This research explores how property technology (PropTech) is used in Australia’s private and social rental sectors to collect and process applicant and tenant personal information. It examines the implications of this for individuals and housing access, and whether existing policy and legal frameworks are fit-for-purpose. 

About one-third of Australian households rent. PropTech’s role in mediating access to housing is increasing. It is being used for applicant screening, advertisement targeting and accessing tenant ‘blacklist’ databases. The digital collection and use of personal information raises concerns about data security, privacy and discrimination. There is an urgent need to better understand PropTech’s role and impact and ensure Australia’s policy and regulatory frameworks are protecting renters.

Key findings

• Other forms of PropTech are used by real estate agents and property managers. This includes residential tenancy databases, artificial intelligence and automated decision-making, which are widely used in screening applicants. Tenants may be unaware of this. 
• PropTech platforms gather information about tenant identities, incomes and housing needs across the private and social rental sectors. More data is collected on social housing tenants than private renters; this continues throughout their tenancies. 
• The data collected in both sectors has raised concerns, particularly among regulators and advocates, about data security, privacy, discrimination and over-collection. 
• Industry commentators emphasise the ability of PropTech and data analytics to provide tenants and property managers with better services and experiences. These tools could help to address bias and discrimination in tenant selection, but would need to be designed, tested and used with these goals in mind.