HMO licence – Consistency of the Public Register?

HMO licence – Consistency of the Public Register?

10:02 AM, 19th February 2024, About 9 months ago 15

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Hello, I recently obtained an HMO licence and, to my horror, found out that my home address will be included in the public register. Anybody can search this register online and obtain my home address.

There seems to be no consistency between various councils as to what is publicly published.

Medway Council publishes online a redacted list which shows the address of the rented property and the rooms and licensed capacity of the property. A full register can be searched in person at the council offices by paying a £50.27 fee

Tower Hamlets publishes online the name of the licence holder, the postcode of the rented property and the home address of the licence holder.

To me, the Medway Council approach is fair but Tower Hamlets invades my right to privacy. We are forever being told to not put personal details online and keep your data safe.

However, here I am being forced to put information in the public domain that I really don’t want being out there.

Is there anyway I can stop this or amend it to be more like Medway Council?

Thank you,

Paddy


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Tim

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20:49 PM, 20th February 2024, About 9 months ago

“appropriate national authority “ does anyone know who or what this is?

Paddy Murphy

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21:02 PM, 20th February 2024, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Tim at 20/02/2024 - 20:49
Yes

The Secretary of State is described as the appropriate national authority in the housing act 2004

Mick Roberts

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7:00 AM, 21st February 2024, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Paddy Murphy at 20/02/2024 - 20:47
Cause Council's are brain dead & don't understand what could be a fractious relationship between tenant & Landlord-After all, Landlord is always wrong isn't he.
Council's have zero common sense as the staff member moves role next year.
And does the Council staff member give us his home address?

Paddy Murphy

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11:44 AM, 9th March 2024, About 8 months ago

So I kept digging and eventually came across the following

https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/housing/private-housing/property-licensing-landlords-and-letting-agents/register-licences

in particular the following information given to Hammersmith and Fulham by the information commissioners office

'However, it is the form in which the register is provided where it may be considered unfair and subsequently breach the DPA, such as publishing the full register on the internet. The requirement under the Housing Act is just to provide a copy of the register on request, there is no obligation to make it available electronically since publication on the internet may be unfair and excessive given the potential for ease of access by a large number of people."

So I have written to the local council to request that they format the information in accordance with the guidance of the information commissioners office.

If you are having the same issue you may wish to do the same as by publicly disclosing the information online is illegal.

Good luck

Paddy Murphy

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18:15 PM, 28th May 2024, About 6 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Paddy Murphy at 09/03/2024 - 11:44
Final Closure on the subject...I wrote to the local council as described above on March 9th and 10 weeks later they removed my (and all other HMO licensees) name and address from the register that was published on the internet.

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