Consultation over tenant information database

Issue Date: - Friday, 13 November 2009

Consumer Protection is encouraging people who rent properties in Western Australia, and those who let them out, to have a think about plans for a law change in relation to databases that contain details of tenants and their rental history.

Residential Tenancy Databases (RTDs) are electronic records run by private companies. Those private companies collect information about tenants from real estate agents and some property owners and then share it throughout the industry to help with decisions on whether to lease premises.

A consultation is being carried out nationally about proposed legislation to regulate RTDs. Considerations include how entries are made, how long they are kept for and a right of reply for tenants whose details are entered into the database.

Reviews in 1987 and 2006 indicated that there is a risk of spiteful, inaccurate or out of date listings. Commissioner for Consumer Protection Anne Driscoll believes this presents a problem for both landlords and tenants.

“Rental properties may be left empty and failing to make the owner money when a potentially good tenant has been discounted due to incorrect information,” Ms Driscoll said.

“From a tenant's perspective they could be wrongly frozen out of the rental market without an opportunity to challenge what is written about them.”

Anyone who would like more details on the consultation should log on to: www.commerce.wa.gov.au/consumerprotection, click into the Publications section and choose WA State Reviews. Alternatively, call 1300 30 40 54 to ask for a copy to be posted out.

Those who wish to submit comments can either email them to: review@rta.qld.gov.au or write and send them to:

National Regulation of Residential Tenancy Databases,

Residential Tenancies Authority,

GPO Box 390

BRISBANE QLD 4001

The deadline is Friday 11 December.

Media Contact: Alina Cavanagh 9282 0679 or 0423-846397 Email: alina.cavanagh@commerce.wa.gov.au