Privacy Policy
BACKGROUND:
Property118 Ltd understands that your privacy is important to you and that you care about how your personal data is used and shared online. We respect and value the privacy of everyone who visits this website,
www.property118.com (“Our Site”) and will only collect and use personal data in ways that are described here, and in a manner that is consistent with Our obligations and your rights under the law.
Please read this Privacy Policy carefully and ensure that you understand it. Your acceptance of Our Privacy Policy is deemed to occur upon your first use of Our Site
. If you do not accept and agree with this Privacy Policy, you must stop using Our Site immediately.
- Definitions and Interpretation
In this Policy the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Account” |
means an account required to access and/or use certain areas and features of Our Site; |
“Cookie” |
means a small text file placed on your computer or device by Our Site when you visit certain parts of Our Site and/or when you use certain features of Our Site. Details of the Cookies used by Our Site are set out in section 13, below; |
“Cookie Law” |
means the relevant parts of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003; |
“personal data” |
means any and all data that relates to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified from that data. In this case, it means personal data that you give to Us via Our Site. This definition shall, where applicable, incorporate the definitions provided in the EU Regulation 2016/679 – the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”); and |
“We/Us/Our” |
Means Property118 Ltd , a limited company registered in England under company number 10295964, whose registered address is 1st Floor, Woburn House, 84 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4AB. |
- Information About Us
- Our Site is owned and operated by Property118 Ltd, a limited company registered in England under company number 10295964, whose registered address is 1st Floor, Woburn House, 84 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4AB.
- Our VAT number is 990 0332 34.
- Our Data Protection Officer is Neil Patterson, and can be contacted by email at npatterson@property118.com, by telephone on 01603 489118, or by post at 1st Floor, Woburn House, 84 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4AB.
- What Does This Policy Cover?
This Privacy Policy applies only to your use of Our Site. Our Site may contain links to other websites. Please note that We have no control over how your data is collected, stored, or used by other websites and We advise you to check the privacy policies of any such websites before providing any data to them.
- Your Rights
- As a data subject, you have the following rights under the GDPR, which this Policy and Our use of personal data have been designed to uphold:
- The right to be informed about Our collection and use of personal data;
- The right of access to the personal data We hold about you (see section 12);
- The right to rectification if any personal data We hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete (please contact Us using the details in section 14);
- The right to be forgotten – i.e. the right to ask Us to delete any personal data We hold about you (We only hold your personal data for a limited time, as explained in section 6 but if you would like Us to delete it sooner, please contact Us using the details in section 14);
- The right to restrict (i.e. prevent) the processing of your personal data;
- The right to data portability (obtaining a copy of your personal data to re-use with another service or organisation);
- The right to object to Us using your personal data for particular purposes; and
- If you have any cause for complaint about Our use of your personal data, please contact Us using the details provided in section 14 and We will do Our best to solve the problem for you. If We are unable to help, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK’s supervisory authority, the Information Commissioner’s Office.
- For further information about your rights, please contact the Information Commissioner’s Office or your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
- What Data Do We Collect?
Depending upon your use of Our Site, We may collect some or all of the following personal data (please also see section 13 on Our use of Cookies and similar technologies):
- Name;
- Date of birth;
- Address and post code;
- Business/company name and trading status;
- Number of properties owned;
- Accountants details;
- Contact information such as email addresses and telephone numbers;
- Proof of residence and ID;
- Financial information such as income and tax status;
- Landlords insurance renewal dates;
- Property Portfolio details such as value and mortgage outstanding;
- How Do We Use Your Data?
- All personal data is processed and stored securely, for no longer than is necessary in light of the reason(s) for which it was first collected. We will comply with Our obligations and safeguard your rights under the GDPR at all times. For more details on security see section 7, below.
- Our use of your personal data will always have a lawful basis, either because it is necessary for our performance of a contract with you, because you have consented to our use of your personal data (e.g. by subscribing to emails), or because it is in our legitimate interests. Specifically, we may use your data for the following purposes:
- Providing and managing your access to Our Site;
- Supplying our products and or services to you (please note that We require your personal data in order to enter into a contract with you);
- Personalising and tailoring our products and or services for you;
- Replying to emails from you;
- Supplying you with emails that you have opted into (you may unsubscribe or opt-out at any time by the unsubscribe link at the bottom of all emails;
- Analysing your use of our site and gathering feedback to enable us to continually improve our site and your user experience;
- Provide information to our partner service and product suppliers at your request.
