There are some differences between your rights to see your housing tenancy records and your general rights of access to personal information, which are explained in the first section of this guide. This section tells you about the differences. Otherwise, your rights are as stated in the first section of the guide.

This section does not apply to records held by housing associations and private landlords, or to your personal information that is not part of your tenancy record; for example, records held by local authority (council) housing benefit offices. These records are covered by your general rights, as stated in the first section of the guide.

Housing records are residential tenancy records, which are held:

• in England and Wales, by ’Housing Act local authorities’, and housing action trusts established under the 1988 Housing Act
• in Scotland, by Communities Scotland, a local authority, a joint committee or joint board of two or more local councils, or any trust under the control of a council
• in Northern Ireland, by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

These are known as the data controllers.

You have a right of access to your records if you are a current or past tenant, or an applicant for a tenancy.

How can I complain?

If you are dissatisfied with the way your application has been dealt with, you should first write and complain to the director of housing or the chief executive of the council, or if you are in Northern Ireland, the Housing Executive. If your complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction, you can complain to the Information Commissioner — see the entry under the ’Advice and assistance’ page.

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