What is GDPR?
GDPR is a new set of regulations that replace the existing Data Protection Act. The regulations come into force on the 25 May 2018 and they place a greater responsibility on all organisations, including Wellhouse Housing Association, to ensure your personal data is secure, accurate and up-to date.
Access
Everyone will now have much greater access to the personal data that an organisation holds on them and will legally be allowed to view the data by making a Subject Access Request. Incorrect or incomplete data can also be rectified upon request. There is also a right to demand that your data is deleted if it’s no longer necessary to the purpose for which it was collected. This is known as the “right to be forgotten”.
Processing
Organisations must ensure they provide a legal or contractual reason for processing all types of personal data that they have not sought specific consent to use. The GDPR requires that controllers and processors must be transparent about how they collect data, what they do with it, and how they process it, and must be clear in explaining these things to you. If Wellhouse shares your personal data with another organisation, we will let you know why we do this, who the other organisation is and what they will do with your data. These organisations will need to adhere to the same GDPR regulations as Wellhouse. Wellhouse Housing Association provides a Fair Processing Notice to all individuals that it collects personal data about and this will be issued in due course. This Notice outlines the following details of how we manage the data we collect:-
- What information we collect
- Why we collect it
- Who we share it with and why
- How we store it
Security
GDPR will enforce stricter rules upon organisations to ensure that they are taking all reasonable measures to guard against data theft, loss, or other breach. And if there is a breach of your data we must let you, and the Information Commissioner’s Office know at the earliest opportunity.
Further Information
We will continue to inform you of the implications of the new legislation which comes into force in May and how Wellhouse Housing Association and its tenants will be affected by this. You can also visit the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) website for further information at https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/