can a potential landlord legally ask for your bank account #s and SS security #s?

quick google search didn’t do it. anyone know offhand?

They are allowed to pull your credit.

Regarding their right to ask for it, there is no better advice than this:

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=78&p_created=955482891&p_sid=2pJRMOQh&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NjUmcF9wcm9kcz0mcF9jYXRzPTE2LDAmcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0xLjE2OzIudTAmcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9Mg**&p_li=&p_topview=1

The same applies to other financial information. You might be able to refuse to provide it, but if you do, they probably won’t give you the apartment.

thanks!

You are welcome. There is one other aspect of this question that I should mention:

http://www.rentals.com/owner/content2/newsArticle/newsArticle_083a.html

So some landlords might have to comply with Gramm-Leach . . .

There are a myriad of ways for checking your credit without your Social Security number.

I won’t speak for your landlord, but if someone takes care of their identity and credit (hallmarks of responsibility, IMHO), I would deem them more likely to take care of my apartment.

A myriad you say? How about sharing one with the group?

As a small time landlord, you better believe we ask for a ss# before renting to a potential tennant, as it’s the only way I am personally aware of for getting a credit/background check.

Heck, we had one guy swear he had no criminal record and a solid credit rating. Luckily we ran his info and found several arrests and a horrific credit score, not to mention he had been evicted over 3 times.

So you can’t blame a landlord for wanting to cover their own butts.

Here is a good article about when you are *required *to provide your social security number.

Note that the author concludes:

http://www.latimes.com/business/investing/bal-bz.ambrose28aug28,1,7561139.column?coll=la-utilities-business-money

Well, the easiest way would be to sign up for a rental agency, bitch about their policy, ask to talk to the manager, convince the manager he doesn’t really need your Social Security number, and then let them do the legwork in finding your credit when they go to pre-approve you.

(which is what I did)

During the discussion with the manager, I questioned the legality of using SSN’s as identifiers (a practice which the SSA discourages). He claimed that I was creating more work for them (e.g. it could be done but it was a hassle), and I told them that they should outright reject renters who were so careless as to toss their SSN’s around without at least a small objection. That got me some sympathy laughter, and although it took longer than usual (normally they can pre-approve you in 15 minutes, they took the entire afternoon to process my application), they did it.

I have also gotten a credit report over the phone, and given my reluctance to share my SSN in general, I believe I got it without much of a hassle either. If I had to give it out, there was the option of sending the credit report directly to a third party (obviating the need for the third party to have my SSN).

Where in there did you see the SSA opposing use of SSN’s as identifiers?

It starts out like this:

A statement of historical fact. Originally SSNs were intended for use only within the social security system. But they caught on as identifiers, and were quickly assimilated. It says most financial transactions in our economy use the SSN–I don’t see where it says, “but we wish they didn’t,” or “people should stop this.”

The Fact Sheet then continues by discussing misuse of SSNs:

So the SSA pretty clearly opposes the use of SSNs in a criminal way. Not a shocking admission.
Then it says:

(Emphasis added.)

Again, I’m not hearing any words of discouragement here.

Then it says:

They don’t say here that SSN’s should not be used as identifiers, even though they certainly could have.

Not sure what you are saying here.

Credit reports have social security numbers on them. I’ve seen reports from at least a dozen vendors. Every one of them has a social. If you had your report sent directly to a third party, they still got your SSN.

Small hijack here…when I was 12 a policeman came to my parent’s house trying to investigate fraud. Turns out my scuzzbucket, dope-fiend, lives off the state, never-had-a-real job cousin (who was considerably older than I) found my SSN while enjoying the generosity of my parents allowing her to stay in our home. She used my SSN for various unlawful objectives and the cops were actually there to ARREST me…a 12 y/o girl. Well, my parents had no problem pointing the finger. It’s been 25 years since and I still hate that scum sucker. :frowning: