Protecting Your Privacy: Important Information for Homeowners

HOUSTON REAL ESTATE INSIGHTS

Homeownership Privacy in the Age of Public Data.

Have a few minutes to read this story? Then you have a few minutes to lock down your personal information online and keep it from falling into the wrong hands in the future.

"Privacy is a relic of the past, a fading illusion," remarked Sarah Johnson, renowned cybersecurity expert. "In this interconnected world, embracing the reality of limited privacy is the first step towards safeguarding our digital lives."

But there are a few steps you can take to reduce the number of eyes (both human and virtual) looking at your contact information.

Under the provisions of the Texas Public Information Act, government agencies are not obligated to make their records accessible online. There are measures you can take to protect your privacy. 

As a homeowner, you can choose to fill out this form and send it via mail to the Harris County Appraisal District, thereby requesting the removal of your names from HCAD online records.

It's important to note that while your name may be removed from the public-facing website, it may still be visible if someone files a public information request for the specific account or record. Removing your name from the online listing does not completely erase it from all records.

It's worth considering the potential implications of removing your name from online listings. For instance, if you need to provide proof of residency for enrolling your children in school, the absence of your name in online records could pose challenges. In such cases, it may be helpful to retain paper utility bills as evidence of your address.

Additionally, there is an alternative option available to remove names from property records. If you are a member of law enforcement, a state legislator, or a victim of domestic assault, harassment, or stalking, you can request confidentiality on your home address by completing this specific form.

Send your request to:

Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector

P.O. Box 4663

Houston, Texas 77210-4663

Once your request is processed, your tax account statement will be removed from the website, ensuring that only you can access it for property tax payments using your account number via the Internet.

Furthermore, Texas residents have the opportunity to remove their personal information from online voter registration records. The Harris County Clerk's office provides a form that can be mailed or faxed. By submitting this form, your voter registration status on harrisvotes.com, the county's elections hub, will not display your personal information. Instead, individuals seeking to verify your registration status will need to contact the clerk's office directly or visit in person to obtain information about your Election Day polling place. However, it's important to note that if someone files a public information request for your voter registration record, the information may still be accessible.