renters' Application info gathered

[Mina]

I've noticed in rental application that they ask for more personal information. i wanted to know if it is necessary for the landlord to ask for your bank name & bank account number. you hear all the time about fraud and not giving out account numbers or social security numbers.

[Cranky Tenant]

The name of your bank and account number isn't particularly personal since it's printed on your checks. Social Secutity numbers are another issue entirely and I would avoid giving this kind of information as much as possible.

[jot0n0]

Most often LLs will order a credit report on prospective applicants and social security number is a unavoidable necessary piece of information required to process the credit report request.

<small>[ April 28, 2003, 08:27 AM: Message edited by: John ]</small>

[Zamindar]

You are not required to provide any information on an application that you do not want the landlord to know, all the terms on the application are negotiable, however the landlord can use your refusal to provide information as an automatic disqualifier, so if you want the apartment you will probably have to provide all the information that the landlord is asking for, or at least legally able to ask for, e.g., they cannot ask for marital status, religion, national origin, sexual orientation…