This is a new provision. This section outlines under what circumstances information on the database can be shared with third parties other than local housing authorities and lead enforcement authorities and specifies that regulations may be made that clarify what private information can or cannot be disclosed. The intent of this section is to enable the Secretary of State to make regulations which will govern how data collected by the database can be shared or circumstances in which access to this data is limited.
Example: Fire safety investigation
A fire service has been alerted to an obstructed fire escape at a block of four flats. The flats are occupied by private renters, each with a different landlord, and it is not clear who is responsible – landlord(s), freeholder or managing agent(s) (or if responsibility is shared) – for the non-domestic parts of the premises. To determine who is responsible and must comply with duties under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the fire service must contact the landlord. To facilitate situations like this, the database regulations may stipulate that the disclosure of private information is necessary for fire services to exercise their statutory functions. The regulations may also specify that landlord addresses may only be shared with fire services under specific data sharing agreements that prohibit the further disclosure of the information.
Part 2: Residential landlord Chapter 3: The Private Rented Sector Database Section 87: Disclosure by database operator etc Background