Tenants Balk After Being Ordered To 'Friend' Apartment Complex On Facebook
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – Tenants who live in a Utah apartment complex voiced outrage after their landlord added new terms to their lease agreement requiring them to "friend" the complex on Facebook.
KSL-TV in Salt Lake City reported that residents of the City Park Apartments received a "Facebook addendum" that was taped to doors last week.
Under the agreement, tenants would be required to friend the apartment complex's Facebook page within five days, or they would be found in breach of their lease. The agreement also allowed the apartment to post pictures of tenants and visitors on their page.
"I don't want to be forced to be someone's friend and be threatened to break my lease because of that," tenant Jason Ring told the TV station.
On Tuesday, attorneys representing the apartment complex provided an explanation to CNET.com.
"As part of opening its pool and an anticipated pool party, City Park desired to provide some protection to its residents and its owners from usage of photos on its Facebook page from all community events, including the opening pool party," attorneys said.
The attorneys went on to say that the addendum was not carefully reviewed, no one's leases are in jeopardy for not signing the agreement, and that the complex will not require tenants to like their Facebook page.
The explanation has not reportedly stopped residents and others from criticizing the apartment complex on its Facebook page. As of Tuesday afternoon, the page was not available.
