
Last week, the NHF published its final version of its new Code of Governance and made some important changes from the previous draft that will impact on those housing associations looking to adopt it.
Data protection for the social housing sector
You will hold many types of personal information about staff, tenants and third parties with whom you engage. Ensuring that you and your staff understand your duties and obligations as guardians of this data is an essential part of any successful social housing setting.
The Data Protection Act 1998 has been superseded by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, which took effect in May 2018. This new regime has revolutionised data protection law and information rights, acting as a catalyst for a new culture of privacy that you must embed within your organisation through effective policies and procedures.
Data protection and information sharing
Our team’s understanding of how the new regime impacts the housing sector allows us to work closely with social housing providers, local authorities and other organisations working in the sector to help them to manage their data protection compliance programmes. We can guide you on data protection and how to handle and share information to ensure compliance with the new regime.
The GDPR states that you must make sure the information you hold is:
There is stronger legal protection for more sensitive information, such as:
There are additional safeguards for personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences.
Under the new regime, everyone has the right to find out what information you hold about them. These include the right to:
Data protection advice for the social housing sector
Our team of experts can help to guide you through this regulatory maze, advising you on the best approach for capturing, handling and sharing information within your organisation so you don’t fall short of your obligations. We can help you identify risks that could result in data breaches, penalties and reputational damage, and put plans in place to mitigate and manage them if they happen.
We advise social housing providers, local authorities and other organisations working in the sector on all areas of data protection and information law compliance, as well as providing guidance on freedom of expression, privacy, reputation and information rights generally. We can help you with the following:
Please contact Peter Coe.
Such freedoms will allow HAs greater flexibility over how they use their assets and, potentially, how they structure their businesses. Our expert panel gathered to discuss the possible opportunities the deregulatory measures offer, together with the likely hurdles. Read the outcome of their discussion here.
Last week, the NHF published its final version of its new Code of Governance and made some important changes from the previous draft that will impact on those housing associations looking to adopt it.
Delayed since Spring 2020 as the Government tackled the Covid-19 crisis, Tuesday 17 November saw the publication of the Social Housing White Paper, setting out the future regulation of the sector
As the UK’s social housing sector recovers from the initial Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown, now is the time to focus on the challenges that may emerge next.
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Sometimes half an hour at a conference gives you the reality that has been staring you in the face all along. That was my experience watching “Change is on the Horizon”
The Court has confirmed that a party cannot withhold its consent in order to re-write the original bargain.
The Johnny Depp -v- News Group Newspapers trial concluded last week and has been widely publicised and reported on around the World.
The Supreme Court has allowed two appeals concerning 'vicarious liability', providing helpful clarity for claims of this kind and seemingly reining in the scope of such claims.
There has been a huge rise in the use of video conferencing and online messaging services while we are at home due to the Covid-19 related lockdown.
Several myths are circulating the relaxation of data protection rules and compliance. We can help clarify these myths.
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