Privacy Policy and GDPR for single Landlord?

Yes, on the landlord Advice section of our website. Its simple, basic but ‘does the job’

Reply to the comment left by Chris @ Possession Friend at 28/04/2021 – 12:17
Thanks Chris – just had a quick look. Do I have to include the bit…
# Electronically and I am registered with the Information Commissioner for this purpose.
I have heard nightmare stories about registering as that puts your head above the parapet…can you confirm if I have to register? (yes I would be keeping elec info)

What about the bit ‘ In the event the tenancy does Not proceed, I intend to retain this data for a period of up to a
year.’ If this is to justify why you rejected them or is there another reason that I would need to keep this info, as I would normally just delete or shred it.

As a private landlord we are required to register with ICO, except where properties are fully managed by a Letting Agent (and where no personal data is held). At £40 pa not a significant sum, but a very good source of income for the Government!

Reply to the comment left by Chris @ Possession Friend at 28/04/2021 – 12:17
Hi Chris – on you template you provide the optional text “On paper format, locked in a secure location. Consequently, as Data Controller, I am not required to register with the Information Commissioner”. My understanding was registration was not dependant on the format of records. Happy to be corrected, although doubt very few managing landlords working with just pen and paper!

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 28/04/2021 – 12:28
We have been registered with ICO since the requirement came. Never had any problem with registering, we just pay the yearly fee, I think it is around £40, but cannot remember.
As a married couple we own and manage our properties as private landlords.

I have a large HMO with 6monthly turnover. Does that mean for every room and every new tenant I need to reregister? That would start to rack up.

Reply to the comment left by Sjp at 01/05/2021 – 07:08
No, it is yourself as an ‘information controller’ that you are registering.
You need a brief statement that you give each new tenant. The statement should identify the fact that you will be holding information about them and that you will be using the information for certain lawful purposes. This simply means that you will be passing their details to the council tax office, utility companies etc, but won’t be selling their details to marketing companies.
Give it to new tenants, keep a copy for yourself and ask them to date and sign your copy. Do this at the same time that you do this for the AST, the inventory, the Gas Safe, the Right to Rent Guide, the EICR and the EPC. It is another burden, but what is one more eh?
The best way to think of this is as if it is an extra £40 tax per year, so just get on and pay it. Once you have registered and put it on Direct Debit you can more or less forget about it.
It is worth doing as firstly, it is a legal requirement, and secondly you are less likely to come unstuck if you ever need to evict someone.

Reply to the comment left by Jessie Jones at 01/05/2021 – 08:30
Thanks. So just to clarify, I only need to register once per year even though I have multiple btl properties and hmos?

Reply to the comment left by Sjp at 01/05/2021 – 12:42
Yup, just the once. You can have as many tenants or properties that you like on one registration.
Think this would change if you had the various properties held under different legal entities, such as limited companies, but for one landlord, one ICO registration.

Reply to the comment left by Jessie Jones at 01/05/2021 – 15:57
Thank you very much