Data sits at the heart of social housing; every day, housing providers rely on information about people to make decisions, deliver services and support residents. Ensuring that personal data is used responsibly is fundamental to building trust, improving services and fulfilling the sector's social purpose.
Fully updated to reflect the latest changes introduced by the Data (Use and Access) Act, this second edition also includes Awaab's Law, the Consumer Standards and the use of AI in the housing sector.
This edition also includes more detail on Records of Processing Activities (RoPAs), DSARs, personal use of CCTV, data breaches, customer insight and EDI work, and reflects the evolution of the author's own thinking. Drawing on the practical frameworks she has developed through her work, the book helps readers understand not only what the law requires, but how to make good decisions about data in everyday practice.
Written specifically for the social housing sector, this book goes beyond explaining the legal requirements. Clare Paterson demonstrates how data protection begins with clarity of purpose, becoming the foundation for better decision-making, stronger governance and more effective services, helping individuals and organisations develop the clarity, capability and confidence to use data responsibly.
Whether you are a data protection officer, consultant, housing professional or organisational leader, this book will help you move beyond compliance and put responsible, purposeful data use at the heart of social housing.