Last updated: March 20, 2026
Rent Control Checker is a Chrome extension designed to help users identify rent-controlled residential properties on supported real estate listing platforms (Realtor.ca and REALM) in Ontario. This privacy policy explains what data the extension collects, how it uses that data, and the privacy protections we've built in.
The core principle: We don't collect personal information about you. We don't track your activity. We don't sell or share your data. We've built this extension to be genuinely privacy-first.
Short answer: We collect no personal information about you.
The extension does not collect:
We do not use analytics, tracking pixels, or advertising libraries that profile your behavior.
To function, the extension reads property addresses shown on Realtor.ca and REALM listings pages only while you're actively viewing those sites. The extension accesses this address data to:
This data is processed locally in your browser and only used for the above purpose. We do not store property addresses you view.
The extension stores two categories of data on your device using Chrome's local storage:
User Preferences: Settings you choose within the extension (e.g., whether to show badges, notification preferences). This data remains entirely on your computer and is never sent to our servers.
Temporary Lookup Cache: When you view a property, the extension briefly stores address-to-status mappings in a temporary cache to reduce repeated database queries. This cache is cleared automatically and never leaves your device.
The extension allows users to voluntarily submit building information to help others. When you submit a building:
Supabase Database: The extension queries a Supabase database hosted on secure servers. When you perform a lookup (by viewing a property), the extension sends only the property address to this database to check its rent control status. No personal information about you is sent. Supabase operates under strict data protection standards.
What is NOT transmitted:
Supabase Transparency: You can review Supabase's own privacy policy at https://supabase.com/privacy. We use Supabase only for secure database hosting and do not share any personal user data with them.
The extension requests the following permissions to function:
Host Permissions: Access to realtor.ca and realmmlp.ca pages so the extension can read property listings and display badges. This permission is limited to these two domains only.
Storage Permission: Access to Chrome's local storage to save your preferences and temporary lookup cache on your device.
Web Request Permission: To securely communicate with the Supabase database for address lookups.
We do not request permissions for microphone, camera, location, contacts, or any other sensitive data sources.
We do not sell your data. We do not share or transfer your personal information to any third parties for any reason, including marketing, advertising, or data brokers.
Service providers: We use Supabase as a secure database service. Supabase only sees property addresses during lookups and does not receive personal information about you.
Legal obligations: If we were legally required by a court order or government authority to disclose information, we would comply with applicable law. However, because we don't collect personal information, there would be no personal data to disclose.
Your local data: Preferences and cache data stored on your device remain there until you clear Chrome's local storage or uninstall the extension. You have full control.
Community submissions: Anonymous building submissions are stored permanently in our database to serve all users. Since submissions are anonymous, no personal retention period applies.
Lookup logs: We do not log individual address lookups or track which properties users view.
The extension uses the following Ontario rent control rule as its basis for identification:
A residential property is rent controlled if it was first occupied before November 15, 2018. This is governed by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) and Ontario Regulation 516/06. Buildings occupied on or after this date are exempt from rent control, and landlords can negotiate rent increases freely.
The extension relies on this rule and user submissions to identify rent control status. While we strive for accuracy, we recommend verifying critical information through official Ontario sources if needed.
The extension transmits data to Supabase using industry-standard HTTPS encryption. Communication between your device and our database is secure and encrypted in transit. We do not store passwords or authentication credentials. The extension works entirely without requiring you to create an account or log in.
However, no system is completely secure. If you have security concerns, please contact us through the Chrome Web Store extension page.
Right to delete: You can delete all your local extension data by uninstalling the extension from Chrome. This removes all preferences and cache data from your device immediately.
Right to opt out: You can disable the extension at any time from Chrome's extension settings without any consequence.
No account required: Because you don't create an account, there is no profile to manage or delete elsewhere.
Transparency: This privacy policy is the complete transparency statement. We have nothing hidden.
If we make changes to this privacy policy, we will update this page and change the "Last updated" date. Since the extension is designed to be privacy-first and minimal in data collection, significant changes are unlikely. Any changes will be posted here and in the Chrome Web Store listing.
If you have questions or concerns about this privacy policy, the extension, or how your data is handled, you can contact us through the Rent Control Checker extension page on the Chrome Web Store. We're committed to addressing privacy concerns quickly and transparently.
Here's the summary if you skipped to the bottom: