Tenant Questions Landlord's Right to Demand Social Security Number

Tenant sued landlord, seeking a declaration that she didn't have to respond to landlord's demand for her Social Security number, as well as those of her roommates. Landlord had demanded this information in connection with completion of a form regarding the number of occupants in tenant's apartment. Landlord asked the court to dismiss tenant's lawsuit. The court ruled against landlord. Local law permits landlord to inquire about apartment occupants, but doesn't authorize a demand for Social Security numbers. Tenant didn't receive any government benefits that would require release of her Social Security number or that of any of the apartment occupants. There are broad federal privacy policies against revealing Social Security numbers unnecessarily, and tenant had a legitimate concern about identify theft. The Social Security numbers are private information, and landlord demonstrated no legal authority for demanding them.

Meyerson v. Prime Realty Services, LLC: Index No. 118001/03 (Sup. Ct. NY 2/28/05; Lebedeff, J) [15-pg. doc.]