A Practical Guide to Data Protection in Social Housing

Social housing providers collect and store information about the huge number of individuals they serve, so a clear understanding of both the legislation and the practicalities of handling personal data is critical. Unfortunately, there are many myths about data protection, from needing consent to process any personal data, to organisations being prevented from helping vulnerable people due to data protection laws. These myths, and more, are addressed and debunked in this book.

With clear advice and a pragmatic approach, this is the book that the author wanted and needed when working in a large housing association on data protection. As well as explaining the legal requirements, this book highlights the many benefits to housing providers, from handling personal data in a compliant manner, including improved efficiency and increased customer trust, which both help landlords fulfil their social purpose more effectively.

This book shows everyone working in housing, not just data protection officers, how data protection can go from being seen as red tape or a blocker, to becoming the foundation on which to achieve the sector’s goals. It doesn’t just lay out the law, it also contains actionable advice and ideas for identifying risks and appropriate controls, and embedding data protection into the day-to-day work of social housing providers.