the Landlord keep my deposit if I gave notice and moved a few days after the 1st?
- yet another breaking a (verbal)lease question
- Recovering a security deposit in Boston
- Landlord refused to give reciept for security deposit, makes us pay for repairs
- Filing a Motion in a debt collection lawsuit
- Roommate agreement help needed
Recent Posts about Massachusetts Laws
| Forum | Last post |
|---|---|
|
I have a lease until June 2012, but I am very unhappy with my living situation, I pay half of the rent. I am a....
I cannot answer this question based upon your statement. Who are they....
|
2/8/2012 11:00 by Alexm2012 |
|
Is it legal for Massachusetts employer to send a SALARIED employee home for the day, without pay, for a dress ....
Federal and Massachusetts courts have upheld employee dress codes as l....
|
2/8/2012 09:09 by Munsterwoman |
|
Hi, I'm the grandmother of 4 beautiful grandchildren. The oldest has hit a rough spot with defiance (puberty ....
I'm very sorry about your situation and the ordeal your family is goin....
|
2/7/2012 23:02 by gramy |
|
Hello. I'm in the middle of an appeal for SSDI and my attorney asked me to get a residual functional capacity....
First, I guess it's not a good sign that you do not trust your current....
|
2/7/2012 08:18 by Adam13 |
|
Hi everybody.
I am trying to make an offer on a house, which is an estate sale. As I understand, the execut....
|
2/6/2012 13:50 by ilya980 |
|
I've been helping a friend pay for a lawyer to go to probate court.
Her ex-Boyfriend, whom she is taking to c....
|
2/6/2012 12:21 by rbiddle |
|
If I witness a person getting beat up at a party and just run away without calling the cops or helping the guy....
I don't think so. In terms of civil liability (as opposed to cri....
|
2/3/2012 07:17 by Coller |
|
My father passed away in September. The probate is over and settled, no contests to the will. My mother is the....
Your dad died in September and the probate is already settled – ....
|
2/2/2012 18:50 by JGraul |
|
Hi. My cousin is charged with possession with intent to distribute drugs in a Massachusetts court. He is not a....
Unfortunately for your cousin, if an immigrant is convicted of certain....
|
2/2/2012 08:07 by Sister6 |
|
Just curious if you have any thoughts or have read any information regarding the success rate of divorce media....
Yes, I've also seen the 90% estimate on various websites, with some me....
|
1/24/2012 11:47 by RRM |
|
Several of my colleagues will dictate consultation notes in which they state they don't have the complete hist....
The question probably boils down to whether or not such practice is wi....
|
10/2/2011 18:37 by Anonymous |
Editor's Response
I do not know of any law that would prohibit landlords from asking for your social security number. You, of course , are free to say no and look for an apartment elsewhere. However, the landlord needs your social security number to obtain credit and and criminal histories. (Most rental applications and/or rental agreements contain language authorizing the landlord to obtain this information.) As you can imaging, landlords are very interested in making sure that nay prospective tenants can afford to pay the rent and do not have a history of defaulting on debts.
If the landlord has advertised a unit for rent and shown you an empty unit, it is probably safe to assume that he or she really is a landlord. As for the scenarios you raise about the landlord using your information in inappropriate ways, you are describing activities that are crimes under federal and state law. For more information or to post a question, visit our MA Landlord Law Discussion Forum.