Terms of Membership

Historic Houses membership categories

Historic Houses offers a range of membership categories depending on whether you are a supporter of our cause who also enjoys visiting our member historic properties, own or care for a historic property yourself, or wish to promote your products or services to historic house and garden owners:

• Supporter members or visitor members – for individuals or families, living in the UK or abroad, who want to support our work and enjoy learning about and visiting historic houses. Members enjoy a wide range of discretionary benefits including a regular magazine subscription and offers of free admission from hundreds of our member properties that open as tourist attractions.
• House members – for owners of houses and gardens throughout the UK including corporate, charitable, and institutional bodies. Our house members are architecturally and historically important homes or gardens and normally listed Grade I or II*. House members may choose to make their properties open or closed to the public. Many open properties are taking part in our member access scheme.
• Next generation members – are those who will in the future take over the running of a historic house, their siblings or other associate house members involved in the future of the house.
• Associate house members – are those house members who have retired or left the member property after succession but would still like to support and maintain contact with Historic Houses.
• Corporate members – for professional associations and commercial companies whose businesses are involved with historic properties and their owners, or societies and clubs who wish to support Historic Houses and enjoy transferable membership cards.

Supporter members

Historic Houses supporter members are expressing their backing for Historic Houses’ cause and mission; membership subscriptions enable us to carry out our vital work of supporting independent heritage. Membership in and of itself is the primary service that we contract to deliver to you as a supporter member and delivery of that service alone is sufficient for the fulfilment of our contractual obligations; but it also confers other benefits at the discretion of Historic Houses, subject to conditions (see below). Supporter members are entitled to attend regional and national AGMs but do not enjoy voting rights at these meetings.

Queries, comments and complaints

If you have any queries or complaints, please contact our membership team who will respond to your request as soon as possible:

Telephone: +44(0)1462 896688

Email: members@historichouses.org

Post: Historic Houses Membership, Heritage House, 12 Football Close, Baldock SG7 5AH.

Office Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00 (excluding public holidays).

Membership benefits

As a supporter member of Historic Houses, you will receive a range of discretionary benefits. Membership benefits may include:

• A membership welcome pack including a handbook.
• A subscription to our quarterly magazine Historic House.
• Access to exclusive Tours and Events (additional charges may apply).
• Access to the members’ section of the website.
• Special offers from selected third parties (e.g. discounted rates on products and services), including:
  • Free admission to participating properties, subject to conditions (see below).

All offers made by third party providers as part of your membership with Historic Houses, including free entry to participating properties, are supplied on those third parties’ own terms and conditions, in addition to any set out in these Terms. We are not responsible for, and do not accept any liability for, loss or damage suffered because of a fault, error, or omission in the provision of such services by a third party.

Subscription categories

• Single Membership is defined as one adult living at an address. Only additional child (under 16 years of age) memberships (for an additional charge) or infant (under 3 years of age) memberships, for children or infants living permanently at the same address, can be added to this category.
• Double Membership is defined as two adults living at a single address. Additional adult, child (under 16 years of age) memberships (for an additional charge), or infant (under 3 years of age) memberships (free of charge), for individuals living permanently at the same address, can be added to this category.

For further terms and conditions please read the ‘Terms of Membership for all membership categories.’

House members

House membership is for owners of historic houses and gardens in the UK including those owned by corporate, charitable and institutional bodies. Our house members are architecturally and historically important homes and are normally listed buildings. House members may choose to make their properties open or closed to the public with many open properties taking part in our member access scheme. House members (previously known as Full Members) are entitled to attend and vote at AGMs.

This membership runs on a fixed term from the 1 April to 31 March each year.

Queries, comments and complaints

If you have any queries or complaints, please contact our house membership team who will respond to your request as soon as possible:

Telephone: +44(0)207 259 5688
Email: info@historichouses.org
Post: Historic Houses’ House Membership, Warwick House, 25-27 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0PP.

