Are You On A Bad Tenant List? It's Illegal And You Can Call The Police On Your Landlord!
Did Your Landlord Put You A "Bad Tenant List?"
It's Not Only Scary, It's Illegal!
And You Can Call The Police!
The news that some landlords have put tenants on "bad tenant lists" has shocked and scared hard- working tenants all over the province of Ontario.
The news there are illegal blacklists was reported in Sudbury.com here: https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/man- ... up-1496740
A man who says he was invited to be part of a closed Facebook group for local landlords says it's wrong the group is keeping a blacklist of tenants to avoid renting to.
Matthew Hahnimaki provided the list to Sudbury.com, as well as screenshots of a discussion in which a landlord advises other property owners to keep the blacklist "on the down low" because it is illegal.
The group, as Hanhimaki has gathered over his short stay, is a place where landlords, most of whom are independent with one or two properties, say they exist to share information about things like where to get credit checks done, and recommend businesses like Hanhimaki's to other landlords in Sudbury.
Sadly this was not true. The Landlords were undertaking something much more nefarious and illegal.
Hanhimaki said it didn't take long before he became aware members of the group were maintaining a list "of not so good tenants" and sharing it among themselves.
The list has some 200 names on it.
"There's posts on there from people asking about the list and they seem to want to keep it hush-hush," said Hanhimaki. "You have to send a message to this one specific girl and she'll send it to you."
An exchange between members of the group shows people requesting the list of names, and one member saying: "Just a heads up having a list is illegal so keep it on the down low".
Another member responded to the comment, stating, "Really should find another way to refer people to it without mentioning names. Perhaps create a Gmail account for whomever has the list and just give that out."
Sudbury.com has obtained a copy of the list, along with screenshots from posts on the Sudbury Landlords page with members requesting their own copy.
Hanhimaki is not on the list himself, but feels this is an unfair way for tenants to be treated.
"This is wrong," Hahnimaki said. "I'm on my landlord about maintenance things and that might rub him the wrong way, but that doesn't mean I'm a bad tenant. I always pay my rent on time."
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada seems to agree with Hahnimaki’s opinion that a "bad tenant list" is wrong.
Unless the person maintaining the list is a licensed credit agency in Ontario, the list contravenes subsection 5(3) of the the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.
What's more, unless the tenants on the list were aware their personal information was being disclosed to other landlords, landlords had no right to share the information among themselves.
Illegal Tenant Blacklists Exist...They Are Illegal...And You Can Stop Them!
The message is out that low-class, low-educated small Sudbury landlords have created illegal "bad tenant lists" on Facebook.
It's not only Sudbury...Illegal Blacklists Are All Over Ontario...and you can fight back!
What Can You Do If You Are On An Illegal "Bad Tenant List?"
One complainant on the list said she never consented to her personal information being collected for that purpose and wasn’t allowed to see the information about her or find out which landlord had added her name to the list.
What About the Privacy Commissions?
They are good, but they are slow and very bureaucratic. These people get huge salaries for basically doing nothing. Sure make a complaint and it will likely get the illegal list shut down.
But you need to protect yourself fast!
Call the Police!
Your personal information is being made public without your permission. This is not only a privacy issue, it's a safety issue. It is also a harassment and bullying issue.
We have heard from tenants who have been put on these illegal lists and they have called the Boys in Blue. They explained the situation and the officers have personally went to the landlords home and told them to "SHUT IT DOWN!"
It's Time All Tenants Work Together To Shut Down Illegal "Bad Tenant" Websites
Remember according to the Canada privacy commissioner you can only be on a bad tenant list only if:
Unless the person maintaining the list is a licensed credit agency in Ontario, the list contravenes subsection 5(3) of the the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.
What's more, unless the tenants on the list were aware their personal information was being disclosed to other landlords, landlords had no right to share the information among themselves.
So if this is not the case make sure you print this out and call the police.
NEVER EVERY FEEL ASHAMED, WEAK OR INTIMIDATED! FIGHT BACK!
Explain the rules (show them the print out) and explain how this information is harassment and bullying by people who need your money, but also at the same look down on you!
You can also get help from your local Legal Aid Clinic.
https://www.legalaid.on.ca/en/contact/c ... sp?type=cl
Call them and Get Help!
You will win! You have power that you don't even know you have!
Stay Strong As Landlords Are Playing Every Trick in the Book To Keep Us Like Blind Sheep As They Enjoy Their Rich Lifestyles Like Ski Doos and Trips to Cuba While We Pay and Freeze.
