Management company requesting Social Security #

The bank holding your security deposit requires it, and if you are renewing your lease they may want to do a credit check.

I think the only downside to not providing the W-9 is that you won't get interest on your security deposit. The bank can hold your deposit without a SSN; they just can't pay you interest on it.

I forgot to add that I dont rent the apartment, I own it. It doesnt make sense to me that they could go two tax years without having it and now they realized they need it.

Just ask them. I've found Charles Greenthal to be one of the best management companies I've dealt with in the past 22 years. If you ask what government filings they're talking about and how it was handled for you without the ssn for the past two years, surely someone can get you an answer. I seriously doubt anyone there is trying to steal your identity.

Hi badlittledog, I agree with Kyle, Greenthal has a good rep. and my personal dealings have been ecellent, although maybe you can speak with a building manager or someone you feel comfortable with and ask why exactly they need this personal info.

Did you not receive a 1098 for mortgage interest paid by the coop in two years?

Hey celbrett, It is a condo not a coop.

Oopsie, my bad.

No one is legally permitted to require your Social Security number, save for two government agencies: The Social Security Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service.

Not even the DMV is allowed to ask. The last time I got my license renewed, I declined to give my SS number. They complied.

how about your employer and any company for which you do freelance work? how about a bank or brokerage?

Hmm, I own in a Greenthal-managed building too (the Parc Vendome) and I can't remember ever having gotten a separate request for my SSN, but of course it would have been on my credit application when I bought, so perhaps they just entered it into their files and kept it.

I can't think of a reason why they would need your SSN, however. In a condo, your real estate taxes are deductible, but presumably you get that statement from your mortgage lender. If you are a foreign national, FIRPTA is an issue, but that comes up at closing, not after.

I would just ask Greenthal. Curious to see what they say.

ali r.
DG Neary Realty