Tenants - are you happy for your personal data to be shared ?

Shakethedisease

Landlord reference relies on the honesty of landlords. Any landlord who breaches the system by offering a good reference when they are aware that a tenant is bad or dishonest, in order to get rid of a tenant, will immediately be removed as a member - without question or right to appeal.

Where's the bit that says 'Any landlord who breaches the system by offering a bad reference when they are aware that a tenant is fine and paid in time but you you just didn't like them cos when the boiler broke they phoned the agency 10 times a week because it took you 6 weeks to fix it and only then because they got environmental health involved due to their 6 week old twins, and that got you really !!!!ed off....will immediately be removed as a member - without question or right to appeal.

The whole thing is trying to act like some kind of credit reference agency. Yet relies on not large regulated businesses uploading monthly info.. but on individual landlord's just being 'honest', 100% of the time. A complete receipe for disaster if you ask me. And I hope someone challenges this.

If not, I or someone else like me, might be tempted to set up the same thing for tenants to leave the same sort of info on landords, a la ' Dooyoo', 'Ciao', Trip Advisor or 'Kelko'...
Landords, of course, would have a right to a notice of correction too ( maximum 200-word message but the bad review will remain up anyway for 6 years). What's good for the goose after all.. I see no reason why this site couldn't be built and applied in reverse ?

Beacuse whatever the fancy schmancy wording on the FAQ, this is in fact a tenant 'rating' and review service. Nothing more. Complete with personal info, including names, D.O.B and National Insurance numbers, available to ALL subscribers... who can then contact the reviewer via telephone or email to find out more.

I could knock one of those out in 10 minutes using a generic script. Using landlords names, the property offered, a 5 star rating system and a personal space for any comments. Charging a quid for a 12 month subscription.

But don't kid yourself this is anything new. Ebay feedback and Amazon reviews have been doing it since the beginning of the consumer based internet. This is no different. Only it's humans this time.

millym

This short checklist will help you comply with the Data Protection Act. Being able to answer 'yes' to every question does not guarantee compliance, and you may need more advice in particular areas, but it should mean that you are heading in the right direction.

• Do I really need this information about an individual? Do I know what I'm going to use it for?
• Do the people whose information I hold know that I've got it, and are they likely to understand what it will be used for?
• If I'm asked to pass on personal information, would the people about whom I hold information expect me to do this?
• Am I satisfied the information is being held securely, whether it's on paper or on computer? And what about my website? Is it secure?
• Is access to personal information limited to those with a strict need to know?
• Am I sure the personal information is accurate and up to date?
• Do I delete or destroy personal information as soon as I have no more need for it?
• Have I trained my staff in their duties and responsibilities under the Data Protection Act, and are they putting them into practice?
• Do I need to notify the Information Commissioner and if so is my notification up to date?

I copied the above information from the ICO website (link below)

http://www.ico.gov.uk/what_we_cover/data_protection/your_legal_obligations.aspx

and it seems doubtful that this website is complying. Very doubtful.

millym

The first line of the privacy policy reads as follows-

We will not collect any personal information about you unless you have chosen to give it to us. If you require further information, wish to open an account or would like to contact us, we may ask for your name, address, e-mail address and telephone number so that we can contact you accordingly.

How does that work then as no tenants have given YOU their permission? Or am I missing something?

I see that hidden in the small print is a clause where members ie. landlords, give their permission for a credit check. I wonder how many members realise this?

clutton_2

""National Insurance numbers, available to ALL subscribers... "" - for the nth time... NINOs are NOT circulated to anyone, but held by the data controller to ensure the correct identity of a tenant - especially useful if a tenant has a common name

PrincessPlaty

_PrincessPlaty wrote: »

Ok i admit to only skim reading the thread so apologies if i do miss the answer to my question as i know the subject was touched upon earlier in the thread, and i haven't had the chance to read through the other thread yet neither.

I am a private tenant and have been now for a few years. 3 years ago myself and my children were victims of DV and are still to this day being harassed by the perpetrator. The most recent incident being 2 days ago.

I have had to move now because of him on several occasions each time into private rented accommodation.

If one of my previous landlords has entered my information into this website.

What is there to protect myself and my children from being found (if not so the full address but possibly the area that we are living in).

From what i have seen and read it is quite easy to register and 'act' as a landlord, so can anyone pretend to be a landlord and gain information about me?

If that is the case and no proof is required to register with the website to gain the information, is Mr Routledge in agreement for me taking him to court for damages for my information being shared without my consent should this lead to myself and my children being found?

