Do you ask for your tenant's SSN?

[Matt Schelberg]

It surprises me how little pushback I receive from rental applicants when I ask for their social security number on my rental application. While I take care to safeguard their information and destroy it when I'm done, they don't know that.  And they don't ask.

I prefer to have my tenants' SSN in case I have to evict them, but I question if that is necessary or helpful.  And for tenant screening purposes, many online background check vendors now allow the applicant to provide their SSN via a secure website...without disclosing this sensitive personal information to the landlord.

So questions for the community:

• Are you asking your applicants for their SSNs?
• How are you retaining this information so it is secure?
• Given the risk of identity theft, is it ethical for us landlords to be asking for this information?