Membership benefits

As a house member of Historic Houses you will receive a range of benefits. House membership includes:

• A membership welcome pack.
• Subscription to our quarterly magazine Historic House, our Annual Report, and Supplier Directory.
• Access to our exclusive house member seminars, workshops and other events (additional charges may apply).
• Access to free advisory services including expert committees and specialist advisers covering topics such as tax, security, education, planning, media enquiries, and commercial development.
• Access to the house members’ section of our website including news updates, special offers, casebook studies, and further advice and guidance.
• Representation in political debates and policy development on key issues affecting house members. Our dedicated policy team works closely with government, politicians and stakeholders to shape and influence policy in support of historic houses. We ensure our house members are robustly represented in policy areas such as taxation, de-regulation, planning and tourism.
• Access to a network of like-minded house members with similar experiences that meets with professionals, senior local or regional officials of public bodies and agencies.
  Special offers from carefully selected third parties (for example, discounted rates on products and services).
• Access to visit hundreds of wonderful historic houses, castles and gardens for free (subject to the terms and conditions below).

Any offers made by third party providers, or member properties participating in our member-access scheme, are supplied on those third parties’ own terms and conditions. We are not responsible for, and do not accept any liability for, loss or damage suffered as a result of a fault, error or omission in the provision of such services by a third party.

Subscription categories

The category of your house membership is determined by the property you own, whether the property is open to the public or not, and, if open, whether the property is run as a (profit-making) business or not. Further consideration is applied to house members open to the public based on the number of visitors the property receives in a year and/or the additional marketing undertaken by Historic Houses.

House members with more than one historic property are encouraged to apply for additional membership. This can benefit the owner of the property who can receive advice and guidance as well as marketing and other services from Historic Houses in respect of that additional property. For more information about our house membership visit our website or if you would like to add an additional property please contact our house membership team at our London offices.

Next generation members

Next generation membership is open to those who will in the future take over the running of a historic house or garden, their siblings and/or other family members who may be involved in the future of that property.  Next generation members (previously known as Successor Members) enjoy the same rights as house members except the right to vote at AGMs.

This membership runs on a fixed term from the 1 April to 31 March each year.

Queries, comments and complaints

If you have any queries or complaints, please contact our house membership team who will respond to your request as soon as possible:

Telephone: +44(0)207 259 5688

Email: info@historichouses.org

Post: Historic Houses Membership, Warwick House, 25-27 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0PP.

Office Hours: Monday to Friday 09:30-17:30 (excluding public holidays).

Membership benefits

As a next generation member of Historic Houses you will receive a range of benefits. Membership includes:

• A membership welcome pack.
• Subscription to our quarterly magazine Historic House, our Annual Report, and Supplier Directory.
• Access to exclusive house member seminars, workshops and other events (additional charges may apply).
• Access to free advisory services through expert committees and specialist advisers covering topics such as Tax, Security, Education, Planning, Media Enquiries, and Commercial Development.
• Access to the house members’ and next generation section of our website including news updates, special offers, casebook studies, and further advice and guidance.
• Representation in political debates and policy development on key issues affecting house members. Our dedicated policy team works closely with government, politicians and stakeholders to shape and influence policy in support of historic houses. We ensure our house members are robustly represented in policy areas such as taxation, de-regulation, planning and tourism.
• Invitations to our sponsored lectures with expert speakers tailored for the next generation.
• An invitation to join our annual seminar series of six fortnightly evening events designed to focus on building skills to enable you to run a historic home.
• Invitations to next generation social and networking events.
• Access to a network of like-minded next generation members with similar experiences.
• Special offers from carefully selected third parties (for example, discounted rates on products and services).
• Access to visit hundreds of wonderful historic houses, castles and gardens for free.

Any offers made by third party providers as part of your membership with Historic Houses are supplied on those third parties’ own terms and conditions. We are not responsible for, and do not accept any liability for, loss or damage suffered as a result of a fault, error or omission in the provision of such services by a third party.

Subscription Rates

Next generation membership is designed to provide support for those who are likely to inherit a historic property in advance of their succession to the property and should not be considered an alternative to house membership. Historic Houses reserves the right to charge the minimum house membership fee should it become aware that next generation membership is being used as an alternative to house membership.

