Supported housing privacy notice (easy read)

Portsmouth City Council looks after supported housing services.
We collect and use information about you so we can:

• support you
• manage your home
• keep you and other people safe

This page explains what information we use and why.

We may use information about you, such as:

• your name, address and date of birth
• your phone number or email address
• details about your home and tenancy
• details about people you live with or people we contact for you
• money information, for example if you pay by direct debit

We may also use extra personal information if we need it to support you, such as:

• health information
• information about your support needs
• information about risks, to help keep people safe

We keep notes of letters, emails and phone calls about your support or your home.

We use your information to:

• provide supported housing services
• manage your tenancy
• arrange repairs to your home
• offer you support
• help you get help from other council services if you need it

If we ever want to use your information for publicity (for example photos or stories), we will ask you first.

The law says the council can use your information because:

• we have a public duty to provide housing and support services
• we have a tenancy agreement with you

This means we do not usually rely on your consent to provide services.

If we do use your consent (for example for publicity), you can change your mind at any time.

Some information is needed so we can:

• support you properly
• manage your tenancy
• keep people safe

If you do not give us important information, we may not be able to give you the right support.

We only share your information when the law allows us to.

This may include sharing information with:

• other parts of Portsmouth City Council
• health or care services
• housing providers
• repair contractors
• the police or emergency services, if someone is at risk

We only share what is needed and no more.

We keep your information safe by:

• using secure computer systems
• only letting trained staff see it
• making sure organisations we work with protect it properly

We only keep your information for as long as we need it. How long depends on the type of information.

You have rights over your information.

You can:

• ask to see the information we hold about you
• ask us to correct information that is wrong
• ask questions about how your information is used
• complain if you are unhappy

Asking to see your information is called a Subject Access Request.

Some buildings may have CCTV cameras.

If you want to see CCTV images of yourself, you can ask for them using a Subject Access Request.

We may not be able to show images that include other people.

If you are unhappy with how we use your information, you can complain to:

Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Phone: 0303 123 1113

Data Protection Officer
Portsmouth City Council
Civic Offices,
Portsmouth,
PO1 2AL

Email: DataProtection@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Telephone: 023 9282 2251

This privacy notice was last updated on 8 August 2025.