Home-Options Privacy Notice

Introduction

This privacy notice explains how the Home-Options Partnership collects, uses, and protects your personal data when you apply for social housing.

We are committed to ensuring your personal information is handled in accordance with UK data protection law and in a way that is clear, transparent, and easy to understand.

This privacy notice should be read alongside the Partner’s individual privacy notices, which can be found on their websites. You can find details of the Home-Options partners and their websites here: Home-Options Partners.

Who is responsible for your information?

The organisation responsible for your personal data (data controller) depends on where your housing application is registered.

Your application reference prefix identifies your controller:

Contact details

You can contact your data controller via the relevant organisation’s website: https://www.home-options.org/choice/content.aspx?pageid=8

Data Protection Officer (DPO)

Each partner organisation has a Data Protection Officer. Contact details are available via the link above.

What personal data we collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

Personal data

• Name, address, contact details, date of birth
• Household composition
• Employment and financial details (including benefits)
• Housing history and circumstances
• Identification documents (e.g. passport, driving licence)
• Criminal conviction information (where applicable)

Special category (sensitive) data

• Health information
• Ethnicity
• Religion

How we collect your data

We collect information:

• Directly from you (application forms, phone, email, face-to-face)
• From third parties such as:
  • Local authorities
  • Social landlords
  • Health services
  • Police and social services
  • Referees or previous landlords
  • Government departments
  • Law centres and other agencies providing advocacy, care or support
• From publicly available sources (e.g. social media where relevant)

Why we use your data (purposes and lawful basis)

Special category data is processed under substantial public interest (housing and safeguarding duties).

Do you have to provide your data?

Yes. You are required to provide certain information to enable us to assess and process your housing application.

If you do not provide this information:

• We may be unable to assess your eligibility
• You may not be able to join the housing register

Who we share your data with

We may share your information with:

• Local authorities and housing associations
• Health services
• Police and safeguarding agencies
• Government departments (e.g. MHCLG for CORE data collection)
• Cabinet Office (National Fraud Initiative - Privacy Notice)

We only share information where necessary and in line with our legal obligations.

International transfers

Your data is stored and processed in the UK. We do not transfer your personal data outside the UK.

How long we keep your data

We retain your personal data in line with partner organisation retention policies.

Typical retention periods include:

• Housing applications: up to 6 years after closure
• Fraud-related data: in accordance with legal requirements

Where exact periods are not fixed, we retain data only as long as necessary to:

• Provide services
• Meet legal obligations
• Resolve disputes

Automated decision making

We use automated systems to:

• Assess eligibility for housing
• Determine qualification criteria

This is permitted under housing legislation.

You have the right to:

• Request a review of any automated decision
• Ask for human intervention

Your rights

You have the following rights under data protection law:

• Right to access your data
• Right to correct inaccurate data
• Right to request deletion (in certain circumstances)
• Right to restrict or object to processing
• Right to data portability (where applicable)
• Right to withdraw consent (where processing is based on consent)

Right to complain

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you are unhappy with how your data is handled.

You can contact the ICO at: https://ico.org.uk

Data security

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data, including secure systems and restricted access.

Use of our website

When you visit our website:

• We use Google Analytics to collect anonymous usage data
• This does not identify you personally

If we collect personal data online, we will clearly explain how it is used.

Changes to this privacy notice

We regularly review this notice to ensure it remains accurate and compliant.

Further information

For more details or to exercise your rights, contact your relevant Home-Options partner via:  Home-Options Partners.

Last reviewed: 17 July 2026