Right to refuse applications

We reserve the right to refuse any application for membership.  Next generation membership is subject to approval of the Historic Houses’ Council, which meets quarterly.  Any new applicants will be notified should their application be rejected and a full refund made if a subscription payment has been processed.

On receipt of your application we process your payment with the appropriate membership fee. However, our acceptance of your application remains subject to approval by us. If for any reason we cannot accept your application, we will confirm that your account has been re-credited (if applicable).

If we are unable to obtain payment authorisation from the issuer of your payment card, or from your bank in the case of cheque or Direct Debit payments, and a membership has already been issued to you, we will require the return of your membership card/s and that you forfeit any benefits.

For further terms and conditions please read the Terms of Membership for all membership categories.

Associate house members

Associate house members (previously known as Family Members) are those house members who have retired or left the member property after succession but would still like to support and maintain contact with Historic Houses. Associate house membership is only open to former house members of Historic Houses and enjoy the same rights as house members but can only vote at AGMs in the absence of the house member or as a proxy appointed by the house member.

This membership runs on a fixed term from the 1 April to 31 March each year.

Queries, comments and complaints

If you have any queries or complaints, please contact our house membership team who will respond to your request as soon as possible:

Telephone: +44(0)207 259 5688

Email: info@historichouses.org

Post: Historic Houses Membership, Warwick House, 25-27 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0PP.

Office Hours: Monday to Friday 09:30-17:30 (excluding public holidays).

Membership benefits

• A membership welcome pack
• Subscription to our quarterly magazine Historic House, the Annual Report, and Supplier Directory.
• Access to exclusive house member seminars, workshops and other events (additional charges may apply).
• Access to free advisory services through expert committees and specialist advisers covering topics such as Tax, Security, Education, Planning, Media Enquiries and Commercial Development.
• Access to the house members’ section of our website including news updates, special offers, casebook studies, and further advice and guidance.
• Representation in political debates and policy development on key issues affecting house members. Our dedicated policy team works closely with government, politicians and stakeholders to shape and influence policy in support of historic houses. We ensure our house members are robustly represented in policy areas such as taxation, de-regulation, planning and tourism.
• Access to a network of like-minded house members with similar experiences. This network also meets with professionals, senior local or regional officials of public bodies and agencies.
• Special offers from carefully selected third parties (for example, discounted rates on products and services).
• Access to visit hundreds of wonderful historic houses, castles and gardens for free.

Any offers made by third party providers as part of your membership with Historic Houses are supplied on those third parties’ own terms and conditions. We are not responsible for, and do not accept any liability for, loss or damage suffered as a result of a fault, error or omission in the provision of such services by a third party.

Right to refuse applications

We reserve the right to refuse any application for associate house membership.  Associate house membership is subject to approval of the Historic Houses Council, which meets quarterly.  Any new applicants will be notified should their application be rejected and a full refund made if a subscription payment has been processed.

On receipt of your application we process your payment with the appropriate membership fee. However, our acceptance of your application remains subject to approval by us. If for any reason we cannot accept your application, we will confirm that your account has been re-credited (if applicable).

If we are unable to obtain payment authorisation from the issuer of your card, or from your bank in the case of cheque or Direct Debit payments, and a membership has already been issued to you, we will require the return of your membership card/s and that you forfeit any benefits.

For further terms and conditions please read the Terms of Membership for all membership categories.

Corporate members

Corporate membership is for professional and commercial companies whose businesses are involved with historic properties or the heritage sector. Corporate members receive discounts on advertising in Historic House magazine and are listed in our online and annual paper Directory of Suppliers.  Further discounts on stall space at the annual Historic Buildings, Parks and Gardens event are available through our partner Hall McCartney Ltd.

Societies and clubs who wish to purchase transferable membership cards as an employee benefit can also join as corporate members.  There is also a discounted membership rate for charities who wish to support Historic Houses’ causes.  Corporate members enjoy the same rights as house members except the right to vote at AGMs.

This membership runs on a fixed term from the 1 April to 31 March each year.

