Want to Lease a House? Be Ready to Hand Over Banking and Payroll Login Credentials.

Technology and automation is a great thing. Having to hand over my login credentials to my checking and work accounts is not.

I am in the process of looking for a house to lease. My realtor came across a place that needs some TLC, but is in a great area and ideal for my lifestyle. She reached out to the property management company here in Houston…Residential Leasing & Management Corp.

Imagine my surprise when I saw that application site that the property management company uses; Findigs…asks for a person’s bank account and work pay site login information.

When I saw this, I immediately checked to see if this is a legitimate company. I notice that there are no Terms of Use posted, but do notice a Privacy Policy. After reviewing, it can be said that by using that platform to apply to lease a home that you agree to no privacy. They can do anything with your personal information AND…yes, that includes your banking information and other personal identifying information like your social security number, place of employment, health information , photos of your drivers license, documents like paystubs etc. Oh and they can track your activity and do whatever they want with that information as well.

People in general aren’t willing to be that careless with their information. Why is Residential Leasing & Management Corp. okay with it? Findigs is a relatively new company.
I imagine that the property management company’s decision to use that solution has to do with price and their comfort level of exposing themselves and their homeowner customers to significant risk.

When my realtor requested that my credit report be pulled and application be submitted outside of this application, the request was denied.

So, I am off to look for a different house.