Property Owner Information
Council frequently receives requests for the contact details of landowners, including owners or occupiers of neighbouring properties. However, our obligations under the Personal Information Protection Act 2004 (the Act) prohibits Council Officers to disclose personal contact details or other personal information of landowners, owners, occupiers or other persons associated with a property, where doing so, would be contrary to our confidentiality obligations under the Act.
Where a request relates directly to a neighbouring property, information or correspondence may, in certain circumstances, be forwarded to the relevant owner or occupier by the Southern Midlands Council on the requester's behalf. Whether information can be forwarded will be determined on a case-by-case basis, having regard to the purpose and nature of the request, the information involved, and any applicable privacy and confidentiality obligations. Any information or correspondence forwarded to a property owner or occupier is provided without disclosing their personal contact details to the requester. It is entirely at the discretion of the recipient whether they wish to respond, make contact, or take any further action in relation to the correspondence received.
Where appropriate, we recommend that individuals utilise publicly available records and other lawful sources of information to establish contact with the relevant neighbouring property owner or occupier. Such records may include publicly accessible property, land or other government records. Council is unable to provide information that is not lawfully available to the public where doing so would breach applicable privacy or confidentiality requirements under the Act.
Where a concern or issue arises in relation to a neighbouring property, we recommend, where it is safe and appropriate to do so, that you first approach the neighbouring property owner or occupier directly to discuss the matter. Any such communication should be conducted respectfully and without threats, intimidation, harassment or unreasonable conduct. A calm and respectful approach may assist in resolving concerns cooperatively and avoiding unnecessary escalation or conflict.
