RentTech Shonks Awards 2023
Outside of grocery prices, one of the biggest issues impacting cost of living is rent. People who rent aren’t just struggling to pay ever-increasing rental prices, they’re often struggling to find a place to live.
In that context, third-party rental platforms – AKA the ‘RentTech’ apps people are often forced to use in order to apply for a place to live – are a huge issue.
Folks are regularly being asked to hand over a ridiculous amount of personal data – bank statements, references from their last five jobs, even photos of children and pets – just to put a roof over their heads.
Considering the increased proliferation of data breaches, not to mention the myriad ways companies mine our data for profit, these rental apps are more than worthy of a Shonky Award.
There’s an increasing need to regulate these apps to ensure that tenants are protected from unfair and exploitative practices
CHOICE believes there’s an increasing need to regulate these apps to ensure that tenants are protected from unfair and exploitative practices.
“We’re hoping to see strong action by our governments on RentTech, because RentTech businesses will continue to exploit the housing crisis for their own gain until robust guardrails are set up,” says CHOICE senior campaigns and policy adviser Rafi Alam (pictured).
Read more: 2023 Shonky Award for RentTech