- With your permission and/or where permitted by law, We may also use your data for marketing purposes which may include contacting you by email and or telephone with information, news and offers on our products and or We will not, however, send you any unsolicited marketing or spam and will take all reasonable steps to ensure that We fully protect your rights and comply with Our obligations under the GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.
- You have the right to withdraw your consent to us using your personal data at any time, and to request that we delete it.
- We do not keep your personal data for any longer than is necessary in light of the reason(s) for which it was first collected. Data will therefore be retained for the following periods (or its retention will be determined on the following bases):
- Member profile information is collected with your consent and can be amended or deleted at any time by you;
- Anti-Money Laundering information and tax consultancy records are to be kept as required by law for up to seven years.
- How and Where Do We Store Your Data?
- We only keep your personal data for as long as We need to in order to use it as described above in section 6, and/or for as long as We have your permission to keep it.
- Some or all of your data may be stored outside of the European Economic Area (“the EEA”) (The EEA consists of all EU member states, plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein). You are deemed to accept and agree to this by using our site and submitting information to Us. If we do store data outside the EEA, we will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data is treated as safely and securely as it would be within the UK and under the GDPR
- Data security is very important to Us, and to protect your data We have taken suitable measures to safeguard and secure data collected through Our Site.
- Do We Share Your Data?
- We may share your data with other partner companies in for the purpose of supplying products or services you have requested.
- We may sometimes contract with third parties to supply products and services to you on Our behalf. Where any of your data is required for such a purpose, We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data will be handled safely, securely, and in accordance with your rights, Our obligations, and the obligations of the third party under the law.
- We may compile statistics about the use of Our Site including data on traffic, usage patterns, user numbers, sales, and other information. All such data will be anonymised and will not include any personally identifying data, or any anonymised data that can be combined with other data and used to identify you. We may from time to time share such data with third parties such as prospective investors, affiliates, partners, and advertisers. Data will only be shared and used within the bounds of the law.
- In certain circumstances, We may be legally required to share certain data held by Us, which may include your personal data, for example, where We are involved in legal proceedings, where We are complying with legal requirements, a court order, or a governmental authority.
- What Happens If Our Business Changes Hands?
- We may, from time to time, expand or reduce Our business and this may involve the sale and/or the transfer of control of all or part of Our business. Any personal data that you have provided will, where it is relevant to any part of Our business that is being transferred, be transferred along with that part and the new owner or newly controlling party will, under the terms of this Privacy Policy, be permitted to use that data only for the same purposes for which it was originally collected by Us.
- How Can You Control Your Data?
- In addition to your rights under the GDPR, set out in section 4, we aim to give you strong controls on Our use of your data for direct marketing purposes including the ability to opt-out of receiving emails from Us which you may do by unsubscribing using the links provided in Our emails.
- Your Right to Withhold Information
- You may access certain areas of Our Site without providing any data at all. However, to use all features and functions available on Our Site you may be required to submit or allow for the collection of certain data.
- You may restrict Our use of Cookies. For more information, see section 13.
- How Can You Access Your Data?
You have the right to ask for a copy of any of your personal data held by Us (where such data is held). Under the GDPR, no fee is payable and We will provide any and all information in response to your request free of charge. Please contact Us for more details at info@property118.com, or using the contact details below in section 14.
- Our Use of Cookies
- Our Site may place and access certain first party Cookies on your computer or device. First party Cookies are those placed directly by Us and are used only by Us. We use Cookies to facilitate and improve your experience of Our Site and to provide and improve Our products AND/OR We have carefully chosen these Cookies and have taken steps to ensure that your privacy and personal data is protected and respected at all times.
- All Cookies used by and on Our Site are used in accordance with current Cookie Law.
- Before Cookies are placed on your computer or device, you will be shown a cookie prompt requesting your consent to set those Cookies. By giving your consent to the placing of Cookies you are enabling Us to provide the best possible experience and service to you. You may, if you wish, deny consent to the placing of Cookies; however certain features of Our Site may not function fully or as intended. You will be given the opportunity to allow only first party Cookies and block third party Cookies.
- Certain features of Our Site depend on Cookies to function. Cookie Law deems these Cookies to be “strictly necessary”. These Cookies are shown below in section 13.5. Your consent will not be sought to place these Cookies, but it is still important that you are aware of them. You may still block these Cookies by changing your internet browser’s settings as detailed below in section 13.9, but please be aware that Our Site may not work properly if you do so. We have taken great care to ensure that your privacy is not at risk by allowing them.
