Prominent property lawyer David Smith – recently in the news for his guidance for agents and landlords over the eviction ban – has now developed a GDPR foundation course for Rightmove agent members. 

The course includes four modules that can be completed in agents’ own time and is completely free for Rightmove members. On successful completion of the course, agents will be CPD accredited and will receive a certificate.

Smith, a partner at JMW Solicitors, says: “GDPR training is now mandatory for agents and in partnership with Rightmove I have developed the new foundation course designed specifically for property professionals to tackle the fundamentals of GDPR.

“Making data secure is a company obligation, but it is also the personal responsibility of estate agents. The Information Commissioner’s Office expects companies to have internal policies and for employers to discipline staff who break those rules.”

Rightmove itself says that property professionals are prime targets for fraud, and stolen data enables identity theft which is a major part of most frauds. 

“Once a fraudster steals someone’s identity, they can use it to commit crimes like inserting themselves into conveyances and diverting sale proceeds or payments intended for solicitors. Here at Rightmove, we’ve seen numerous cases where fraudsters have gained access to an agent’s login details using phishing emails and uploaded fraudulent listings on Rightmove. GDPR training needs to meet some minimum standards to satisfy the ICO.”

To take part in the course simply go to Rightmove and log in to the members’ area.