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The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has called for the introduction of a set of national guidelines to be established for tenancy databases. Tenancy databases hold information about tenants who may have breached their lease terms or conditions. They are often used by real estate agents to determine the suitability of a prospective tenant.
In theory, if a tenant complies with the terms of their lease they will not be listed on a tenancy database.
In recent weeks one major tenancy database operator was found to be in breach of the Privacy Act because some tenant information it held was incorrect or was not being updated in a timely manner.
The REIA believes if there was nationally consistent regulation controlling the operation of tenancy databases, breaches would be less likely to occur.
President of the Real Estate Institute of Australia, Ms Kareena Ballard, said, “Findings announced this week by the Federal Privacy Commissioner of breaches of the Privacy Act by a tenancy database operator could be avoided if a nationally consistent framework for regulation was introduced”.
“This regulatory framework would ensure the efficient and effective use of tenancy databases, and would provide protection for all stakeholders including the consumer and the real estate industry”, Ms Ballard said.
The REIA says the regulatory framework should be established with the help of consumers, federal and state governments, unions, real estate agents, database operators and tenancy tribunals.
The Commonwealth and State Governments are currently undertaking a review of tenancy databases and are expected to announce their findings in coming months.
In theory, if a tenant complies with the terms of their lease they will not be listed on a tenancy database.
In recent weeks one major tenancy database operator was found to be in breach of the Privacy Act because some tenant information it held was incorrect or was not being updated in a timely manner.
The REIA believes if there was nationally consistent regulation controlling the operation of tenancy databases, breaches would be less likely to occur.
President of the Real Estate Institute of Australia, Ms Kareena Ballard, said, “Findings announced this week by the Federal Privacy Commissioner of breaches of the Privacy Act by a tenancy database operator could be avoided if a nationally consistent framework for regulation was introduced”.
“This regulatory framework would ensure the efficient and effective use of tenancy databases, and would provide protection for all stakeholders including the consumer and the real estate industry”, Ms Ballard said.
The REIA says the regulatory framework should be established with the help of consumers, federal and state governments, unions, real estate agents, database operators and tenancy tribunals.
The Commonwealth and State Governments are currently undertaking a review of tenancy databases and are expected to announce their findings in coming months.
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