On 25 May new data protection regulations will come into force across Europe, designed to protect citizens against the misuse of their personal data.

Personal data, or personal information, means any information about an individual from which that person can be identified. It does not include data where the identity has been removed (anonymous data).

Known as the GDPR, the general data protection regulation, sets out how organisations can gather, process, use and store personal data.

In order to ensure we are prepared and complying with the new regulations, we have updated our privacy policy, and set up a programme of activity to improve our data protection practices. This includes all staff training, making our organisation more secure, and trying to reduce the amount of paper that we use. Ultimately, we are making significant steps to protect your data to the best of our ability.

We may collect, use, store and transfer different kinds of personal data about you, which may include:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Telephone numbers
  • Present, previous and forwarding addresses
  • Gender
  • Date of Birth
  • Marital Status
  • Rent payment details
  • Bank details
  • Housing benefit
  • Employment details
  • National Insurance number
  • Health and care details
  • Disabilities
  • Ethnicity, culture or religion
  • Anti-social behaviour, violence and criminal activities
  • Complaints

It is important that the personal data we hold about you is accurate and current. Please keep us informed if your personal data changes during your relationship with us.

We also collect, use and share Aggregated Data such as statistical or demographic data for any purpose. Aggregated Data may be derived from your personal data but is not considered personal data in law as this data does not directly or indirectly reveal your identity.

We will only use your personal data when the law allows us to. Most commonly, we will use your personal data in the following circumstances:

  • Where we need to perform the contract we are about to enter into, or have entered into, with you.
  • To provide the services you need including repairs, maintenance, rents, transfers, sales and anything to do with your tenancy and property.
  • To deal with your account(s) including payments, grants and benefits or run any other service we provide to you.
  • To manage applications made by you.
  • To provide a helpful and efficient response when customers ask for help and advice.
  • To deal with complaints.
  • Where it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests.
  • Where we need to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation.

We will only use your personal data for the purposes for which we collected it, unless we reasonably consider that we need to use it for another reason. Sometimes we may have to share your personal data with third parties or share information for legal reasons, for example to the Police, Benefits Agency and other landlords, or if it related to anti-social behaviour, crime or fraud.