Under current legislation Tasmanian Affordable Housing Limited [TAHL] is required to provide you with its Privacy Policy. We encourage you to read this to ensure you are aware of how we protect the personal information you provide to us.

At TAHL we aim to provide you with the best possible service and in doing so we are committed to protecting your privacy.

Why we collect your personal information?

When you apply for a tenancy with the TAHL or one of its agents, you will need to provide us with personal details including:

• Identification details such as your name, date of birth, gender, address (email, mailing address), contact numbers;
• Tenancy related information such as rental history, current form of residency; and
• Income related information such as occupation details, Centrelink payments, salary information and other relevant information.

We need your identification details to process your tenancy application, manage your tenancy, and ensure that you are receiving good service from the TAHL, its agents and to provide you with information about TAHL from time to time.

We need the tenancy and income related information so that your eligibility for housing can be assessed.

How do we collect personal information?

We collect information about you through your tenancy application form and through other contact. Some information can be provided by you over the telephone.

If you make an application for tenancy, most of the information about the tenancy is collected from you directly, but information may also be collected through your employer and Centrelink. New applicants are asked to give their consent to information being collected from these sources if they wish to make an application for tenancy.

How do we use information we collect?

We may also use the personal information we collect to occasionally notify you about:

• Important changes to your tenancy;
• Important changes to management; and
• Important changes to TAHL policies.

Do we disclose your personal information to anyone?

TAHL or its agent may disclose your personal information in certain circumstances. Generally, we do not disclose your personal information to a party outside of the TAHL, unless that party is contracted to TAHL to provide administrative services or activities on our behalf and that party is bound by the same privacy rules we follow.
Sometimes, if there is a dispute about a tenancy we may disclose personal information about you to other experts such as legal advisors.

Occasionally, we are required or authorised by law to disclose your personal information. For example, we may disclose your personal information to the Australian Taxation Office following a direction issued under taxation laws or to a Court in response to a subpoena.

We may disclose your personal information to third parties where you give us written permission to do so.

How do we protect your information and ensure it is accurate?

Only authourised staff that are employed or contracted by the TAHL under strict confidentiality agreements have access to your personal details. The administration systems used to manage your tenancy details incorporate the use of secure hardware and software products which protect against unauthorised access. All hard copies with your personal details are also protected in our secure archiving system.

How was this Policy Developed?

TAHL aims to ensure that it's Privacy Policy is in line with National Privacy Principles. The National Privacy Principles can be found in the attached document.  National Privacy Principles.pdf

Who should you contact if you have any questions regarding our Privacy Policy?

Telephone: 0362 702279
Facsimile:   0362 702223
Email:  info@tasaffordablehousing.com
Write to: The Privacy Officer
Tasmanian Affordable Housing Limited
GPO Box 1236
Hobart TAS 7001

Can you complain about a breach of your privacy?

If you believe that we have not protected your personal information as set out in this privacy policy you may lodge a complaint with us in any of the following ways:

Telephone: 0362 702279
Facsimile:   0362 702223
Email:  info@tasaffordablehousing.com
Write to: The Privacy Officer
Tasmanian Affordable Housing Limited
GPO Box 1236
Hobart TAS 7001

What if you are not satisfied with our response?

If you are not satisfied with the result of your complaint to TAHL you can refer your complaint to the Federal Privacy Commissioner.

You can contact the Federal Privacy Commissioner by:

Telephone: 1300 363 992
Write to: Director of Complaints
Office of the Federal Commissioner
GPO Box 5218
Sydney NSW 10

Version 1
Dated 29 April 2007.