- The following first party Cookies may be placed on your computer or device:
Name of Cookie |
Purpose |
Strictly Necessary |
JSESSIONID |
Used only to collect performance data, with any identifiable data obfuscated |
No |
__cfduid |
This cookie is strictly necessary for Cloudflare's security features and cannot be turned off. |
Yes |
- Our Site uses analytics services provided by Google Analytics and Facebook. Website analytics refers to a set of tools used to collect and analyse anonymous usage information, enabling Us to better understand how Our Site is used. This, in turn, enables Us to improve Our Site and the products AND/OR services offered through it. You do not have to allow Us to use these Cookies, however whilst Our use of them does not pose any risk to your privacy or your safe use of Our Site, it does enable Us to continually improve Our Site, making it a better and more useful experience for you.
- The analytics service(s) used by Our Site use(s) Cookies to gather the required information.
- The analytics service(s) used by Our Site use(s) the following Cookies:
Name of Cookie |
First / Third Party |
Provider |
Purpose |
__utma, __utmb, __utmc, __utmt, __utmz |
First |
Google |
Helps to understand how their visitors engage with our website |
_fbp |
First |
Facebook |
Helps to understand how their visitors engage with our website |
- In addition to the controls that We provide, you can choose to enable or disable Cookies in your internet browser. Most internet browsers also enable you to choose whether you wish to disable all cookies or only third party cookies. By default, most internet browsers accept Cookies but this can be changed. For further details, please consult the help menu in your internet browser or the documentation that came with your device.
- You can choose to delete Cookies on your computer or device at any time, however you may lose any information that enables you to access Our Site more quickly and efficiently including, but not limited to, login and personalisation settings.
- It is recommended that you keep your internet browser and operating system up-to-date and that you consult the help and guidance provided by the developer of your internet browser and manufacturer of your computer or device if you are unsure about adjusting your privacy settings.
- Contacting Us
If you have any questions about Our Site or this Privacy Policy, please contact Us by email at info@property118.com, by telephone on 01603 489118, or by post at 1st Floor, Woburn House, 84 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4AB. Please ensure that your query is clear, particularly if it is a request for information about the data We hold about you (as under section 12, above).
- Changes to Our Privacy Policy
We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time (for example, if the law changes). Any changes will be immediately posted on Our Site and you will be deemed to have accepted the terms of the Privacy Policy on your first use of Our Site following the alterations. We recommend that you check this page regularly to keep up-to-date.
Bill irvine
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Sign Up18:45 PM, 23rd April 2020, About 5 years ago
WP
Councils, in general, take a rather laid back approach to this issue and will often simply accommodate the landlord. Whereas, DWP tends to take an arms-length approach, often refusing to tell you anything, unless an APA (direct payment) is in place.
Where payment is being made direct to the landord, just as in HB/LHA, the landlord is obliged to report any change, including an increase in rent to both Council & DWP, although the latter does prefer for the tenant to report the change via their online journal.They should however act on information provided by the landlord.
Bill
Jo Westlake
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Sign Up21:32 PM, 23rd April 2020, About 5 years ago
The Housing Benefit rate was reduced in 2011. I think at that time it went from the 50th percentile down to 30th percentile. For example in my area the 2 bed rate was reduced from £650 to £585 a month. It gradually went up to £612 and was then frozen for the last 4 years. It has now gone up to just under £680.
I have two 2 beds with low income working tenants both receiving benefit top ups. One has had a rent freeze for 7 years at £630 per month, the other frozen for 4 years at £620. In both cases these rents were substantially below market rate. I've just increased both to £675 which for both tenants is effectively a rent cut as they will no longer need to top it up out if other money. They are both still below market rate.
This is highlighted by the fact the local council have just placed a single parent with one child in a 3 bed I have at £715 a month on the basis that it was cheaper than any of the available 2 beds on the market.
Prakash Tanna
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Sign Up9:45 AM, 25th April 2020, About 4 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Bill irvine at 23/04/2020 - 18:45
I have recently attempted to inform UC via email of a change in rent and they responded saying that they can only accept the change from the claimant through their online account and have dis-regarded what I told them.
Prakash Tanna
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Sign Up9:50 AM, 25th April 2020, About 4 years ago
What happens if like in 2011 the LHA rates are reduced again in years to come? Are the LA's obliged to continue paying the current higher amount or would they automatically reduce the entitlement to the lower amount for existing tenancies/claimants? I appreciate any new claims would be based on the then current rates.
Mick Roberts
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Sign Up10:18 AM, 25th April 2020, About 4 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Prakash Tanna at 25/04/2020 - 09:45This is a bone of contention me & Bill have now, DWP rules/Legislation etc. require Landlords to tell DWP if rent increase, but give no way of letting us know how we do that.
