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Can my Landlord force me to use an App?
TetraNitroCubane
Not Angry...Just VERY Disappointed...Registered User regular
Not Angry...Just VERY Disappointed...Registered User regular
(Preface: This is for a rental apartment in California)
I've been living at my current address for many years at this point, and I just received a message from my Landlord saying that all tenants will be required to make an account with a specific property management app. They claim that the app will be used for tracking balances, taking electronic payments, filing maintenance requests, and storing personal information including contact info and insurance details.
The app in question is poorly reviewed, with many negative reviews from tenants claiming that electronic transfers are frequently made in the incorrect amount. Beyond that, I don't want to put such sensitive personal information into what looks like, by all accounts, a ramshackle collection of code that will inevitably be cracked open and all my personal details will be exposed. I don't trust my landlord to keep that information safe online, and I prefer to pay by check, where the balance of rent transferred is clearly deliniated.
Nevertheless my landlord is saying that all tenants will be required to make an account and use this app. There was specific language in the communication stating that, while they will still accept checks, the electronic payments are going to be strongly recommended (Whatever that means).
Can my landlord force me to use this app and enter my personal information into a potentially insecure website? Or can I refuse?
I've been living at my current address for many years at this point, and I just received a message from my Landlord saying that all tenants will be required to make an account with a specific property management app. They claim that the app will be used for tracking balances, taking electronic payments, filing maintenance requests, and storing personal information including contact info and insurance details.
The app in question is poorly reviewed, with many negative reviews from tenants claiming that electronic transfers are frequently made in the incorrect amount. Beyond that, I don't want to put such sensitive personal information into what looks like, by all accounts, a ramshackle collection of code that will inevitably be cracked open and all my personal details will be exposed. I don't trust my landlord to keep that information safe online, and I prefer to pay by check, where the balance of rent transferred is clearly deliniated.
Nevertheless my landlord is saying that all tenants will be required to make an account and use this app. There was specific language in the communication stating that, while they will still accept checks, the electronic payments are going to be strongly recommended (Whatever that means).
Can my landlord force me to use this app and enter my personal information into a potentially insecure website? Or can I refuse?
TetraNitroCubane on
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My landlord indicated that I can still pay by check, rather than needing to pay via electronic transfer. HOWEVER, regardless of this fact they are still demanding and requiring me to make an account with this app, where I must enter sensitive personal information (Phone number, address, email address, insurance information - which itself includes many other sensitive bits of personal information).
They claim I must make this account, because it is necessary to file insurance information and make maintenance requests.
Do I have any recourse here, or can they evict me if I don't comply?
Yeah, it feels very much like a gray area. I suppose it is worth reaching out to a lawyer. Thanks much.
Very good idea. In fact, what a great opportunity to learn about VM software!
My primary concern is that this website is going to require me to put in information like address, telephone number, social security number, and other personal data - And then I'm trusting yet another big company not to lose that data or screw anything up with it.
My landlord insists it's required because that's how to make maintenance requests and view my balance. I don't understand "View my balance", unless they're going to start trying to nickel and dime me, I know how much to pay and when to pay it each moth.
All I want to do is drop off my check at the rent drop. I don't need to involve the internet!
Honestly, the modern parlance of "app" to mean program, mobile application, or website, doesn't help things. And I wasn't 100% clear at all, myself! I still very much appreciate your offering advice.