Data Protection Policy

Data Protection Policy for Acorn Chimney Sweeping Services

The protection of Personal and Non Personal (Technical) data is recognised as being important and therefore will be managed protected and secured. All personal data will be treated confidentially in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU 2016/679) under the control of Acorn Chimney Sweeping Services.



Data Security

Hardcopy data will be secured within a locked environment at all times when in transit or storage and access will be granted to authorised persons only. Electronic data will be stored on laptop hard drives, protected by password protection, the laptops also secured within a locked environment when in transit (in vehicle) or use (office location).

Acorn Chimney Sweeping Services will ensure that it maintains appropriate and current software protection on all electronic devices that it utilises.

Authorised Persons and Data Sharing

Only persons authorised by Jonathan Ainscow, the proprietor of Acorn Chimney Sweeping Services will be granted access to data. Jonathan Ainscow will be the nominated individual responsible for data protection.

Personal Data may be shared with third party financial advisors and statutory bodies (HMRC) as part of the proof of invoicing and income required for accounts generation and tax audit purposes.

Personal and technical data regarding services provided or appliance status data may be shared with the individual commissioning a service (landlord or agent) in the event that the resident is not the recognised owner or their authorised agent. It may also be shared with the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps as part of its professional monitoring activities.

Data Retention and Deletion

Only the data necessary for the provision of the requested services and/or goods will be collected. It will be retained within the UK for the purposes of administering and managing customer and supplier accounts, and as required under statutory obligations. 

The data retention period will be determined by applicable legislation, in particular the requirement to provide evidence for tax audits 7 years after the end of the financial year to which the information applies. If not determined by legislation, data will be deleted 2 years after the end of the enquiry or service/goods provision to which it applies. Data will be securely destroyed and/or disposed of after the end of the defined retention period.

Data Breach Monitoring

Under the GDPR there are strict requirements for the notification in the event of a data breach. If there is reasonable grounds to believe that any personal data has been lost, the applicable GDPR notifications will be made as required to the ICO and/or the individual data subject.

Acorn Chimney Sweeping Services will act on any notification that personal data may have been breached, and separately will undertake periodic review to ensure all hardcopy data remains secured.

June 2019