Potential missed bin collections due to poor weather - Friday 1 December
Due to the poor weather, we may not be able to collect all bins in the Birtley, Lobley Hill, Wardley and Leam Lane areas on Friday 1 December. We will collect any missed bins as soon as possible. Sorry for any inconvenience.
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Private Sector Housing and Housing Growth Teams

Who are we and what do we do  

The Private Sector Housing and Housing Growth teams are part of Gateshead Council. We are within the Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities directorate. We are based at the Civic Centre, Gateshead.  

Private Sector Housing Team  

We help people live better lives by improving the housing conditions of residents in the borough. We do this by: 

  • bringing empty properties back into use 
  • carrying out proactive work and respond to complaints from tenants and neighbours 
  • enforcing legislation in relation to the conditions of homes in the borough 
  • hoarding and processing grants and loans   
  • inspecting and license properties under Mandatory and Selective Licensing schemes 
  • preventing homelessness 
  • supporting landlords to ensure safe and well managed private rental properties 
  • tackling noise and antisocial behaviour 
  • tackling public health issues such as drainage and waste accumulation  

Housing Growth Team

We facilitate and deliver new homes within the borough. including homes of different types, tenures, size and values. New homes support residents' needs and aspirations. They also attract households into the Borough and encourage economic growth.  

This privacy notice provides specific information about how we process your personal data. It is an addition to the information contained in our Corporate Privacy notice.  

What type of information is collected about you  

Depending on the circumstances we collect personal information for the following processes: 

  • when you are applying for a private sector housing related license 
  • when we are investigating a complaint 
  • when you have expressed an interest in building or managing the construction of a home 

We collect personal information to understand your needs and provide services. Information may include: 

  • name 
  • address 
  • date of birth 
  • telephone number 
  • email address 
  • noise recordings from inside a home  
  • recordings of interviews under caution  

The only personal data that the Housing Growth team holds is on our Self and Custom Build Register. This is for those interested in building or managing the construction of a home.  

How we collect information about you  

We collect information about you from various sources to ensure that we meet your needs, including: 

  • through service requests 

  • from third parties where this is relevant to your request or an investigation. For example, from health professionals or emergency services.  

We will also collect information about you in the following ways:  

  • face to face  
  • by email  
  • via our website  
  • by post 
  • by telephone   
  • by noise app recording facility  

Why we need your information  

Licensing 

We need your information to respond to your requests for service and progress investigations involving you. We also need your information to issue you with licences. If you make an appeal against a decision we have made, we will use your information to respond to that appeal.  

We may contact you from time to time if we feel:  

  • there are developments in the law you need to be aware of  
  • we have information that may benefit you, or  
  • we would like consult with you about a new policy or procedure, or to find out your views.  

We may also contact you before licence renewal dates to ensure your property remains licensed.  

Self and Custom Build Register 

We add personal information to the self and custom build register to determine demand for suitable plots of land within the Borough. This also meets our obligations under the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015.  

We may contact you from time to time to determine whether you wish to remain on the register. 

Our lawful basis for processing your information is:  

  • task in the public interest 
  • legal obligations to which the data controller is subject 

The legislation the service is obliged to comply with includes: 

  • Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014Housing Act 1985, 2004  
  • Caravan Sites Act 1968  
  • House in Multiple Occupation Management Regulations 2006 
  • Public Health Act 1936 and 1949  
  • Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 
  • Tenant Fees Act 2019 

Who your information can be shared with

Our Corporate Privacy notice explains information sharing the Council carries out. This sharing fulfils statutory obligations, legal requirements and service delivery.   

If we wish to share your information with other council services or third parties for purposes outside of those listed above we will ask your permission. 

How long we will keep your information  

We keep your information for as long as we need to provide services to you. We may also need to keep your information in accordance with legal or other obligations. Where we have no need to keep your data it will be securely destroyed. We keep a Record of Processing Activity (a requirement under the GDPR). This sets out the specific retention periods applicable in different circumstances. For more information please contact: 

Where your information is held  

Most personal information is held on Civica APP (Authority Public Protection). This is an information system for regulatory services, hosted locally. All data is held on secure electronic systems on Gateshead council servers. 

Personal data is also held on shared internal drives. These are either password protected, or have access approvals in place.  

The Self and Custom Build Register is held on a shared internal drive.  

How you can update your information  

Our delivery of efficient services depends on the accuracy of your information. 

Please inform us of any changes to the following: 

  • postal address 

  • email address 

  • personal circumstances 

  • any of the other information we hold  

Please contact:  

Your information rights  

Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.  

Marketing and e-newsletters  

Please see our email marketing privacy notice.  

Business intelligence, profiling and automated-decision making  

Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.  

Protecting your information  

Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.   

Data Protection Officer  

Data Protection Officer  

Civic Centre  

Regent Street  

Gateshead  

NE8 1HH 

DPOcouncil@gateshead.gov.uk  

0191 433 3000  

Information Commissioner's Office  

The Information Commissioner is the UK's independent body for upholding information rights. Visit their website to find out more about your rights under Data Protection law, and what to expect from us. 

For privacy practices or data protection rights concerns, contact the Information Commissioner's Office:  

Information Commissioner's Office 

Wycliffe House 

Water Lane 

Wilmslow 

Cheshire SK9 5AF  

0303 123 1113 or 01625 545 745  

casework@ico.org.uk 

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