I don’t think I need to be concerned about GDPR

I don’t think I need to be concerned about GDPR

12:38 PM, 5th May 2018, About 6 years ago 104

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I don’t think I need to be concerned about GDPR, here’s why.

I live overseas and whilst my property rental business in the UK is a substantial one, I keep no records either written or electronically in regards to any of my tenants. The day to day liaison with tenants is all dealt with via my letting agent, who simply accounts to me the rental income for my properties.

Occasionally, if for example I need to replace white goods, then my letting agent will provide me with the contact details of my tenants to organise this. That is the only purpose for which I use that tenants data and it is then destroyed.

On this basis, do you agree that I should not concern myself with GDPR?


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Comments

Robert M

9:49 AM, 25th May 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Laura Delow at 25/05/2018 - 09:05
Hi Laura

1. i) My understanding is that you, as the data controller should have a Data Processor Agreement with any supplier, agent, contractor, business, that you share data with, so that would include your letting agent (although they may collect the data, they are YOUR agent so are collecting it on your behalf), as well as your tradesmen contractors etc.

ii) Your Data Processor Agreement will encompass the responsibilities as and when your processor sub-contracts work to another person.

iii) No, because your Data Processor Agreement will make it a requirement for your data processor to be GDPR compliant, which in turns means that they become responsible for ensuring that their sub-contractors are GDPR compliant, therefore you do not need to see documentation from your data processor's sub-contractors.

2. i) Your broker and MyDeposits should have their own GDPR Privacy Notice and this should be sent to you or you should have received notification as to it's availability on their websites.

ii) As they are your supplier (of a service) and you are providing them with personal data, then you should ideally have a Data Processor Agreement with them.

3. i) Yes, contractors that receive personal data should be ICO registered and GDPR compliant.

ii) They should be GDPR compliant. If you use a contractor who is not GDPR compliant then you may be liable for any data breach by them, so your responsibility is to be satisfied that they are GDPR compliant.

iii) Same applies to one man bands. All businesses, regardless of size, are caught up in the GDPR requirements.

iv) In theory yes, but I think there are some limited exceptions for retail shops (check the ICO website). Most stores that do online shopping, or that may be holding personal data are putting a Privacy Notice on their websites, so I think you may be covered by this. - I don't work in retail, so I am less certain about this.

Laura Delow

10:36 AM, 25th May 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Robert Mellors at 25/05/2018 - 09:49
Thank you so much Robert. Even the NLA weren't helpful yet you have clearly addressed each of my questions albeit your answers confirm what I hoped not to be the case but anticipated would be. My one band man contractors will be my issue which I need to look in to as they're highly unlikely to think GDPR applies to them. I'll meanwhile check the retail side of things. Again, my sincere thanks

Robert M

11:06 AM, 25th May 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Laura Delow at 25/05/2018 - 10:36
You're welcome Laura. If you, or your contractors would like a free copy of the GDPR Data Protection Policy that I have created (I have versions for landlords/letting agents, and another version for other businesses) please ask them to email me directly robert.mellors@hotmail.co.uk

Mike

11:13 AM, 25th May 2018, About 6 years ago

This GDPR is a complete nightmare, I am sure it is another stealth tax, any feeble excuse to come up with a silly law, just to raise revenue, and those who defy penalise them with heavy unproportional fines. This is nothing less than Authoritarianism.

Ask yourself how has data breach killed anyone? and How it will prevent fraud? it really serves no purpose, and one cannot identify anyone from just a piece of information on a bit of paper, can anyone be identified from personal data? (no) The only positive way to identify anyone positively is through DNA and fingerprints or dental records. Merely carrying a piece of paper with someone's name cannot identify any person even closely.

Further more those of us who now have to register will have our names and addresses exposed against our will, and made publically available, I am totally against this , it does not guarantee us our protection so I am therefore not sure if this is meant to be a good idea to register, you could be identified and targeted, your life could be in danger.

I actually made several attempts yesterday and was not allowed to register as the site was closed and I tried today and it got stuck when I reached choose your address!

Total fiasco! I will be phoning ICO and ask them why do we need a public register, as it does not protect me by being exposed with my name and address and my telephone number if you are an individual and a sole trader/landlord.

Ian Narbeth

11:34 AM, 25th May 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mike at 25/05/2018 - 11:13Mike
You write:
"Further more those of us who now have to register will have our names and addresses exposed against our will, and made publically available, I am totally against this , it does not guarantee us our protection so I am therefore not sure if this is meant to be a good idea to register, you could be identified and targeted, your life could be in danger"
That horse has bolted. People's names and details appear in all sorts of places - electoral roll, Companies House, list of licensed HMO landlords and then sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. Unless you have a very common name put it in Google inside "". You will be amazed what comes up.
Among other things the GDPR will help to stop data being sold to spammers and will require organisations to keep it secure.

Laura Delow

11:45 AM, 25th May 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Robert Mellors at 25/05/2018 - 11:06
Thank you so very much Robert.

Dennis Leverett

11:53 AM, 25th May 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Robert Mellors at 25/05/2018 - 08:57
Hi Robert
Here's what I've been told. I'm exempt in my online business because I only process personal data for the following reasons. Advertising, marketing, accounts, records used only within my own business activity. You do not have to register on my web site to use it or make a purchase and it has SSL certificate anyway. I use a third party ie. PayPal for payments and store no financial info(card numbers etc.) at all, the basic info I store is secure electronically and paper info back up, invoices etc. is stored securely. I have been advised to register voluntarily as this is public space and customers could check for peace of mind and to cover myself to a certain extent if any complaints. I do have privacy notice on my web site and do not share info under any circumstances.
Is this right or wrong?

Mike

12:10 PM, 25th May 2018, About 6 years ago

I have decided to not register but fully comply with data protection, i.e. safeguard anyone's personal details if I will only need to register if I decide to keep them on some form of electronic format, currently my tenants provide me with a photocopy of their passport that i keep in a A4 paper folder, I provide them with paper copies of everything like gas safe certificate, epc, tenancy agreement with pen filled names and address, so no processing on computer with their personal details, except I print blank agreements on my word processor and print it and fill the rest of details with a black biro.

I certainly don't want to risk being a target of someone by expose myself with ICO publishing my name and address and registration number. Until ICO can guarantee my safety and protection I shall not register. I also need data protection from them first and foremost, they do not have to make a public register available, Does DVLA publish registration details of car owners who could be identified from their cars? we could be identified from our names and public could find where we live and target us.

Robert M

12:14 PM, 25th May 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Dennis Leverett at 25/05/2018 - 11:53
Hi Dennis

If you have a business that is using the personal data of individuals for "advertising, marketing, accounts" then I believe that you need to register with the ICO, and ensure GDPR compliance.

I don't know who has advised you, whether you have this in writing from them, or whether they are accepting legal liability for their GDPR advice? (I don't, as I am not legally qualified, so I am only expressing my opinions based on my own knowledge and experience). I would strongly suggest that you visit the ICO website (when it is working again) and work your way through their checklists and guidance as this should confirm to you whether you need to register with the ICO, and what actions you need to be taking to ensure (and evidence) your GDPR compliance.

Ian Narbeth

12:33 PM, 25th May 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mike at 25/05/2018 - 12:10Mike
I fear you are committing an offence by not registering with the ICO. Under s17 of the Data Protection Act 1998 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/29/section/17 you must register if you are processing information and s21 of that Act makes it an offence not to do so.

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