Saskatchewan’s privacy commissioner says the Town of Unity improperly disclosed a landlord’s personal information to former tenants after a dispute over an unpaid utility bill.
In a report released Aug. 18, the Office of the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner found that the town committed a privacy breach when it issued tax receipts to tenants that included the landlord’s property tax roll number and civic address.
The issue began in September 2024, when two tenants moved out of a rental property, leaving behind an outstanding utility bill of $419.39. The town later transferred the unpaid balance to the landlord’s property tax roll and sent out receipts after the tenants paid.
Both the landlord and tenants were able to access each other’s personal information through those receipts, prompting the landlord to file a complaint.
The commissioner found Unity took steps to contain the breach and has since updated procedures, including staff training and requiring manual receipts when someone other than the account holder makes a payment.
However, the report said the town’s revised Policy 2.13 still falls short because it does not give staff proper guidance on how to use and disclose personal information.
The commissioner recommended the town amend the policy within 60 days and ensure staff receive additional training on Saskatchewan’s privacy legislation.