Membership benefits

As a corporate member of Historic Houses you will receive a range of benefits. Membership includes:

• A membership welcome pack.
• Subscription to our quarterly magazine Historic House, our Annual Report, and Supplier Directory.
• Access to exclusive house member seminars, workshops and other events (additional charges may apply).
• A supplier profile in our searchable online directory including your company logo, a short company description and an image.
• A supplier profile in our annual paper directory including your company logo, and a brief company description.
• Discounts on advertising space in Historic House magazine.
• Discounts on stall hire at our annual Historic Buildings, Parks and Gardens exhibition in London.
• Access to the house members’ section of our website including news updates, special offers, casebook studies, and further advice and guidance.
• Access to visit hundreds of wonderful historic houses, castles and gardens for free.

Corporate membership includes four transferable membership cards. Corporate member cards may be used once per property per day. If a corporate member would like to purchase additional cards as part of their subscription they are sold in blocks of four cards.

Use of Historic Houses name/logo forbidden

Please note that corporate members may not use the Historic Houses logo or other materials in their own marketing, publicity, or communication, materials and that membership of Historic Houses does not constitute an endorsement by Historic Houses of the corporate member and should not be used as such.

Subscription categories

Corporate members have the option to upgrade from their standard corporate membership to a premium membership which would allow them greater visibility within the directory both online and in print.  Premium members receive priority listing in the online and annual paper Directory of Suppliers.  This priority listing means that the premium member’s supplier profile is displayed at the top of their relevant sector’s print and website pages and the premium member may use a higher word count and the option to include additional images (on the website) to promote their company.

Right to refuse applications

We reserve the right to refuse any application for Membership.  Corporate membership is subject to approval of the Historic Houses’ Council, which meets quarterly.  Any new applicants will be notified should their application be rejected and a full refund made if a subscription payment has been processed.

On receipt of your application we process your payment with the appropriate membership fee. However, our acceptance of your application remains subject to approval by us. If for any reason we cannot accept your application, we will confirm that your account has been re-credited (if applicable).

If we are unable to obtain payment authorisation from the issuer of your card, or from your bank in the case of cheque or Direct Debit payments, and a membership has already been issued to you, we will require the return of your membership card/s and that you forfeit any benefits.

Queries, comments and complaints

If you have any queries or complaints, please contact our house membership team who will respond to your request as soon as possible:

Telephone: +44(0)207 259 5688

Email: info@historichouses.org

For further terms and conditions please read the Terms of Membership for all membership categories.

Invitation to view members

Invitation to View membership is for owners of houses, gardens and other places of interest in the UK, including those owned by corporate, charitable and institutional bodies, that do not meet the House Member criteria but open to the public through special tours listed by Historic Houses on its Invitation to View platform.  Invitation to View members are entitled to attend AGMs but may not cast votes.

This membership runs on a fixed term from the 1 April to 31 March each year.

Queries, comments and complaints

If you have any queries or complaints, please contact our house membership team who will respond to your request as soon as possible:

Telephone: +44(0)207 259 5688

Email: info@historichouses.org

Post: Historic Houses Membership, Warwick House, 25-27 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0PP.

Office Hours: Monday to Friday 09:30-17:30 (excluding public holidays).

Membership benefits

As a house member of Historic Houses you will receive a range of benefits. House membership includes:

• Access to the Invitation to View ticketing and marketing service, including advice on creating, hosting and pricing of tours.
• Publication of the tours you decide to host online and in regular print publications.
• Reports on sales and income and remittance of ticket monies (less commission and other charges).
• Access to a network of other house members and Invitation to View members also using this service.
• Special offers from carefully selected third parties (for example, discounted rates on products and services).

Any offers made by third party providers as part of your membership with Historic Houses are supplied on those third parties’ own terms and conditions. We are not responsible for, and do not accept any liability for, loss or damage suffered as a result of a fault, error or omission in the provision of such services by a third party.

