With Privacy Awareness Week this week, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on how tenant data is collected, handled, and protected across the rental process.
Recent guidance and enforcement from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has reiterated an important principle for our industry; to only collect information that is reasonably necessary, and do so in a fair and transparent way.
At Tenant Options, this has been a strong focus and a core part of how the platform is designed. We’ve built Tenant Options to support property managers in meeting their obligations under the Australian Privacy Principles, while still providing the information needed to make informed leasing decisions.
How Tenant Options supports privacy‑led compliance
This includes:
Purpose-led data collection: We focus on collecting information that directly supports assessing an application – not “just because” data.
Structured, staged profiles: Tenant information is organised clearly, helping you review what matters without excessive detail.
Clear tenant communication: Applications are supported throughout the entire application process by an informative side bar which explains why each question is asked and what is done with the applicant’s data.
Secure handling and retention: Data is stored securely, with strictly defined retention and redaction processes in place.
No tenant-paid data upsells: We do not require tenants to pay to strengthen or “boost” their application, to keep their data or to “verify” themselves.
Why this matters now
Recent regulatory action by the OAIC has reinforced what we’ve known for some time about data handling in rental applications. Following an investigation into a major rent-tech platform, the regulator found that excessive personal information was being collected and that the way consent was obtained was not always fair. At the same time, we’re seeing growing awareness from tenants around privacy, fairness, and how their personal information is used.
A more transparent and proportionate approach doesn’t just support compliance – it also:
- Builds trust with applicants
- Reduces friction during the application process
- Improves completion rates and data quality
- Supports a more consistent and professional leasing experience
At Tenant Options, we will continue to support you without over-complicating things.
Our committment
We are committed to:
- Collecting the right information
- Avoiding over-collection risks
- Maintaining a clear and defensible process
All while keeping the experience straightforward for both you and your applicants.
If you’d like to better understand how Tenant Options supports privacy best practice, or have any questions about your current process, feel free to reach out to our team.
