ICO (Information Commissioner's Office)
The UK data protection regulator. Landlords who process tenant data (names, ID copies, bank details) are data controllers under UK GDPR and may need to pay the ICO's data protection fee. A privacy notice to tenants is required.
At a glance
- Role
- UK data protection regulator
- Landlord status
- Data controllers under UK GDPR
- Fee
- Tiered annual ICO fee (usually £40–£60 for landlords)
- Required
- Privacy notice to tenants
Full guide
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Open full guideWhy ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) matters for landlords
Most landlords hold tenant ID documents, bank details and referencing data — that makes them data controllers under UK GDPR and they should be registered with the ICO and paying the annual fee. The fee is small but non-payment is a civil penalty; more importantly, tenant subject-access requests come up in end-of-tenancy disputes and the landlord needs a proper privacy notice on record to respond defensibly.
Official sources
LetCompliance editorial reviews this entry every quarter against the sources above. Always confirm specific duties with a qualified solicitor or your local council.
Related terms
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A fast-track court procedure used under a Section 21 notice in England and Wales. Abolished for new claims from 1 May 2026 because Section 21 no longer exists. Possession is now pursued under Section 8 using a specified ground.
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The most common form of private tenancy in England. From 1 May 2026 all existing ASTs converted to assured periodic tenancies under the Renters Rights Act 2025, and new fixed-term ASTs can no longer be created for most residential lets.
Arrears (Rent Arrears)
Unpaid rent that is past its due date. Ground 8 of Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988 (mandatory) requires at least 3 months of rent arrears under the Renters Rights Act 2025 (previously 2 months). Grounds 10 and 11 remain as discretionary grounds.
Awaab's Law
Provisions extending to the private rented sector under the Renters Rights Act 2025 that set strict timescales for landlords to investigate and remedy hazards such as damp and mould. Named after Awaab Ishak. Breach can lead to tenant compensation and enforcement by the local housing authority.
Break Clause
A clause in a fixed-term tenancy that allows landlord or tenant to end the agreement early. With fixed-term ASTs abolished from 1 May 2026 for most residential tenancies, break clauses are rarely relevant, a tenant can instead end a periodic tenancy with two months' notice.