GDPR confusion and misinformation

This is just the start, once the tenants get these rights, they will exercise them maliciously or under orders.

Now when you give tenant a S.21, the council will, just after telling them to stay until the bailiffs arrive, tell them to issue a subject access request to landlords, agents, managing agents, anybody they can think of.

Then you have a load of emails, docs and so on, complaints from neighbours, complaints from managing agents, contractors explaining just how whatever got broken, or even perhaps discussions between you and the agent about how much to bribe the tenant to leave, what do you give?

The chaos is just beginning...

Reply to the comment left by Mandy Thomson at 14/05/2018 - 07:02I am being hit every day with requests from organisations to retain data that they hold about me. There have literally been dozens of Emails from a diverse range of organisation. This has already become a massive bureaucratic nightmare.
I met someone last night who has recently been on a training course on GDPR compliance and is now acting as a consultant to other organisations. She thinks the whole thing is an utter ill thought out nonsense. One thing that she is doing is seeking written permission from people that she holds data on.
And so the discussions go on ad infinitum.

Reply to the comment left by Chris Amis at 14/05/2018 - 09:25On top of this what about cctv body camera recordings as evidence to prevent tenants accusing you falsely when carrying out routine inspections, or even voice recordings, and I wonder what happens to dash cams used by drivers and cyclists with helmet cameras who then post incident videos and defaming bad drivers on you tube, I wonder if they would come under the spell of GDPR, so we could sue anyone posting your video on youtube, some videos captured on mobile phone cameras and posted on YT such as racial slangs in busses, trains etc etc. so a camera operator capturing an incident between two other people posts a video on YT could be liable to be sued??? Would this mean people would then be reluctant to capture videos of incidents so crime goes unpunished as there is lack of evidence of an incident.

It's now 09.37am and I have already been hit with two more GDPR requests for permission to hold my data this morning.

Short version GDPR Policy for private landlords https://www.property118.com/landlord-gdpr-policy-short-version/

Reply to the comment left by Mark Alexander at 14/05/2018 - 15:52
Thanks very much indeed Mark. Now this is a bit more sensible.

Reply to the comment left by Mark Alexander at 14/05/2018 - 15:52
I'm all for simplification of the GDPR requirements, if possible, but following this link leads to a document that fails to mention the requirement for a data audit (what data you have, what form it is kept in, etc), recording what is done with the data, the requirement to regularly review the data held, etc, etc, and as such while it does appear to be a simplification, it omits many of the legal requirements. However, I do agree that GDPR does not necessarily mean major changes to what landlords actually already do with the data, (most of data protection is common sense precautions), but under GDPR there is definitely far more emphasis on recording what data is held, why it is obtained, and what processing is done with it, and unfortunately the simplified guide does not address these points. Landlords are of course free to ignore the GDPR requirements, or interpret them in whatever way they wish, but I don't think it is wise to advise landlords to ignore parts of the GDPR legislation just to make it easier.

Brilliant Chris & Rob & Mark.
All our lives are getting harder with all these new regs, some totally unnecessary in my opinion. Oh I don't give u permission to store my data. Well, the plumber can't ring u then to come sort that leak out that's going all over your new 65" TV.
You three coupled with your knowledge & research have just made my life easier. That is why this site is the Daddy. Whatever problems are out there, someone one day on this site has an answer.
NOW, I need someone to post me the quick link to this ICO b_____ks. so I can get it done & forget about it.
Well, forget about it, maybe not, as I've just had 2 months of driving round tenants houses to sign they have smoke alarms fitted, & they don't want thumbturn locks, & now I've got to do the same with this ICO rammel.
What next Mr Govt?
Did this Govt say they wanted to reduce red tape to business's?
I have seen some of your emails Mark, I'm hopefully gonna' read 'em later today.

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 15/05/2018 - 06:28
Hi Mick

Glad we helped if not agreed on all points.

The most important link you'll need is this:

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/

It has everything you need to know and understand regarding GDPR.

Reply to the comment left by Chris Clare at 15/05/2018 - 09:00Hi Chris
Thank you for putting this important link on here, this is the official guide from the ICO and it clearly states what actions you need to be taking, what processes you need to be considering, what procedures you need to be reviewing (or creating), and it emphasizes the importance of documenting all of this.
While it may not alter the day to day operations of the landlord very much, (if landlords are already adhering to data protection principles), I think it does make it quite clear that the creating/reviewing of policies, procedures, and record keeping, is required and that it all needs to be documented. The data audit and creation of other documents is not a simple task and it should not be underestimated. Read the ICO guidance, follow the 12 steps, decide how the GDPR affects your interactions with suppliers, contractors, tenants, letting agents, consultants, staff, etc, consider what changes you may need to make, and document it all.
The ICO website is getting better, the guidance is getting better, but if you want to comply with the GDPR requirements, then do not be mislead into thinking that a simple 2 page statement about data protection or privacy is all you need.
Ask yourself this: Do you think that it is possible for a disgruntled tenant, perhaps desperate to prevent an eviction (or out of malice after being evicted), might try to accuse you of data breaches? - If the answer is yes, then you need to ensure that your GDPR data audit, policies, procedures, and record keeping, is up to scrutiny.
Here is Chris's link to the ICO website again:
https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/