Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

[Suzie999]

I'm wondering if my landlord is legally entitled to do this?
I had a meeting with them last week and a housing officer stated that we understand your situation is this, that the other etc.

I've not personally spoken to anyone from my housing association since about 2008 so there is absolutely no other way they could have gained this information.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Amethyst]

Re: Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

Without knowing a little more it's impossible to say. A neighbour could have made a complaint (eg if the meeting was about damage to the property) or if your benefits entitlements have changed (due to a relationship breakdown / employment status ) then they may be aware through housing benefit changes etc etc etc. So just briefly, what was the meeting about, is the info about your situation going to affect your tenancy in a negative way ?

[Suzie999]

Re: Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

No, not claiming housing benefit, so it can't be that,
No complaint as far as I'm aware. My neighbours are the type to complain directly to me anyway lol

There was an issue with rent arrears for which I'd been ignoring their efforts for me to contact them for months... putting it off 'till tomorrow etc. The issue is sorted out now, so no, there is no problem with my tenancy.
They basically knew my son was in Uni and the area I work in. Not much I know but they couldn't have got that information from anywhere else as far as I can work out.
I'm waiting for a call back from this housing officers manager (not that she's rushing or anything!) so I guess I might find out then.

I guess I just wanted to know if they were allowed to do it.

Thanks for your reply

[CleverClogs]

Re: Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

They basically knew my son was in Uni and the area I work in. Not much I know but they couldn't have got that information from anywhere else as far as I can work out.

How very curious.

And what the buggery might those data have to do with your tenancy?

I guess I just wanted to know if they were allowed to do it.

I rather doubt that they are.

They seem to have collected data about you that is of no possible relevance to your tenancy, which makes one wonder if the Data Protection Act 1998 or the Regulation of Investigative Powers Act 2000 (link) - or both - had been contravened.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

http://www.justice.org.uk/pages/-169.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investi...owers_Tribunal
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03bdsyk

[Suzie999]

Re: Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

Thanks for the links, I'll certainly be checking them out.

It wasn't just the information this person had, it was her overall unprofessional conduct and scare tactics that concerns me too.

I'm not going to say how I felt because I want an unbiased perspective.

Bearing in mind that it was quite a stressful situation to begin with and, I'm quite a strong person, how would anyone feel if after being told they are considering forcing a sale on my home (I own 40%) she sat there staring at me right in the face for at least 30 seconds without saying anything. I kept looking away, giving a little smile hoping for a reasonable response. Nothing, just staring. WTF was that all about?!

Thanks in advance

[bluebottle]

Re: Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

Housing associations are subject to the Human Rights Act 1998 whether they like it or not. And so is this housing officer. If you own 40% of your home, why are they proposing to force a sale? They need a court order to do so and, if you'll pardon my bluntness, a bloody good reason for seeking the court order in the first place. What reason did this woman give?

[CleverClogs]

Re: Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

Bearing in mind that it was quite a stressful situation to begin with and, I'm quite a strong person, how would anyone feel if after being told they are considering forcing a sale on my home (I own 40%) she sat there staring at me right in the face for at least 30 seconds without saying anything. I kept looking away, giving a little smile hoping for a reasonable response. Nothing, just staring. WTF was that all about?!

Intimidation.

[bluebottle]

Re: Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

Intimidation.

It could also be harassment under the PfHA. If this woman has done what she has on at least two occasions, Suzie has grounds to have a Cease and Desist Notice served on the housing association's CEO whom, I have no doubt, will be delighted that one of his housing officers has exposed the housing association to potential litigation. There is also the Housing Ombudsman who could be contacted for assistance.

[Suzie999]

Re: Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

Thanks for that Bluebottle,

Basically I owe them rent and refused to get in touch for months. Wrong I know and they were right to want a meeting to sort it out but it's the tactics this woman used that concerns me.

I'm guessing that all they need to do is deal with facts and proper processes, not try to delve in to my personal life, trying to get me to talk about things I find highly traumatic. This went on for an hour, when all I really needed to do was fill in a direct debit form.

I know people have bigger problems than this here but imagine if I wasn't quite as strong? I'd be wearing a frigging tinfoil hat by now, that's what!

Oh well, by the time I've finished, she'll be treating people properly

[Suzie999]

Re: Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

Intimidation.

Precisely what I thought. Just checking I wasn't being over sensitive

[bluebottle]

Re: Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

If you have a Law Centre in your local area, you might be able to ask them to write a strongly-worded letter to the CEO of your housing association about the behaviour of this housing officer. There is no excuse for it.

[wales01man]

Re: Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

Are you or your son on Facebook you may like many others have put things on there if your son is at Uni he may have stated that on facebook its actually quite easy to find out about people

[enquirer]

Re: Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

I had a meeting with them last week and a housing officer stated that we understand your situation is this, that the other etc.

Write, tricking them into putting all these points (all the stuff that they have no business knowing), in writing. Say nothing about Data Protection at this point. Once you have it in writing, you can then challenge them as to the source of that information.

There are several potential DPA breaches:

The landlord may have disclosed confidential information about you when speaking to the neighbours.
The neighbours may disclosed confidential information about you to the landlord.
The landlord may have passed that information to the council.
The Council may already have that information elsewhere, but have used it for an unrelated purpose.

[Suzie999]

Re: Landlord asking neighbours personal questions about me

If you have a Law Centre in your local area, you might be able to ask them to write a strongly-worded letter to the CEO of your housing association about the behaviour of this housing officer. There is no excuse for it.

I'll check that out, thanks

I'll wait for her manager. Prior to asking for an investigation, I will be requesting any data that they have concerning me. God knows who they have been speaking to and what info they have!

Nope, no excuse apart from an over-inflated ego