Member access scheme

Historic Houses operates a ‘Free-for-Members’ scheme with the aim of:

• offering the general public a well-understood and widely-marketed incentive scheme;
• boosting the income of participating properties through a generous member credit payment per visit, higher visitor numbers, and secondary spending by visitors and their families and friends;
• demonstrating the scale of public interest in, and support for, independently owned heritage properties, to strengthen Historic Houses’ hand in lobbying discussions with Government;
• providing additional funds for Historic Houses, over and above member subscriptions, to enable it to carry out all aspects of its work in the interests of its members.

Only properties that are House Members of Historic Houses may take part in the Free-for-Members scheme, and it is hoped that all Historic Houses member properties that are ordinarily open for day visitors (at any time) consider taking part in the Free-for-Members scheme.  For more information about this scheme and for terms and conditions relating to it, please contact the Director of Development at james.probert@historichouses.org.

Right to refuse applications

We reserve the right to refuse any application for membership.  House membership is subject to approval of the Historic Houses’ Council, which meets quarterly.  Any new applicants will be notified should their application be rejected and a full refund made if a subscription payment has been processed.

On receipt of your application we process your payment with the appropriate membership fee. However, our acceptance of your application remains subject to approval by us. If for any reason we cannot accept your application, we will confirm that your account has been re-credited (if applicable).

If we are unable to obtain payment authorisation from the issuer of your payment card, or from your bank in the case of cheque or Direct Debit payments, and a membership has already been issued to you, we will require the return of your membership card/s and that you forfeit any benefits.

For further terms and conditions please read the Terms of Membership for all membership categories.

Our member-access scheme

Membership of Historic Houses is not equivalent to a season ticket or a ‘carnet’ of a certain number of free entries to properties. Instead, participating Historic Houses member properties cooperate to offer our members free admission, subject to the conditions below, as a ‘thank you’ for their support for the organisation. This member-access scheme has been designed to benefit all the parties involved, and Historic Houses reserves the right to make changes to the structure, composition, and conditions of the scheme to ensure the continuance of these benefits, in the following priority order:

• Historic Houses benefits from the retention of a small surplus (on average) from each membership subscription, after the costs of administration, publications, and member credit (see below) have been met. This income funds Historic Houses’ vital work of representing, advising, and supporting independent heritage sites in the interests of the nation.
• Participating properties benefit from receiving additional visits (visits that would not have taken place had they not been free for the visitor), at times when those places are not at capacity. The attractions receive a small discretionary payment of ‘member credit’ from Historic Houses in recognition of the members that they have admitted for free. This income helps to maintain these historic sites.
• Members benefit from the opportunity to make visits to participating properties (that they would not otherwise have made), where the total cost of paying for entry (if the visits had been made without membership) would have been greater than the cost of their membership subscription.

Participation in the member-access scheme

• Not all Historic Houses member properties, whether regularly open to the public or not, participate in the scheme. There is no requirement on Historic Houses member properties to participate in the scheme.  Any Historic Houses member property may join or leave the scheme at any time.
• The list of participating properties at any given time is maintained by Historic Houses online. Any printed list of participation is indicative and subject to change and may not be relied upon.
• The list of participating properties at the time that a member joins the organisation is indicative and subject to change and may not be relied upon.

Conditions of free admission

All free entry is subject to the terms of conditions of the relevant participating property in addition to the conditions set out in the three sections below.

When free admission applies and what it includes

• A participating property agrees to admit without charge any current member of Historic Houses on production of a valid membership card (or temporary digital equivalent), at only such times, and to only such parts, that are open and accessible to a visitor in possession of a standard ticket. That means that free admission does not include:
  • Special events (festivals, performances, exhibitions, fairs, fetes, re-enactments, Christmas opening charged at a higher rate than normal, hospitality packages, etc)
  • Tours (including separately priced, private, pre-booked, bespoke, owner-guided, specialist or enhanced tours).
  • Ancillary attractions (self-contained museums inside the house or on the estate, funfairs or safari parks, linked commercial premises such as sports facilities, leisure or recreation facilities or children’s play areas, permanent self-contained art exhibitions, etc).
  • Openings in aid of charity.
• Free admission is suspended whenever a property is not fully open to visitors in possession of a standard ticket (e.g. if being used for weddings, conferences, or filming, undergoing maintenance and repair, closed for health and safety reasons, etc). As these closures happen regularly and at short notice, Historic Houses online listings may not be relied upon and members should always check with a property they intend to visit to ensure it is open and offering free admission before travelling.
• Free admission may include, but does not imply, free parking, and you should check with the property or the latest Historic Houses online listings before travelling.

