GDPR/ moral advice please
Discussion
My close friend has just messaged saying he has had an offer accepted on his first house. All happy and excited I asked him to send a link to check it out. Turns out I know the property as I have done work there 2 years ago for our company.
The property has oil fired central heating and both the boiler and oil tank are in dire need of replacement, CIRCA £8000 worth of work. Looking at the EA photos neither have been done despite me reporting to owner it needed doing ASAP.
Being a measly oil man I know GDPR protects personal information about people, but in the case above does that extend to passing on such knowledge about the actual property? They have offered at full asking but an extra 8k will be a deal breaker if needed from the off.
Any GDPR experts who can guide me on the legal side rather than the moral side ?
Regards
Fb
The property has oil fired central heating and both the boiler and oil tank are in dire need of replacement, CIRCA £8000 worth of work. Looking at the EA photos neither have been done despite me reporting to owner it needed doing ASAP.
Being a measly oil man I know GDPR protects personal information about people, but in the case above does that extend to passing on such knowledge about the actual property? They have offered at full asking but an extra 8k will be a deal breaker if needed from the off.
Any GDPR experts who can guide me on the legal side rather than the moral side ?
Regards
Fb
b
hstewie said:
hstewie said: From the photos you saw it's it simply that the boiler and oil tank look a bit ropey so you simply pointed out to your friend the potential cost of replacement?
I'd also assume GDPR isn't retrospective so if you'd discussed with your friend before the 25th etc.
Photo of oil tank still visible, I may have asked him what boiler it had though and definitely before the 25th I'd also assume GDPR isn't retrospective so if you'd discussed with your friend before the 25th etc.
Gavia said:
Yes, GDPR is designed to prevent any of us ever having a discussion again about anything. I think that this topic breaches GDPR too.
Honestly, the panic over this new law is ridiculous. Just tell your friend what you know, it’s his decision how he deals with it.
Well thanks for your ever useless contribution as always.Honestly, the panic over this new law is ridiculous. Just tell your friend what you know, it’s his decision how he deals with it.
There’s a vast difference between being worried about nothing and giving out specific information about someone’s private property after THEY have paid me as a trader to do works for them. It’s only information that someone who has been inside their house could know and could potentially cost them the sale of their house. Not everyone would be happy with that.
fastbikes76 said:
Gavia said:
Yes, GDPR is designed to prevent any of us ever having a discussion again about anything. I think that this topic breaches GDPR too.
Honestly, the panic over this new law is ridiculous. Just tell your friend what you know, it’s his decision how he deals with it.
Well thanks for your ever useless contribution as always.Honestly, the panic over this new law is ridiculous. Just tell your friend what you know, it’s his decision how he deals with it.
There’s a vast difference between being worried about nothing and giving out specific information about someone’s private property after THEY have paid me as a trader to do works for them. It’s only information that someone who has been inside their house could know and could potentially cost them the sale of their house. Not everyone would be happy with that.
fastbikes76 said:
Thank you, it’s what I’m trying to establish for certain without the usual idiots chiming in to boost post counts 
No.If you had taken the house holders name and phone number passed them on to your mate and told him they had a boiler issue and to low ball them, you might have an issue.
Irrespective of whether GDPAr applies, you’ve undertaken a paid for service (delivering oil) and I would expect that there is an implied term of confidentiality in that meaning you shouldn’t be free to disclose anything you learned whilst carrying out that service. Passing on what you know about the tank could be a breach of that duty of confidence.
Jasandjules said:
GDPR does not apply. However you said this information was obtained during your employment, this may be an issue.
This is the part I need to find a definitive answer to. The only way I came across the info was while I was carrying out work there previously, which they paid me for. Its not the kind of thing you could see or pick up on without having been inside their house. Given that's a personal space and I was there as a paid workman is what concerns me. QuickQuack said:
GDPR only applies to personal data being used for marketing purposes. You can tell your friend everything you know about the place including the owner/s.
Not quite. The GDPR applies to any personal data - that is data which can be used to identify a living person. PECR regulates marketing activities. Resolutionary said:
QuickQuack said:
GDPR only applies to personal data being used for marketing purposes. You can tell your friend everything you know about the place including the owner/s.
Not quite. The GDPR applies to any personal data - that is data which can be used to identify a living person. PECR regulates marketing activities. 
Dromedary66 said:
If he has offered the asking price then there is presumably a lot of interest in the property. If I was the vendor and heard the prospective buy asking for me to sort the boiler out to the tune of £8,000 I'd be leaving the property on the market and taking more viewings.
OP.This is a friend right? Not a casual aquaintance.
You offer your professional services to check the heating system out for him free.
You book and go round.
You give your fully documented and professional opinion to your friend.
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