Privacy & Cookie Policy - Statement

Cookie Policy

Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of the Gecko Homes website (“our site”). This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our site and also allows us to improve our site. By continuing to browse our site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Gecko respects an individual’s right to data privacy and data protection in line with data protection legislation. By this we mean the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

This Privacy Statement explains how Gecko will collect, store, use, share, and protect (collectively known as ‘process’) your personal information.

By giving Gecko Homes and this website and/or social media profiles your information, or by using our website or platforms you are confirming that you are accepting the practices outlined in this Privacy Statement. If you do not accept the outlined practices, please do not give us any information or use our website or other digital platforms or portals.

1. Who We Are

This Privacy & Cookie Policy explains how Southway Housing Trust (Manchester) Limited and Southway Plus Housing Company Limited, trading as Gecko Homes (together referred to as “Southway”, “we”, “us”, “our”), collect, use, share and protect your personal data.

  • Southway Housing Trust (Manchester) Limited – Industrial & Provident Society: 31452R, Homes England Reg: L4442

  • Southway Plus Housing Company Limited – Industrial & Provident Society: 7528, Homes England Reg No: 4668, Registered Company No: IP030017

Our registered office is: Southern Gate, 729 Princess Road, Manchester, M20 2LT.

We are a Data Controller for the purposes of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

For any questions about this policy or your rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer:

Data Protection Officer
Southway Housing Trust
Southern Gate, 729 Princess Road, Manchester, M20 2LT
Tel: 0161 448 4200
Email: enquiries@southwayhousing.co.uk

2. What Personal Data We Collect

We may collect and process the following types of personal data:

Information you provide to us

  • Name, address, date of birth, nationality

  • Contact details (email, phone number)

  • Income, employment and financial details

  • National Insurance number

  • Details of household members

  • Identity documents for verification

  • Information submitted through enquiry forms, application forms or customer portals

Information we collect from other sources

  • Affordability checks and credit information from credit reference agencies

  • Information from mortgage advisers, lenders or solicitors assisting with your purchase or tenancy

  • Verification information from central government or local authorities

Information collected automatically

  • IP address, browser type, device information

  • Website usage data and cookies (see section 13)

3. How We Use Your Personal Data

We process your personal data for the following purposes:

To assess and manage applications

  • Eligibility checks for renting or purchasing a property

  • Affordability and financial assessments

  • Credit‑reference checks and identity verification

To manage your tenancy, lease or property purchase

  • Communication regarding your application, contract or tenancy

  • Property management, maintenance, repairs and safety checks

  • Rent or service‑charge collection and account management

To provide customer services

  • Responding to enquiries, complaints and service requests

  • Maintaining account security and authentication

For marketing (only where you have consented)

  • Sending information about properties, events or services

  • Sharing limited data with third‑party marketing partners only if you have given specific consent

For business operations and compliance

  • Fraud prevention, regulatory reporting and audit

  • Improving our services, website and customer experience

  • Compliance with legal obligations

4. Our Legal Bases for Processing Your Data

We use the following lawful bases under UK GDPR:

Performance of a Contract

When processing is necessary to:

  • Assess eligibility for renting or buying

  • Enter into and manage a tenancy, lease or purchase agreement

Legitimate Interests

For activities such as:

  • Managing and administering our properties and services

  • Preventing fraud and safeguarding our organisation

  • Communicating important service updates

We always balance our legitimate interests with your fundamental rights.

Consent

Used only for:

  • Sending marketing communications

  • Sharing your data with third‑party marketing partners

You can withdraw consent at any time.

Legal Obligation

When we must process data to comply with the law (e.g., regulatory reporting, fraud prevention).

5. Sharing Your Personal Data

We may share your personal data with:

  • Mortgage brokers, lenders and financial advisers (for affordability/eligibility assessments)

  • Credit reference agencies and fraud‑prevention services

  • Solicitors, estate agents and property‑transaction partners

  • Service‑providers, contractors and IT providers acting as data processors

  • Marketing partners, but only where you have provided explicit consent

  • Regulators, local authorities, law‑enforcement bodies where required by law

We require all third‑parties to protect your data and use it only for the specified purposes.

International Transfers

If we transfer your data outside the UK/EEA, we use recognised safeguards such as:

  • UK International Data Transfer Agreements (IDTAs)

  • Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)

6. Credit‑Reference and Financial Assessments

Where necessary, we may:

  • Conduct credit checks

  • Use affordability models

  • Use automated profiling to assess eligibility

You have the right to:

  • Request human review of automated decisions

  • Express your views

  • Contest decisions

7. How Long We Keep Your Data

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes collected, including:

  • Application and enquiry data: usually up to 2 years

  • Tenancy, contract or purchase data: at least 6 years after end of contract

  • Financial records: minimum of 6 years

  • Marketing data: until consent is withdrawn

We regularly review our retention periods and securely delete or anonymise data when no longer needed.

8. Your Data Protection Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access your personal data

  • Rectify inaccurate or incomplete data

  • Erase your data in certain circumstances

  • Restrict how your data is used

  • Object to processing, including direct marketing

  • Data portability where applicable

  • Withdraw consent at any time

  • Complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

ICO Contact Details

Information Commissioner’s Office
www.ico.org.uk
Helpline: 0303 123 1113

9. Marketing and Communication Preferences

We will not send you marketing communications unless you have opted‑in.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by:

We will not share your data with third‑party companies for their own marketing unless you give specific consent.

10. Security of Your Data

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data, including:

  • Access controls and encryption

  • Secure servers and firewalls

  • Staff training in data protection

  • Regular audits and monitoring

11. Use of Cookies

Our website uses essential and optional cookies to enhance functionality and user experience.

Types of cookies we use:

  • Strictly necessary cookies – required for the website to function

  • Performance cookies – analytics and usage statistics

  • Functionality cookies – remember preferences

  • Marketing cookies – only used with consent

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.

12. Children's Data

We do not knowingly collect personal data relating to children unless required for tenancy or household eligibility. Where we do, we ensure additional safeguards are used.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy & Cookie Policy from time to time. Any significant changes will be communicated via our website or directly to you where appropriate.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this policy or how your personal data is used, please contact us:

Southway Housing Trust
Southern Gate, 729 Princess Road, Manchester, M20 2LT
Email: enquiries@southwayhousing.co.uk
Phone: 0161 448 4200

Contacting us

Gecko has a designated Data Protection Officer who you should contact with enquiries regarding the use of your information:

Matthew Maouati
Southern Gate,
729 Princess Road,
Manchester,
M20 2LT
m.maouati@southwayhousing.co.uk

Information Commissioners Office (ICO)

If you have any concerns, wish to make a complaint about how Gecko has handled your data, or just want some general advice then you can refer to the Information Commissioners Office.

You can contact the Information Commissioner's Office in the following ways:

Phone: 0303 123 1113
Email: casework@ico.org.uk
Post: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Legal notice and version control

On occasion, Gecko may make amendments to this Privacy Policy. This policy was last updated on 13th November 2025.