Partial participation

Where properties do not meet the criteria for full participation described above (often because they are already at capacity at busy times or for busy areas and do not benefit from additional visits) they may make our members an offer of free admission on a restricted basis. That means that these properties may:

• Only offer free admission at ‘off-peak’ times (less busy days or times of day, for example weekdays or school term times)
• Only offer free admission to outdoor parts of the attraction
• Only offer a limited number of free admissions per member per calendar year (e.g. just one free admission)

Using your card

• Free admission will only be granted upon presentation of a valid and current membership card (or temporary digital equivalent). Neither Historic Houses nor the participating property will refund any admission fees charged as a result of a failure to present a valid card.
• No responsibility is taken by Historic Houses for any expenses, including admission fees, travel or fuel costs, accommodation charges, cancellation fees, etc, incurred as a result of reliance on incorrect published opening information, and no refunds or compensation can be paid, under any circumstances, for such costs.
• Participating properties will record your name, the membership number on your card, and the date of your visit, either by electronic scanner or by hand; in addition you may be asked to sign in or complete that information yourself in the case of unmanned properties.
• Membership is valid until the date of expiry shown on the back of your card. If you lose your membership card, we will replace it free of charge on the first occasion. However, we reserve the right to charge an administrative fee for any subsequent replacement cards requested; this charge will increase for each additional occasion on which replacement cards are issued.
• Membership cards are for individuals and families. If you visit a property as part of an organised group, you will not be able to use your card to gain free admission. If you are part of, or booking, an organised tour for a group, you will be asked to pay group tour rates even if everyone in the group is a member of Historic Houses.
• Membership cards are not transferable and are issued for the named card holder only. You may not transfer your membership to another person or allow another person to use your card.

We reserve the right not to fulfil, or to cancel, your membership if you are found to be in breach of these terms and conditions.

Price information

We reserve the right to amend the price of membership subscriptions. Any changes in subscription prices will be agreed at the AGM with new prices taking effect on 1 January each year for members and on 1 April each year house members, next generation members, associate house members, and corporate members. You will be informed of any change to subscription rates with your renewal letter.

VAT

VAT is chargeable at varying rates on each membership category. The rate of VAT is determined by the benefits received by that membership category and the work we perform on your behalf, for example, policy and lobbying activities. VAT rates are subject to change and are currently set at 9.6% (20% on 48% of the total; 40% exempt; 12% zero rated).

Right to refuse applications

• We reserve the right to refuse any application for membership. On receipt of your application we process your payment with the appropriate membership fee. However, our acceptance of your application remains subject to approval by us. If for any reason we cannot accept your application, we will confirm that your account has been re-credited (if applicable).
• If we are unable to obtain payment authorisation from the issuer of your payment card, or from your bank in the case of cheque or Direct Debit payments, and a membership has already been issued to you, we will require the return of your membership card/s and that you forfeit any benefits.

Condition of refunds

If you change your mind about joining Historic Houses after purchasing, you may request a refund by notifying the relevant membership team by telephone or in writing within 14 days of purchase.

Please note that any refund will be subject to the return of all membership cards and may be rejected if any benefits (for example, free admission to properties) have been used within this period.

No refunds for annual subscriptions will be made after 14 days of purchase.

Events

All members of Historic Houses will have access to a variety of events organised by us on behalf of your membership category. Attending some events may require payment by you in addition to the annual membership fee. Events may have a limited capacity which will vary depending on the nature of the event. Places on these events will therefore be limited and cannot be guaranteed.

