Supplementary Privacy Notice – More and Better Social Homes

The Regulator of Social Housing has published a supplementary privacy notice detailing how personal data will be handled during its “More and Better Social Homes” discussion exercise. This initiative seeks input from a broad range of stakeholders to inform future social housing policy and regulation in England, with clear guidelines on data protection and participant rights.

Overview of the Discussion Exercise and Data Handling

The Regulator of Social Housing is conducting a consultation to gather views on social housing improvements, inviting responses from tenants, shared owners, housing providers, and other interested parties. Personal data collected through online surveys, email, or post will be processed to analyse feedback and support policy development. The regulator acts as the data controller, ensuring that data is managed responsibly and securely throughout the exercise.

Data Use and Privacy Safeguards

Personal information such as names, contact details, respondent categories, and the content of responses will be collected. Sensitive data is not expected to be gathered, and participants are advised against including such information unless essential. The regulator uses UK-based platforms for data storage and employs approved tools, including Microsoft 365 Copilot, to assist in thematic analysis while maintaining human oversight. Anonymisation and redaction processes are applied before any public summaries are released to protect individual identities.

What this means for landlords

Landlords and property professionals who participate or contribute feedback should be aware that their personal data will be handled in accordance with UK data protection laws, with transparency about its use. Participation is voluntary and responses will be used solely to inform social housing policy and regulation. Those providing input should avoid sharing sensitive personal details and can expect their data to be securely stored and anonymised where appropriate.

What TLA members should consider

• Review the privacy notice carefully before participating to understand how your data will be used and protected.
• Ensure that any feedback submitted does not include sensitive personal information unless absolutely necessary.
• Keep copies of your responses and contact the regulator if you wish to access or clarify your submitted data.

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TLA update

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