Privacy notices: Housing

List of all privacy notices for housing, housing assistance, flexible home improvement loans, housing options, HMO's, local welfare provision, sleeping rough.

Housing options service: Privacy notice

Who we are

Housing Options Service
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Town Hall, St Ives Road
Maidenhead SL6 1RF

Lawful basis for processing the information

  • Local Government Finance Act 1992.
  • Housing Act 1996 (as amended) by the Homelessness Act 2002.
  • Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

Article 6(1)(e) of the General Data Protection Regulation - processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.

How we collect information

Information is collected from the data subject, support worker, medical professional, police, probation service, housing associations, other internal council services or a parent or guardian.

Online forms can be completed to apply for housing or to tell the council of a rough sleeper.

There is a queuing system to see a member of housing staff for face to face advice.

Homelessness Reduction Act 17 - Public services have a duty to refer personal information to the Housing options service.

Categories of information collected

Housing Options collects names, residential addresses, email addresses, date of birth (if required) household composite, National Insurance number, bank account details and personal bank account statements, payslips, medical status, immigration status and other relevant personal details. Information is collected face to face, by phone or using electronic forms via our website.

How we use the information provided

Information will be used to assess housing needs and eligibility.

Who has access to the systems that hold information about you:

Only the Housing Option’s service.

Who we may share your information with

Other council departments:

  • Housing benefits.
  • Community services.
  • Customer services.
  • Commissioning.
  • Finance.
  • Planning.

External partners:

  • Housing Associations.
  • Homelessness and emergency accommodation providers.
  • Thames Valley Police.
  • Resilience (drug and alcohol support service).
  • Achieving for Children.
  • Optalis.

Where under a lawful obligation your information may be shared for example with law enforcement agencies/other local authorities for the prevention or detection of crime.

How long we store your information

Six years after case closed.

Does your service utilise automate decision making?  No