RentTech companies still asking tenants for personal details ‘completely outside’ new Victorian laws
tags:So-called “RentTech” companies may be circumventing new Victorian laws designed to protect tenants’ personal data by asking for information outside the rental application process, a review as found.
The Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) identified rental platforms that encouraged hopeful tenants to share an “excessive” amount of personal information, or asked them questions that were “completely outside” the new rules.
RentTech platforms are increasingly used by real estate agents in Australia for people applying for rental properties to submit applications and supporting documentation, meaning they store sensitive data.
An Australian Housing and Research Institute report released in January found while providing personal information is necessary for rental agreements, the “over-collection of data poses significant risks to renters’ data security and privacy”.
In addition to potentially putting people’s privacy at risk, RentTech companies continued to use controversial tools such as screening tests and “rewards” schemes, the CPRC found in its report on the sector, released on Thursday.
As part of its report, the CPRC reviewed Victoria’s rental reforms which, in March, established a new standard rental application form designed to limit the information real estate agents can request from renters.
Victorian rental providers and agents can now only ask for the information set out in the standard form, which covers the details needed to confirm a renter’s identity and ability to pay rent.
The CPRC’s deputy chief executive officer, Chandni Gupta, said while there had been improvements in Victoria, these had not extended to other parts of Australia.
For example, in other jurisdictions, rental platforms were still asking more invasive questions of prospective tenants and charging people third-party fees for background checks or to process their applications and rental payments.
“Big tech will move the needle just enough and will narrowly follow, but likely won’t offer that same service outside of where there’s no obligations to do so,” Gupta said.
In New South Wales and South Australia, RentTech companies are banned from charging prospective tenants for background checks, but they are still allowed to request them.
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Between November 2025 and March 2026, the CPRC reviewed six RentTech platforms used for submitting and processing rental applications, payments and end of lease arrangements, as well as managing property maintenance.
Its findings were based on several “mystery shops” – mock rental applications on three of the major platforms – as well as interviews with Victorian renters and industry experts and reviews of the company’s privacy policies.
Even though real estate agencies may simply use personal information for rental applications, the data had the potential to be shared with a “wide variety” of entities including debt collectors and the providers of financial products, the CPRC found.
“It’s really difficult to ascertain how that data will be used for or against you and whether it might exclude you from the actual rental process, or whether it might even [expose you to] personalised particular products and services outside of that,” Gupta said.
“There’s a power imbalance between renters and the platforms they have to use because pushing back or finding an alternative is not an option.”
In April, the privacy commissioner found that one of Australia’s most-used RentTech platforms had collected unnecessary personal information from consumers via unfair means over a five-year period.