Has anyone else been contacted directly by the ICO?

Has anyone else been contacted directly by the ICO?

11:44 AM, 28th May 2021, About 3 years ago 19

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I’ve just received a letter from the Information Commissioner’s Office, Wilmslow addressed to our Management Company informing us that most companies need to pay a fee of between £40-£60 a year. It says if you are liable and have not paid a fine of £4,000 could be issued.

Apparently, they have checked our records, and we have not paid this fee to date.

I’ve never heard of this before and had a look at their website which is quite convincing.

Has anyone else been contacted by them?

Thanks.

Adrian


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GREENDIZZYCRAB

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12:32 PM, 28th May 2021, About 3 years ago

I have just looked this up and it directed me to the gov.uk website where you can fill in a small questionnaire which tells you if you need to register and pay the fee. The impression I got was if you use CCTV and electronic means of storing data, but I may be wrong.

Chris Bradley

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13:58 PM, 28th May 2021, About 3 years ago

If you hold names and dob or telephone etc of tenants or landlords then you need to register and have a policy in place of how you use the personal data. Eg. Giving details to Tradesmen, the water board etc. It's been a requirement for about 3 years.

Smartermind

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14:06 PM, 28th May 2021, About 3 years ago

It's a "legitimate" demand or tax to run the ICO. Notionally for the purposes of data protection. Any company that keeps records on people needs to register and pay this fee. What value or benefit you get from your fee is rather difficult to fathom.

John P

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14:39 PM, 28th May 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Smartermind at 28/05/2021 - 14:06
Its not for the benefit of landlors, it is to protect individuals and applies to any organisation that holds personal data.

Graham Bowcock

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14:44 PM, 28th May 2021, About 3 years ago

Despite what many landords belive, they are actually running a business and are therefore covered by GDPR legislation. Landlords need to have a privacy policy and need to register with the ICO.

One key point is that as the controller of data, you can't give it out to third parties (e.g. tradesmen) unless you (a) have the tenant's consent to do so and (b) the contractor/third party has a GDPR policy of their own.

Tim Rogers

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17:22 PM, 28th May 2021, About 3 years ago

If you hold data on your tenants in electronic form that can link to the internet, (beware all you iPhone users), then pay it to be safe.

If you don't, then inform them of this, explaining why it doesn't apply to you. DO NOT ignore it, if you do not respond they get very interested.

blair

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20:29 PM, 28th May 2021, About 3 years ago

Yes if you hold records that give tenants names addresses EVEN paper form you have to ensure the info is secure AND pay the fee. As someone said its for the tenants protection not sure how they are protected by holding their phone/contact details e.g. If someone bad finds your phone with their numbers on it ( guess if you have phone password protected then you have complied) I going to make sure my letting agents get consent to hold this simple info on future new lettings.
I still not sure how this makes the info really secure from hackers. Have u read what happened in NZ to a Hospital - hackers have now released the names and hospital records of patients as the hospital/NZ government won't pay the ransom. I doubt if this new body the ICO will prevent this. Frankly not sure what they do apart form form filling. Bit like the licensing schemes yet another form filing department that merely passes real issues on to the correct council department for enforcement

colette

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21:48 PM, 28th May 2021, About 3 years ago

I have just been on the ICO website and did the 4 question survey. I answered no to the final question. As I do not store records electronically or use cctv then I do not have to register as a landlord. I suggest that if you are not sure go on the site and answer the questions

Chris Bradley

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9:48 AM, 29th May 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by colette at 28/05/2021 - 21:48
Do you phone using a mobile phone where you store the name and number, do you email a tenant. If you so actually store electronic records.

Smartermind

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10:45 AM, 29th May 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by John P at 28/05/2021 - 14:39
I perfectly understand that it applies to all companies and is for the purposes of "data protection". I ran a tuition centre and we registered.
I seriously doubt individuals benefit from the fee either. It's just another quango that enriches those who run it and achieves little.

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