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  2. About the council
  3. Information governance
  4. Data protection
  5. Privacy notice

Stay safe in very hot weather

Very hot weather is expected for the next few days. A red heat-health alert (the highest level) is in place for London until Friday.  

Hot weather can be dangerous and can cause serious illness. Stay safe and look out for others who may be particularly vulnerable to the heat. Read advice on GOV.UK

Cool spaces

There are local cool spaces that are free and open to everyone. Visit them to rest, drink water and stay cool. Find a cool space near you

Access Islington hubs 

North and South Access Islington hubs are closed due to the hot weather. The Central Hub is open for urgent, in-person support until 3pm on Friday but avoid travelling unless it is essential. 

You can still access our services online and you can call us on 020 7527 2000 if you need to speak to someone. 

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Housing needs service privacy notice

This privacy notice explains how we handle your personal information when you apply for housing support.

Last updated: May 2026 

What this notice is about 

The Housing Needs service gives housing advice and assistance to residents.  We provide temporary accommodation, maintain the housing register and provide the statutory homelessness service. 

This privacy notice explains how we handle your personal information when you apply for housing support. You should also read our main privacy notice, which gives more details about your rights and how to contact us.  

What information we collect, hold and use 

We may collect: 

  • your full name 
  • your contact details, such as email and phone number 
  • your current and previous addresses 
  • your date of birth    
  • National Insurance number 
  • information about the other members of your household and their personal details 
  • employment and income information 
  • your photograph 
  • information about any relevant anti-social behaviour or tenancy breaches (for example, reports of serious nuisance, harassment, or evidence of ASB linked to you or your household, if this applies) 
  • criminal offence data such as your remand status or your status as a victim or survivor 
  • sensitive information such as your ethnicity, sexual orientation, immigration status, medical and support needs for yourself and your household (when relevant to your application) 

Where we get your information from 

We get information from:   

  • you give it to us directly 
  • a third party, such as a social worker, support worker or health professional 

You do not have to share your information if you feel a request is not appropriate, but this might affect the support or services we can provide. 

How we use this information 

We use this information to: 

  • assess your housing needs 
  • give you housing advice and support 
  • decide if we have a legal duty to help you under homelessness legislation  
  • create and manage your Personal Housing Plan  
  • help prevent homelessness and provide emergency or temporary accommodation if needed  
  • understand housing needs and manage the Housing Register  
  • share information with other councils and partner organisations to improve services and support for people who are homeless or at risk  
  • take action (one our own or with partner agencies) if you or your household are involved in anti-social behaviour, to help keep staff, residents and the community safe provide extra support to people and families who are most in need or at risk of harm  
  • meet our legal safeguarding duties to protect children and vulnerable adults  
  • detect and prevent fraud, crime, and unlawful activity  
  • monitor, evaluate, and improve our services 

Our legal reasons for processing (using) your data 

Under UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) and the Data Use and Access Act 2025 (DUAA 2025) we use your data because: 

  • it’s our legal obligation (the law says we must) 
  • in your vital interest (to protect your life or safety) 
  • we are doing something in the public interest or as part of our official duties (public task) 
  • in other circumstances where you give your consent (you said that we can) 

If the information you give us includes sensitive personal details—like your health, religion, or ethnic background—we’ll only use it if you give us your clear and specific permission. This is known as ‘explicit consent’ under Article 9(2)(a) of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), which allows us to process special category data when you’ve agreed to it. 

Other laws that apply to our services 

We must follow a number of laws like those listed below but this is not a complete list of legislations: 

  • Housing Act 1996 
  • Homelessness Act 2002 
  • Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 
  • Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 
  • Localism Act 2011 
  • Equality Act 2010 
  • Crime and Disorder Act 1998 
  • ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014 

Who we share your information with 

We may share your information with: 

  • other council departments, such as our benefits service 
  • other councils and government agencies, such as the Home Office or or Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) 
  • landlords and partner agencies to help provide  accommodation or support 
  • voluntary sector bodies, such as those that provide debt advice and support 
  • Now Medical, an independent medical advice provider that helps us to assess your application and may  contact your healthcare providers if needed 
  • the police or legal enforcement agencies and community safety partners 

How we store your data 

We keep your information safe in our secure case management system. Only staff who need it can see it.  

To find out how long we keep your information, data check our main privacy notice and retention schedule. 

Your individual rights 

You have rights over your personal data. For more details see our main privacy notice and the page about your individual rights.  

Sometimes we’ll need your permission to gather more information about you or to share your details with partner organisations. This helps us give you the best advice and support, or connect you with other services that can help.  

If you choose not to share your personal information, we may not be able to assess your housing situation or offer you the advice and assistance you might need. 

Complaints 

If you are unhappy with how we use your data please see the council’s main privacy notice to find out how to make a complaint.  

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Data protection: We will handle your personal information in line with the Data Protection Act 1998 and in accordance with the council’s Fair Processing Notice.