Rental platform 2Apply told to stop collecting excessive personal data

Australia’s privacy commissioner, Carly Kind, issued a first-of-its-kind ruling against 2Apply, a rent platform operated by InspectRealEstate. The decision was published on Wednesday. Kind found the platform had collected excessive personal information in an unfair manner. The ruling says 2Apply is one of the most commonly used rental platforms in Australia and had processed more than 8.5 million applications as of March 2025.

The commissioner said 2Apply did not need to collect gender, dependants, student status, bankruptcy status, retirement status, previous living history, current ownership of property, applications for other properties, bond or rent assistance status, citizenship status, or visa expiry. She also said the platform could collect less information on emergency contacts, vehicle details, some ID documents, proof of income, and employment details.

Kind also criticised the platform’s wording, saying it used “confirmshaming” by suggesting that giving more information would speed up the application and that not providing it may affect whether someone is seen as a suitable tenant. She said those messages imply that the amount of personal information supplied is an indicator of tenant suitability.

The commissioner noted a power imbalance in the rental market, made worse by a shortage of rental properties, rising rents, and intense competition. She said she expects other RentTech providers to adapt their practices, and real estate peak bodies have been given the decision to help the sector. Samantha Floreani, a digital rights advocate, said renters should not have to choose between privacy and finding a place to live.