Propertymark has urged estate and letting agents to take breaches of the Information Commissioner’s Office’s data protection principles regarding GDPR seriously.
The Information Commissioner’s Office issued fresh advice concerning compliance with UK GDPR law, after an examination of complaints data found a lack of comprehension in the housing sector.
The Information Commissioner’s Office referenced specific cases where GDPR rules had been abused, such as when a tenant learned that the state of their health was unnecessarily disclosed to a legal adviser who was assessing their complaint into a neighbour.
In another case, a tenant had their house damaged further after they asked for information about a repair following a leak in the neighbouring flat, which resulted in additional damage and expense due to staff misunderstanding on how data protection law is applied in such situations.
Propertymark said it would provide attendees of its ‘Unlocking the Mysterious World of GDPR’ webinar with advice from Anna Walters, part of cyber security consultancy ‘Risk Evolves’, on how to tackle any GDPR issues in the housing market.
Nathan Emerson, CEO at Propertymark, said: “Propertymark understands the importance of Estate and Letting agents complying with GDPR law and it is crucial that agents make themselves aware of the legislation in order to avoid any breaches or legal fines.
“Propertymark advises Estate and Letting agents to register and attend the webinar where they will receive expert help and advice.”
