Since the GDPR came into force, the concept of data protection has become part of our daily lives, and the very first step in contacting almost any service provider is to give consent to the processing of our data.
However, data protection is not only crucial in the life of a company, but also in the life of a condominium, since in Hungary, condominiums are mainly owned by natural persons. It is important to know that the provisions on data protection do not apply to the data of companies, as this public information is available to anyone, and the rules on business confidentiality may be of more interest in relation to it.
What personal data processing is involved in a condominium?
Obviously, the natural identification data of private owners, which are available to all other owners in the deed of association, are certainly personal data that need to be protected. This also includes the contact details that owners use to communicate with each other by telephone or email, as this is information that is not known to third parties and that must be protected.
In addition to these data, the common representative of the condominium also has the bank account details of the co-owners, which are nowadays also considered as highly sensitive information.
Many condominiums have cameras in common areas, stairwells or in the gardens of the condominium to ensure the security of property and persons. The use of cameras is a major privacy issue, and it is essential that condominium owners establish appropriate use and policies before installing such equipment on their property.
But what do co-owners need to do to comply with the relevant data protection rules?
Dr. György Zalavári, a data protection lawyer, points out that the condominium's privacy documentation must be approved by the general assembly and an extract of the documentation, with the essential information on data management, must be placed in the condominium in such a way that it is available to everyone upon entering the property.
It is not excluded that a condominium with a particularly large number of sub-units and thus a significant number of owners may even have to elect a data protection officer by law - this is a requirement in the case of large-scale processing of personal data.
If you have any questions regarding the data management of your condominium, please contact our data protection lawyer, Dr. György Zalavári, who will be happy to assist you.