RENTAL APPLICATIONS, PRIVACY, AND DISCRIMINATION

Direct to the point, there actually should be ONE government-approved application that any landlord or agent must acquire if seeking applicants to rent their properties. This will enable monitoring over privacy breaches and application questions lending to discrimination.

Structured feedback/public opinion should be sought from anyone who has applied for housing within the last two years before anyone thinks to gasp at this suggestion or dismiss how relevant and URGENT this is.

Landlords/agents need to note that they are not the financial advisor of the applicant, nor are they the FBI or CIA. Points follow:

1. Firstly, an application to rent SHOULD NOT be required PRIOR to the renter having the opportunity to view the property. This potential business arrangement must take into obvious consideration that the renter also gets to decide if the unit is suitable for their interests. Thereafter, a renter shall be allowed to request application. Landlords/agents are making receipt of an application prior to viewing mandatory and this lends to violation of one's privacy, also to discrimination (of employment, sex, race, etc.). Consider that a renter is filling out scores of applications and providing sensitive detail in the process to an unknown person, especially in the event of representation by an agent. A renter knows just as little of a landlord, being said, if an agent is acting on behalf of a landlord, they shall be required to provide the name of the landlord to the seeker. Questions like criminal convictions are asked and while this may seem completely sensible, how much more sensible would it be that a renter should also know this of the landlord? This is just an example to identify that to enter a relationship of this nature is not one-sided though this reality is often overlooked and therefore, mandated process controls are needed. On that note of process, if a person is granted the opportunity to view, the landlord/agent shall also be required to communicate back to the same as to the status of their application and availability of the unit when asked.
2. An applicant's salary IS NOT the business of the landlord. The only reasonable inquiry in this regard is for a dated CONFIRMATION OF EMPLOYMENT letter signed by an employer confirming employment. A landlord/agent has no right to require an applicant to provide salary details or grant permission allowing them to have a conversation with their employer to discuss the renter's earnings. This cannot be looked at one-sided as protection for the landlord. The promise to pay is part of the lease agreement with option to terminate for failure to do so in place. An applicant's right to privacy MUST be mandated here. If any landlord/agent would disagree, then they should be equally willing to disclose to renters up front the detail of their monthly mortgage payment where there should be an also mandated percentage scale used as how much of that can be used in calculating the rental rate.
3. If there is a mandated age at which one can seek to rent, the only inquiry on the application should be ie: are you 21 years or older, a birthdate should not be requested.
4. Fair enough that a landlord/agent would ask on their applications how many persons shall occupy. However, to ask if a renter is "with child" is absolutely audacious and insane! A woman may not be at the stage that she wishes to share their pregnancy with others and this is their right. In order to close loopholes as it were, and to protect the fertility privacy (who would've thought) of humanity in this space, it needs to be mandated that this question should be limited in its wording. What then, shall they also be asking of plans to adopt or foster a child?
5. Landlords/agents should not allow for bidding on rental properties with the unit going to the highest bidder. An offer on a home purchase is one thing but MUST NOT be an option on rentals. Rental rates of ALL properties should be mandated based on various factors, especially the square footage size of the dwelling. There is just no way that a bedsitter or studio, given the square footage, should have a rate of $2k+. The same for what is being called a one-bedroom at $3k+ when it is nothing more than a studio with a dividing wall. Mandating square footage living space against the rental rate and also against what government shall pronounce as a living wage, is a must to deter the criminality of price gouging by landlords/agents.
6. Properties are required to have suitable parking space for tenants. It must not be permitted that units can be provided for "bikes only". If this is actually going to be allowed, this then should also have impact on the rental rate allowed.
7. The application process should not be permitted to ask specifically of the amount of children to occupy and their ages. Simply, the amount of occupants would suffice.
8. Fair enough that a landlord/agent would ask for prior references in order to enter an agreement with a tenant. HOWEVER, these references should only be in writing from prior landlords as this alone is the nature of their potential business relationship. Aside, a financial reference from ie BELCO can be considered. Layers of references are being asked for, including personal, former employers, etc. and this simply is not needed for the type of transaction being pursued. Simple but required for mandate to protect privacy.
9. Any advertised property for rent must follow a standard set of mandated guidelines of details to provide, including interior/exterior photos. This not only assists in not wasting anyone time but also helps with decreasing/eliminating false adverts. If advertised properties ultimately went through a single channel of governance, these details could be fairly assessed. An advertise property should be required to identify EXACTLY what they are looking for. In this way, the discriminatory practices would be eradicated of ie seeking only those with a net salary of $5k+, or those with/without children/pets/vehicle, or only work permit holders. Many applicants are wasting their time and energy blindly applying and sharing so much of their personal details repeatedly when ultimately, they never "qualified" in the first place.
10. The required deposit should be indicated on the application form. Though there is legal framework over what this amount shall be in regards to the ARV, many still remain ignorant to this (on both sides) and landlords/agents are getting away with asking for more than they should. A tenant is not likely to report this after the fact so as to avoid the potential for retaliation in some way. Very clear mandates regarding deposits and outlines of the same must be contained in rental agreements.