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Plaid overview

OntarioLandlord uses Plaid to securely connect to your bank account and automatically sync transactions.

What is Plaid?​

Plaid is a financial technology company that connects apps to bank accounts. It's used by thousands of popular apps including:

  • Venmo
  • Acorns
  • Robinhood
  • Betterment
  • Chime
DoorLoop takes priority over Plaid

If DoorLoop is connected and active, Plaid stays inert: an active DoorLoop integration blocks new Plaid connections and pauses any existing Plaid sync at runtime. This isn't a toggle you switch off — to free up Plaid again, you must fully disconnect DoorLoop, which is only possible once no active or draft DoorLoop-linked leases remain. The reverse isn't blocked: connecting DoorLoop while Plaid is already active is allowed, it just makes Plaid stop functioning going forward.

How it works​

sequenceDiagram
    participant You
    participant App as OntarioLandlord
    participant Plaid
    participant Bank

    You->>App: Click "Connect Bank"
    App->>Plaid: Open Plaid Link
    You->>Plaid: Select your bank
    Plaid->>Bank: Authenticate
    Bank->>Plaid: Verify credentials
    Plaid->>App: Connection established
    App->>Plaid: Request transactions
    Plaid->>Bank: Fetch transactions
    Bank->>Plaid: Return data
    Plaid->>App: Deliver transactions

1. Authentication​

  • You select your bank from Plaid's list
  • You enter your banking credentials directly with Plaid
  • OntarioLandlord never sees your password

2. Connection​

  • Plaid establishes a secure link to your account
  • Connection persists until you disconnect
  • May require periodic re-authentication

3. Syncing​

  • Transactions sync automatically daily at 6:00 AM
  • Manual sync available anytime from the integrations page
  • Smart payment matching uses AI to identify which tenant each transaction belongs to
  • Only incoming deposits are matched to tenants
  • Unlimited bank connections on all plans

Security​

Your credentials​

OntarioLandlord Never Sees Your Password

When you connect your bank, you enter your credentials directly into Plaid's secure interface. OntarioLandlord receives only:

  • Account name
  • Last 4 digits of account number
  • Transaction data

Plaid's security​

  • Bank-level 256-bit encryption
  • SOC 2 Type II certified
  • Regular security audits
  • Used by major financial apps

How OntarioLandlord stores your connection token​

When you connect a bank account with multiple sub-accounts (e.g., chequing + savings), Plaid issues a single access token for the entire bank connection (called a Plaid Item). OntarioLandlord stores that token once — tied to the Item — regardless of how many accounts are linked. This minimizes the data held and makes token rotation straightforward if ever needed.

Your control​

You can:

  • Disconnect anytime
  • See what data is shared
  • Revoke access through your bank (some banks)

What data is accessed​

What we see​

DataUsed For
Transaction datePayment matching
Transaction amountPayment matching
Transaction descriptionIdentifying payer
Account balanceNot used

What we don't see​

  • Your banking password
  • Account numbers (only last 4)
  • Your outgoing payments
  • Other accounts you didn't connect

Connection process​

Step 1: Initiate connection​

  1. Go to Bank Accounts in the sidebar (or Settings → Integrations)
  2. Click Connect Bank Account

Plaid's secure window appears. This is a Plaid interface, not OntarioLandlord.

Step 3: Select your bank​

Search and select your bank from the list.

Step 4: Authenticate​

Enter your banking credentials. Complete any 2FA your bank requires.

Step 5: Select account​

Choose which account receives rent payments.

Step 6: Complete​

Connection established! First sync begins automatically.

Re-authentication​

Banks may require you to re-authenticate periodically:

  • Some banks every 90 days
  • After password change
  • After security alerts

When needed:

  1. You'll see a notification
  2. Click "Reconnect"
  3. Re-enter credentials
  4. Connection restored

Troubleshooting​

Bank not listed​

  • Try alternative names (TD vs TD Canada Trust)
  • Some small credit unions may not be supported
  • Contact support for alternatives

Connection failed​

  • Verify credentials are correct
  • Check for bank outages
  • Try again later
  • Clear browser cache

Transactions not syncing​

  • Check connection status
  • Click "Sync Now"
  • May take up to 24 hours after reconnect

Privacy policy​

Plaid's handling of your data is governed by their privacy policy. Key points:

  • Data used only for requested purpose
  • Not sold to third parties
  • You can request deletion

Plaid Privacy Policy

Disconnecting​

To disconnect your bank:

  1. Go to Bank Accounts
  2. Find your connected bank
  3. Click Disconnect
  4. Confirm

When you disconnect, OntarioLandlord calls Plaid's removeItem API to revoke the connection server-side — not just locally. This means Plaid ends the data-sharing agreement with your bank and invalidates the access token on their end.

After disconnecting:

  • No more transactions sync
  • Existing data preserved
  • Can reconnect anytime

Next steps​