I've gave about 70 rent increases to tenants in the past month & UC are constantly getting it wrong, suspending tenants own money cause they suspect some fraud. Many of the staff know NOTHING of rent increases & think it's a big scandal should the rent go up.
Some tenants aren't putting it on journal, some doing too early when old HB would just put it on system & action when due. UC really are a logistical nightmare. Till they start talking to the very important Landlord who is housing this person, there will be many more thousands homeless.s
All these answers are on Bills website:
https://universalcreditadvice.com/
Well worth the subscription if u have tenants at all on any benefits.
And Bill likes to get his teeth into any misdemanour DWP UC do-As do I, but I'd rather they din't make the mistake in the first place.
Prakash, We & the tenants will be paid the new lower amounts should they go down again. Which is another reason why Shelter needs to learn why Landlords aren't taking Benefit tenants any more, the rules change once you've took the tenant on, we the Landlord has fulfilled our side of the bargain going forward, but the DWP can renegade on their deal & we have to sort the mess out.
Prakash Tanna
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Sign Up10:35 AM, 25th April 2020, About 4 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 25/04/2020 - 10:18
As is always the case, the landlord it at the bottom of the food chain! Interesting, the tenant cannot inform UC up-front of a change in rent on their account. It has to be on the day the effect takes place or after that date, and if it's not after the date they get a message saying 'you have informed us after the change took effect'. So basically, the way the UC system is setup, the tenant has a small window of opportunity to update the change on the date it took place. Whereas, with LA's and HB, as you say, they are able to input it in advance on their system.
If as you state and I agree, they will pay the lesser amount if rates go down, there will need to be another 'pot of money' to pick up the shortfall. Be it DHP or something else as Landlord's will be reluctant to reduce the rents so easily.
Also, I use the email address (UCFULL.SERVICE@dwp.gov.uk) to comply with legislation to inform UC of a change in rent but get the following 'crappy' response ....
Your email has been received into the National Inbox for Universal Credit.
Please note, emails received into this inbox will only be actioned if they are regarding the following criteria:
Debt Relief Orders
Social Rented Sector Validation Forms
Alternative Payment Arrangements
MGP1 Local Authority Forms
Child Maintenance Group
Appeal and Tribunal Outcome Decisions
Award of IIDB
Prisoner Notification
Official Correspondence from Corporate Acting Bodies
Third Party Deduction Forms
For queries relating to Third Party Deductions, please see signposting in your Third Party Deductors literature pack.
If your query relates to a Change of Circumstance relating to housing, please see Housing & UC on Gov.uk; or for Landlord Payment and Schedule queries, please see here.
No other correspondence can be dealt with through this inbox. Please refer to Gov.uk for guidance.
Thank You
Mick Roberts
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Sign Up11:11 AM, 25th April 2020, About 4 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Prakash Tanna at 25/04/2020 - 10:35
Ha ha Yes,
You do get the crappy responses.
I occasionally get some high up people in complaints phone numbers. Things improve for a few months, I tell em something is wrong, they go away, come back & say Ooh u was right u know. I RUDDY KNOW, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL U IMBECILES FOR 2 YEARS this little easy to solve query that is potentially putting tenants home at risk. AAAAAhhhhh......
And then the phone number changes. And the person moves department.
They give us Landlords an email, yes they will have to talk to the dreaded Landlord, it will cost money, but it will save DWP millions in complaints, the Govt & Councils billions in homeless, & everyone will be a winner.
Neil Couling the Director or UC, I have an email from him to me saying he agrees things would be better with a Landlord portal, & he 'says' he's gonna' talk to me after this Coronavirus, but I'm guessing this is even out his hands, the Director of UC want's a Private Landlords Portal, but we can't have one. Winds me up on the news when the MP's say Landlord's have got a portal, we ruddy haven't, the Councils & Big Housing Associations have one, not us!
Give us Portal & Bill can finally retire cause I really hope he doesn't until UC finally sort theirselves out. Cause without him, I am lost on UC. UC & Licensing are bringing my retirement much more forward & my tenants of 23 years etc. potentially homeless as I can't keep em forever with the battles of UC, UC is really heart attack material as u get older.
These on this page, please start complaining, here is the process which I would be happy for Bill to correct me on if he knows a newer better way last few months:
This can be done from u & or tenant.
If UC have messed up, u MUST complain. Otherwise it could be over a year before u get solved. Get the clock ticking down now.
Email N-EMIDLANDS.CRT@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK (this address for Nottinghamshire)
& put Stage 1 complaint in subject.
In the body of the e-mail you should provide all the details of the tenant, address, NINO, DOB etc. or your landlord reference number, a summary of your concerns (what has happened) and the issues still to be addressed.
