not to give out tenants phone number?

[gremlindolphin]

We have lovely tenants in a house.

They have very curtain-twitching neighbours who recently have been ringing me about things that don't concern them or me, which I have said (very nicely!) and suggested they go round and talk to the tenants themselves. I get on very well with the tenants and have told them all this and they have told me how many people the neighbours have annoyed in the village etc.

Today the neighbour rings me to tell me she has at last gone round to see our tenants and that they are very reasonable people! Great but once again, not sure why she needs to ring me!

She then asked me for their telephone number as she wants to ring to see how they are getting on with their new baby. In the light of their recent behavior, I felt that the last thing they needed was her ringing either with friendly concern or minor gripes so I said that the number I had for them was given to me in my capacity as a landlord and I didn't feel that it was place to give it out to people.

I suggested that she pop a card thru their door with her number on, asking them to let her have their number, as that was what I felt more comfortable with.

She told me that was quite unnecessary and put the phone down on me!

Quite bizarre. I have thought about it and think my response was quite reasonable but I hope I haven't ruined their new found friendship! I leave it up to them which contact details they wish to give her.

What do you think?!

[Trills]

YANBU

Tell the neighbour to stop calling you.

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

I wouldn't be impressed if my LL gave my number out. You did the right thing. If they're neighbours surely its easier to pop round rather than call you to get a number? Very odd.

[MrsMangoBiscuit]

Of course YANBU. If I were your tenants and you'd given out my number I would have been pissed off! The neighbour sounds a bit odd, and pretty rude.

[flow4]

You definitely shouldn't give out your tenants' phone number without their permission. You are definitely doing the right thing. The neighbour sounds odd!

[singingmum]

You can actually get in trouble for giving out another persons number, address etc according to what I was told by a police officer.
Anyway if they'd wanted the nosy nelly to have their number they'd have given it to her so you def did the right thing. Neighbour sounds a bit crackers

[ihavenofuckingclue]

Yanbu. If I was your Tennant I would be upset if you gave our number out.
Seems a bit suss to me. Why would she call you to get their number, to the Tennant. Rather than just pop round.

[JurassicFart]

Neighbour sounds very odd. If she wants their number she can ask for it.

[MammaTJ]

I would not be impressed by a LL who gave out anyones number, or indeed by anyone giving out anyones number. If they need it, ask the person direct, or at a push, I will ask them if it is ok.

[MrsHoarder]

Yanbu. If you were my ll and had given my number out we would be having a discussion about data protection laws.

[LaCiccolina]

As far as I know ur in a contract so would assume data protection applies. Ie don't give out their personal details at all.

Generally without legal stuff, I agree would b bad manners anyway! U r right and u have a good relationship with tenants. Don't jeopardise.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

The Data Protection Act is your friend here.

[DublinMammy]

YANBU, the neighbour sounds bizarre.

[HappyTurquoise]

YANBU, but the neighbour is. I can't think of very many situations when it would be acceptable to give someone's number out to a third party, but to give a tenant's out? Definitely not right! To give someone's number to their nosy neighbour? Not unless you wish to run toe risk of them to reeking revenge back at you in some way!

[EuroShagmore]

YADNBU

[frostyfingers]

I'd let your tenants know that she asked for your number, and that you didn't give it to her. Just to warn them that they wanted it, and in case she extracts it from someone else and they think it was you!

[OTheHugeManatee]

She sounds bonkers.

[elfycat]

Anyone want to bet she hasn't been to see the tenants and just wants the number to call them 2330 at night to gripe?

The data protection act would only apply if their number is stored electronically (mobile phone would count) not if it's written down. But YANBU to never give it out in ant case.

[McChristmasPants2012]

i would see if you could block the neighbours number.

you would be breaking the Data Protection Act 1998

[MrsHoarder]

Data protection act does apply to written down information as well, think of the companies who have got into trouble for not shedding customers' data.

[SaskiaRembrandtVampireHunter]

Yes, you would be breaking the Data Protection Act, so if the silly moo phones again you could always tell her that to get her off your case. She sounds like very hard work, but you sound like a lovely landlady :)

Oh, and the act covers all data, no matter how it's stored, not just electronically.

[Crinkle77]

I think you would be in breach of data protection law if you did this without your tenants permission

[SpicyPear]

You absolutely did the right thing. I'm as to why she really wants the number though. She could clearly knock on the door and ask them for it herself if she really wanted to be friends. Sounds like maybe she wants it so she can phone them to complain about things... Baby crying maybe?

[Walkacrossthesand]

Another YANBU vote! Neighbours reaction when you declined, says it all - she's not friendly enough with/to them to get their number directly but was hoping to catch you off guard & get it. Well done for quick & correct thinking! And as above - let tenants know you have thus shielded them, in case barmy neighbour's next tactic is to badmouth you to them..

[gremlindolphin]

Thank you for all your replies and for all your NBU votes!

Yes I had covered my back and had already emailed tenant to tell them what happened and thats it up to them what details they give her.

I had not thought about DPA, it just felt wrong when she asked me. As several of you have said, why did she not ask when she went round or why doesn't she just go around again? She is next door, I am 50 miles away and I am a landlord rather than just another neighbour.

I just think they have nothing better to do than watch other people coming and going.

x

[Clytaemnestra]

She wants to ring them at 3AM to tell them to make the new baby stop crying. In the guise of "seeing how they are getting on"