_PrincessPlaty wrote: »

Right first point, my avatar is NOT me.

Second of all my location is NOWHERE NEAR WHERE I LIVE.

Now thirdly would you care to actually bother answering my question?

Lets try again shall we?

Are you going to answer my question or not?

millym

ali_pasaul wrote: »

• Am I satisfied the information is being held securely, whether it's on paper or on computer? And what about my website? Is it secure?
• Is access to personal information limited to those with a strict need to know?
• Am I sure the personal information is accurate and up to date?
• Do I delete or destroy personal information as soon as I have no more need for it?
• Have I trained my staff in their duties and responsibilities under the Data Protection Act, and are they putting them into practice?
• Do I need to notify the Information Commissioner and if so is my notification up to date?

milllym :

It does comply:

but herein lies the whole problem with this forum it’s not a debate it’s a lynch mob who have no interest in listening to anyone other than the banging of their own can.

Many people have tried to explain on this debate again and again why it’s needed, how it complies, that its legal, etc, etc, but some people just won’t hear a word, the only word they want to hear is that its failed and it has closed down.

Well sorry to disappoint folks but that it is not going to happen, it’s getting bigger and stronger every day, this week alone it flagged up 31 rogue tenants to landlords and saved them £1000s along the way.

So let’s face it all the time it’s doing its job and helping landlords it will get better and stronger, therefore can I suggest that if you want something changed you need to offer correct well perused constructive opinions to its founder and he will take it on board and work to make changes to accommodate everyone so they are comfortable with its format.

What he won’t do is listen to ill throughout tittle- tattle moaning which is designed to do nothing other than slag the site off or close it down, let’s not forget this web site is something which over 10.000+ landlord across the country want and use every day and they will not want it stopped because it just does not suit some peoples addenda.

Ali, the parts of the DPA that I worry are not being complied with are the parts that you have edited out of the checklist that I copied from the ICO. The ICO does not let you pick and choose which parts you comply with.

"Do the people whose information I hold know that I've got it..."

is the most obvious point to me. If I've got it wrong and LRS do comply with this bit, then I would be happy to hear the explanation.

The ICO are very big on transparency, which I feel this site lacks.

I do not believe that this forum is a lynch mob. I do think that you are unable to take constructive criticism. I have now read the thread on property tribes.

All along I have said that I think the site is a good idea, but flawed. I have pointed out what I think these flaws are in order to help, not condemn LRS.

I don't want the site to fail, I want it to do things the right way.

I have 2 main problems with it-

1. It is based on opinion so is open to abuse.
2. I now have concerns about DPA compliance.

Anyway, I wish you well.

clutton_2

i think Milly has a good point..... if LLs do plan to use this site, then i guess we might need to add a further clause onto our DP disclaimer sheet which tenants sign on a tenancy application form.... or incorporate such a clause into the AST so that the tenant is clear what may happen... if the tenant then crosses through that clause and signs it, the LL could not then transfer the data

millym

Thanks Clutton. I personally would be happy to sign such a clause, as long as I knew what it entailed. Atm, I give my permission for credit searches, LL references etc and, in doing so, know what this involves, as do the majority of people.

I do think LRS are providing a very necessary service. But it needs to sort a few things out.

Yorkie1

clutton wrote: »

i think Milly has a good point..... if LLs do plan to use this site, then i guess we might need to add a further clause onto our DP disclaimer sheet which tenants sign on a tenancy application form.... or incorporate such a clause into the AST so that the tenant is clear what may happen... if the tenant then crosses through that clause and signs it, the LL could not then transfer the data

That's all very well going forward, perhaps, but what about previous tenants? They won't have been asked / provided consent to the sharing of the info. It also breaches the terms of your registration with the site as you are required to post details of ALL your tenants.

Ali / Paul has failed to answer the questions I posed earlier re this requirement.

I am no longer a T but even when I was, I wasn't asked / didn't give my permission for any information about me to be shared.

Yet if my former LL was to join, he's obliged to post details about me. And, quite frankly, he was pretty thick and wouldn't let the finer details of the DPA worry his head (4 gas safety certificates in 12 years gives you some indication of his ability to understand his obligations...) and if the site is the success as predicted, I have no confidence he would be weeded out.

millym

The thing is, if the problems I've noted with this site are ironed out, I would perhaps be happy to register my own details with this site, which would, I'm sure, meet with the approval of LLs. But not in it's current form.