HMO Licensing Landlords and Managers

The request was partially successful.

Samantha Forrester

Dear Merton Borough Council,

I am writing to make an open government request for all the information to which I am entitled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Please send me:
Information on the House in Multiple Occupancy Owners/license holders and their managers in the borough.

The information should include the following - HMO location, contact details for the owner and license holder and the manager.

I would like the above information to be provided to me as electronic copies please.
If this request is too wide or unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me as I understand that under the Act, you are required to advise and assist requesters. If any of this information is already in the public domain, please can you direct me to it, with page references and URLs if necessary.

If the release of any of this information is prohibited on the grounds of breach of confidence, I ask that you supply me with copies of the confidentiality agreement and remind you that information should not be treated as confidential if such an agreement has not been signed.

I understand that you are required to respond to my request within the 20 working days after you receive this letter. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Samantha Forrester

foi, Merton Borough Council

Thank you for your email message. We aim to respond to all requests under
the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information
Regulations 2004 within 20 working days.
More information about the way we deal with information requests is on our
web site at [1]www.merton.gov.uk/foi.
 
Information Governance Team
London Borough of Merton.
020 8545 4634
 
 
 

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References

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1. file:///tmp/www.merton.gov.uk/foi

Steve Webb, Merton Borough Council

2 Attachments

Dear Miss Forrester,

 

Freedom of Information Act Information request

 

We have now considered your information request as set out below.

 

You asked:

Information on the House in Multiple Occupancy Owners/license holders and
their managers in the borough.

 

The information should include the following - HMO location, contact
details for the owner and license holder and the manager.

 

I would like the above information to be provided to me as electronic
copies please.

If this request is too wide or unclear, I would be grateful if you could
contact me as I understand that under the Act, you are required to advise
and assist requesters. If any of this information is already in the public
domain, please can you direct me to it, with page references and URLs if
necessary.

 

If the release of any of this information is prohibited on the grounds of
breach of confidence, I ask that you supply me with copies of the
confidentiality agreement and remind you that information should not be
treated as confidential if such an agreement has not been signed.

 

Our response:

Please find attached the HMO Public Register in Excel format. 

 

You ask specifically for contact details of the owner, licence holder and
manager. 

 

We can confirm that we hold the addresses of the license holders, but we
are withholding this information since we consider that the exemption
under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, applies to it. 

 

Section 40(2) applies to personal data when disclosure would contravene
any of the data protection principles.  The private addresses of license
holders are personal data, and disclosure would contravene the first data
protection principle, which concerns fairness.  As the landlords concerned
would not reasonably expect the council to release this data about them
into the public domain. 

 

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request please contact
Graham Owen, the Head of Information Governance at Merton Council, Civic
Centre, Morden, SM4 5DX or e-mail [1][Merton Borough Council request email]

 

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint,
you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at:

 

The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

 

Telephone:0303 123 1113

 

Website: [2]www.ico.org.uk

 

There is no charge for making an appeal.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Steve Webb
Business Support and Relationship Manager
Housing Needs and Enabling Service
020 8545 4709 
 [3]cid:567353611@28042015-0D0E

 

 

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References

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1. mailto:[Merton Borough Council request email]
2. http://www.ico.gov.uk/