If they don’t reply in 15 days, write to: Correspondence@dwp.gsi.gov.uk & put Stage 2 Complaint in subject
And u could just forward your previous email. Saying you have waited 15 working days.
If they don’t reply in 15 working days, you then write to ice@dwp.gov.uk & tell them you haven’t had a reply.
ICE normally say You have to have a referral from DWP. You then tell ICE Mick Roberts said YOU HAVE TO take my complaint on, otherwise DWP may as well never reply if you aren’t going to look at complaint.
You need to start complaining to get the system changed or u could be in same boat next year.
Prakash Tanna
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Sign Up11:51 AM, 25th April 2020, About 4 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 25/04/2020 - 11:11
Thanks for that. It's very useful to know. Fortunately I only have 5 on UC whilst the rest are on HB and so far i've not had any issues with any of them. I have good relations with all my tenants and they co-operate and communicate with UC as and when I need them to. All i ask is that they send me s screenshot to confirm the change has been done. Over time everyone will be transferred over to UC, but the current Covid19 situation may push that back a year or two now, another positive I guess! 😉
Bill irvine
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Sign Up11:54 AM, 25th April 2020, About 4 years ago
Morning WP/Prakash/Mick
I see you and several other 118 posters, including my PR agent, Mick Roberts, have been expressing the difficulties you encounter, dealing with DWP on the issues of effecting the 30th percentile LHA rates for those tenants that don't report the change to DWP and getting them to acknowledge, you, as landlord, have a right and obligation in some cases, to notify them of the change in circumstances. You’re not alone, believe me!
DWP is consistently wrong, in refusing to act on information provided by landlords AND on insisting changes need to be notified, only by tenants, after the change has occurred, when the legislation clearly requires that notification should be provided during the tenant's Benefit Assessment Period, otherwise, notification made after that date could be considered"late", causing rental loss.
The truth is, you can indeed notify DWP of the rental charge increase, or any other change that has a material effect on the level of award. That’s especially true, where payment of the “housing costs element” is being paid direct to you.
See DWP’s Guidance to Landlords - 10.2 "Changes which may affect or end the Managed Payment to landlord (MPTL)" - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords
It clearly states - “Whilst a MPTL is in place the landlord must notify the department of any changes which a landlord can be reasonably expected to know which might affect the claimant’s entitlement to Universal Credit and the amount awarded.”
A change in rental charge is clearly material and something you’re legally obliged to report, just as an end of tenancy, would also be relevant.
Regulation 38 UC (Claims & Payments) Regulation 38 specifies this obligation to report.
In your case, I’d email the local District Manager and make a “1st Stage Complaint”. You’ll find your nearest DM by examining the undernoted link.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416788/jcp-district-managers.pdf
DRAFT Email
Dear District Manager
I write to advise you our tenant Mr/Ms XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX, 10 Brown Street, XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXXX has had a rental increase. His/Her new rent is £xxxxxxx per calendar month and became effective from Xxxxxxx.
To date, I’ve encouraged him/her to notify you of this increase via his journal, so that you can supersede his/her award and pay the new charge, but, he/she’s not cooperating. This failure is causing a shortfall in rent payments, causing rent arrears, which could jeopardise his/her tenancy if the matter is not attended to ASAP..
As his/her landlord, I receive payment direct, so I’m obliged to notify you of any material change in his/her circumstances. A change in rental charge is clearly material. This is required by Regulation 38 and accords with DWP’s Guidance to Landlords.
DWP's own UC circulars, providing Guidance to Landlords make this clear - Paragraph 10.2 “Changes which may affect or end the Managed Payment to landlord (MPTL)” or APA as it’s often referred to - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords
If you require any further information or would prefer a copy of the letter we’ve sent to our tenant, I’ll happily oblige.
Please acknowledge and confirm when you've superseded the award to reflect the new rate?
Yours
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
ENDS
If you experience any push-back from DWP through pursuing this line I'll assist you to prosecute your complaint.
Bill
SimonF
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Sign Up2:21 AM, 26th April 2020, About 4 years ago
Hi. Make sure you calculate increased rent Vs benefit cap as many tenants will not benefit from the increase to LHA due to the cap. Beware with UC tenants if you increase rent and the total benefit payable is above the cap then the full rent will still be paid if you are receiving direct payments but the excess amount above the cap will be deducted from the tenants allowance. This will most certainly cause the tenants to become upset. So typical government they give with one hand and take with other. There is talk for them to scrap cap especially now due to virus but they have not mentioned yet if they will.