12 C.F.R. § 1022.25
§ 1022.25 Reasonable and simple methods of opting out. (12 CFR Part 1022)
Operative Text
(a) In general. You must not use eligibility information about a consumer that you receive from an affiliate to make a solicitation to the consumer about your products or services, unless the consumer is provided a reasonable and simple method to opt out, as required by § 1022.21(a)(1)(ii) of this part. (b) Examples—(1) Reasonable and simple opt-out methods. Reasonable and simple methods for exercising the opt-out right include: (i) Designating a check-off box in a prominent position on the opt-out form; (ii) Including a reply form and a self-addressed envelope together with the opt-out notice; (iii) Providing an electronic means to opt out, such as a form that can be electronically mailed or processed at a Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing consumers to exercise all of their opt-out rights described in a consolidated opt-out notice that includes the privacy opt-out under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, 15 U.S.C. 6801 et seq., the affiliate sharing opt-out under the Act, and the affiliate marketing opt-out under the Act, by a single method, such as by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and simple. Reasonable and simple methods for exercising an opt-out right do not include— (i) Requiring the consumer to write his or her own letter; (ii) Requiring the consumer to call or write to obtain a form for opting out, rather than including the form with the opt-out notice; (iii) Requiring the consumer who receives the opt-out notice in electronic form only, such as through posting at a Web site, to opt out solely by paper mail or by visiting a different Web site without providing a link to that site. (c) Specific opt-out means. Each consumer may be required to opt out through a specific means, as long as that means is reasonable and simple for that consumer.
Section 1022.25 of 12 CFR Part 1022 governs how companies must structure the process by which consumers can stop affiliated companies from using their personal information for marketing solicitations. The rule identifies specific methods that qualify as 'reasonable and simple' — such as toll-free phone numbers, reply forms with prepaid envelopes, and electronic opt-out options — and explicitly rules out burdensome approaches like requiring consumers to draft their own letters or travel to a separate website without a direct link. A company may require consumers to use one particular opt-out channel, but only if that channel genuinely meets the reasonable-and-simple standard. The rule also permits a single consolidated opt-out mechanism to cover multiple privacy rights simultaneously, including those arising under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.
Plain English — not legal advice.
While § 1022.25 of 12 CFR Part 1022 is a federal consumer financial regulation rather than a landlord-tenant statute, property owners and managers who operate as landlords and also share tenant eligibility data among affiliated entities — such as affiliated property management companies or credit-screening services — may fall within its scope. Compliant operators in such contexts generally ensure that any opt-out mechanism offered to consumers is pre-built and accessible, such as a check-off box on a form, a toll-free number, or an electronic submission option, rather than placing the burden of creating or locating the mechanism on the consumer. Operators who use consolidated opt-out notices typically confirm that a single opt-out method covers all applicable privacy rights described in that notice, consistent with the requirements of § 1022.25.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 1022.25 of 12 CFR Part 1022, consumers — which may include tenants whose eligibility information is shared among affiliated companies — have the right to opt out of affiliate marketing solicitations through a method that must be straightforward and pre-provided, not something they must construct or hunt down themselves. If a tenant believes an opt-out process they were offered was unreasonably burdensome or failed to meet the standards described in this provision, they may consider filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which oversees this regulation. Tenant-rights organizations and housing counselors can also help individuals understand whether this provision applies to their situation and what general options exist for raising a potential violation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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