Today, not everyone is a big fan of landlords. There are protests and renter protection movements, not to mention the mass of Eat the Rich signs at those protests that leave a not so comfy feeling in the stomach when you know they’re upset on rent day. With that mass anger that may or may not be pointed at you, there’s one big thing that needs addressing.
There are very serious dangers that can come up if you have an angry tenant with too much time on their hands. How do you protect your identity from the renters?
Today, not everyone is a big fan of landlords. There are protests and renter protection movements, not to mention the mass of Eat the Rich signs at those protests that leave a not so comfy feeling in the stomach when you know they’re upset on rent day. With that mass anger that may or may not be pointed at you, there’s one big thing that needs addressing.
There are very serious dangers that can come up if you have an angry tenant with too much time on their hands. How do you protect your identity from the renters?
Phone Security
We have written before on how to protect tenants’ PPI, or personally identifiable Information. Now it’s your turn. You need to give a phone number to renters, sure, so they can reach you when something is broken, if they have questions about rent, et cetera. That is unavoidable without hiring a mediator like a property manager. But, unfortunately, it’s easy use phone numbers to research the person attached, or even track the phone’s location.
Phone Security
We have written before on how to protect tenants’ PPI, or personally identifiable Information. Now it’s your turn. You need to give a phone number to renters, sure, so they can reach you when something is broken, if they have questions about rent, et cetera. That is unavoidable without hiring a mediator like a property manager. But, unfortunately, it’s easy use phone numbers to research the person attached, or even track the phone’s location.
A good work around to stop this from happening is to not give out your personal, non-business phone number. This isn’t to say you should get some fancy landline number with a business line on it. Google makes it very easy to create a new number that you can give out to people, and you can create a free phone number through their Voice application. This limits how people may track you or search your number to try and find you.
Address Security
That leads to the next bit of information you may be required to give out but could prove dangerous. Your tenants may need to know an address. This could be to mail in their rent if they use checks or mail in plenty of forms that go through the industry. If you do not have a business address, it may be wise to open a P.O. Box instead. Your tenant does not need to know a personal address, as there are plenty of dangers associated with giving that out. The United States Postal Services offers no-fee PO boxes that will work just as well as an address, with no risk of drive-by’s from your tenants, or even something as small as a late-night visit regarding a leaky faucet. Using a free P.O. Box will not only help stop extra mail from filling up your mail box, but keep renters from Google Maps-ing their way to your driveway.
A good work around to stop this from happening is to not give out your personal, non-business phone number. This isn’t to say you should get some fancy landline number with a business line on it. Google makes it very easy to create a new number that you can give out to people, and you can create a free phone number through their Voice application. This limits how people may track you or search your number to try and find you.
Address Security
That leads to the next bit of information you may be required to give out but could prove dangerous. Your tenants may need to know an address. This could be to mail in their rent if they use checks or mail in plenty of forms that go through the industry. If you do not have a business address, it may be wise to open a P.O. Box instead. Your tenant does not need to know a personal address, as there are plenty of dangers associated with giving that out. The United States Postal Services offers no-fee PO boxes that will work just as well as an address, with no risk of drive-by’s from your tenants, or even something as small as a late-night visit regarding a leaky faucet. Using a free P.O. Box will not only help stop extra mail from filling up your mail box, but keep renters from Google Maps-ing their way to your driveway.
And, to avoid physical, drive-by rent payments consider offering online rent payments. This is a solid way to keep tenants an actual physical distance away. Even if they don’t need to hand it to you, hand to hand, the risk a Drop Box gives is more than just running into them at the drop box’s location. Online payments mean you never run into them and you don’t have to deal with sanitizing the drop box or all the germs that paper money grabs a hold of. With our affiliate PayRent, you have an easy and safe solution to keep that physical distance in check.
And, to avoid physical, drive-by rent payments consider offering online rent payments. This is a solid way to keep tenants an actual physical distance away. Even if they don’t need to hand it to you, hand to hand, the risk a Drop Box gives is more than just running into them at the drop box’s location. Online payments mean you never run into them and you don’t have to deal with sanitizing the drop box or all the germs that paper money grabs a hold of. With our affiliate PayRent, you have an easy and safe solution to keep that physical distance in check.
How We Help
Those are small ways you can protect yourself from an overly enthusiastic tenant, or an angry one. ApplyConnect also works very hard to protect your very big information. This means we’re always working to keep your information safe, such as your Social Security Number. ApplyConnect never shares this information, and instead works with Experian to mask this information. With the exception of property address and name, ApplyConnect keeps your PII behind a bank-level security system.
ApplyConnect works hard to keep you safe so that you can focus on the smaller things. Keep your stress low and with a few small adjustments, you can stop worrying about your safety on such a grand scale.
How We Help
Those are small ways you can protect yourself from an overly enthusiastic tenant, or an angry one. ApplyConnect also works very hard to protect your very big information. This means we’re always working to keep your information safe, such as your Social Security Number. ApplyConnect never shares this information, and instead works with Experian to mask this information. With the exception of property address and name, ApplyConnect keeps your PII behind a bank-level security system.
ApplyConnect works hard to keep you safe so that you can focus on the smaller things. Keep your stress low and with a few small adjustments, you can stop worrying about your safety on such a grand scale.
