Tenants and Facebook (Accidental and Intentional Facebook Stalking)

Like many of you, I spend a decent amount of time on facebook. In the past I have looked at the profiles of tenants to see what sort of order their current houses are in ect..

This weekend I saw some purebred puppies for sale (sire didn't have papers) and thought I would read the comment section to see who was paying over $1000 for these puppies (without papers).. I had a good laugh. My IP1 tenants (couple with a baby) commented. The lady tagged her partner in the comments section. Given that they want to leave at the end of tenancy after nearly two years (not entirely sure exactly why) I am hoping they ask for a puppy since it will make them less likely to leave. It is very difficult finding pet friendly places in the area.

Has anyone else accidentally stalked tenants? Accidentally or on purpose?

 

I usually check all applicants.

 

I'm not a tenant, but you will not find anything about me on facebook.

 

My facebook is easy to find... I am just super careful to represent myself carefully.

 

Yeah I do it for the ones who become problems, Amazing how many of them don't set their profiles to private. It's a good laugh when they are bad mouthing the ******* landlord or property manager to their friends. Had a cracker once where I was building a granny flat and the rat bag tenant was making life hard for the builder on purpose (this was after agreeing to have it built and getting a $100 per week reduction) bragging to "friends" how she was making it hard for them, blocking driveways and not giving access where required. print screen. Save. Never had to use it at tribunal but could have been handy.

Had another who snuck a dog into the property. Property manager could hear it from the outside but couldn't get hard proof. Go on Facebook, there she is cradling the mutt in her arms inside the property. Print screen, save.

Other ones I had complained they had too many bills and fell behind on the rent, there they are posting pics of their holiday at a resort...

 

One tenant did a runner and couldn't be located. Facebook is better than the whitepages - found photos of new rental, local park and a check in. Drove around and voila - new address found and papers served. Thanks Facebook.

 

Hey Biz, would you consider that their definition of a "resort" met yours?

 

I wont say what I do
However some tenants and landlords are FB friends on my page and join in the silly interactions.

 

I have seen pics of parties and some classes in my place, no problem it looked ok.

 

Checked out tenant on FB last month after he moved in. Seems a decent guy. No red flags raised. Haven't needed to give it a second thought since

 

My Facebook page keeps popping up a picture of a previous tenant from a couple of years ago and asking if I want to send them a friend request.

I wonder if that means that they've looked me up,in the past?

 

Yes probably, or you have mutual friends?

 

Are they in your phone contacts or have you ever sent them an email?

 

Not sure if the Long Bay Hilton, Silverwater Gated Community or the Cessnock Farmstay qualify.

 

It's fair game if it is a public page on the internet I would think. Employers certainly consult the facebook page of job applicants. It's quite astounding what private information people will splatter all over facebook, and it gives employers an idea of how the person might fit in, or not fit in, to the current team in the workplace. Employers that have clauses in employment contracts indicating that their employees need to conduct themselves appropriately when in public as they are still, to a degree, representing the company. Remember that case in the news recently where some employees of recruitment company Michael Page got up to no good harrassing people in a hotel, as an example. I'm pretty sure their employment status would have been in jeopardy as a result. To be fair, they were on a work trip, but still. It goes some way to illustrate that what people do in their private time can still impact on other components of their lives.

 

you guys made me search up my tenants on Facebook. They seem pretty decent except for the other one with a gangster like profile picture. But I hope I'm just being judgemental.

 

I agree with you, however Michael Page is a bad example... they just got slapped on the wrist and told when they party next time to tone it down a bit. The ones that were on holidays were the best "sales" people so i guess this is why they got off with no serious consequences....

 

@Shahin_Afarin is your tenant?