We reserve the right to cancel or rearrange an organised event. Refunds will be made to members where an event has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances and when the event cannot be postponed or rearranged.

We do not accept liability for any irrecoverable costs (e.g. travel) incurred by members if we cancel an event due to unforeseen circumstances.

Credit/Debit card payments

The credit/debit card information you provide us for a membership transaction will be used by us solely to process that membership transaction. We cannot accept credit/debit card payments by email and will decline to accept payment by that means.

Historic Houses takes the security of card payments seriously and uses only PCI-DSS compliant payment systems procured from reliable third-party providers. Our IT systems do not directly collect or store any payment card information and our online payment solutions are carried out using a ‘payment gateway’ which is a direct connection to a payment service provided by a bank. This means that when you input your payment card data into the payment page, you are communicating directly with the bank and the bank passes your payment to us. As such, your payment card information is handled by the bank and not processed, stored or held by us.

Direct Debit payments

If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, we will notify you (normally 10 working days) in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If we request to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request.

If an error has been made in the payment of your Direct Debit by us or your bank/building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount erroneously paid from your bank or building society. If you receive a refund in an amount you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when requested to do so by us.

You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. We would be grateful if you also notify us using the contact methods set out below.

Law and jurisdiction

These terms and conditions and our supply of membership services shall be governed by English law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

Privacy notice for members

This privacy notice sets out the way we process your personal information and we’ve created this privacy notice to make sure you are aware of how we use your data as a member of Historic Houses. We will always refer to this page when we ask you for your consent and we’ll keep this page updated so that you can be confident when sharing your information with us that it will be only used for what we describe here.

Historic Houses is the trading name of the Historic Houses Association of Warwick House, 25-27 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0PP, a not-for-profit organisation and limited company registered in England and Wales (02001057). Historic Houses is the ‘data controller’ of your personal data and is subject to the Data Protection Act 1998 (“DPA”) (and, when it takes effect on 25 May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”)). Historic Houses is registered with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office with registration number Z4898371.

How we collect your information

We may collect your personal information in a few limited ways, namely:

• Directly from you, when you fill in an application for membership, when you make enquiries on our website, or when you interact with us during your time as a member in various other ways (for example, where you attend our AGM or an event organised by us);
• From someone else who has bought membership on your behalf (for example where they have bought Historic Houses membership for you as a gift and provided us with your contact details for that purpose);
• On rare occasions, where we receive information about you from another member of Historic Houses (for example, where a house member passes on your details to us in connection with a complaint or query you have raised when visiting that house member’s property).

Scannable cards

We use barcodes on our membership cards to collect information on your visits. This data includes the properties you have visited, the date that you visited and your membership number. We use this information to understand our supporters’ visiting trends and to reimburse the houses you visit as part of our member access scheme. We also use this information to make our communications to you more relevant.

The types of information we collect

We may collect the following types of personal data about you (and your family members, where relevant):

• Contact and communications information, including your contact details (including email address(es), telephone numbers and postal address(es) and records of communications and interactions we have had with you;
• Financial information, including Direct Debit details (but not your payment card details, which we never collect or store ourselves since we always use a third party ‘payment gateway’ to process card payments);
• Certain other information which you volunteer when making use of your membership benefits (for example, when making use of advisory services or directory listings, attending Historic Houses events, or expressing your views on issues which we are discussing and/or lobbying Government about).

We may also collect limited data concerning your health or medical conditions, where you have volunteered this, for example so that we can cater for you when you attend a Historic Houses event.

How we use personal information

Personal information provided to us will be used for the purposes outlined at the time of collection or application in accordance with the preferences you express.

Personal data collected and processed by us may be used for the following purposes:

• Administration of membership(s);
• Fulfilment of orders for goods and services;
• Telling you about special offers especially for our supporters from partners that support our cause.

Where this is necessary for the performance of a contract (including the Terms of Membership) with you.

• Research and statistical analysis;
• Communication about our work, membership, and other activities that we think may be of interest to you;
• Administration of donations and legacies;

Where this is necessary for our legitimate interests (meaning our interests in growing the work of Historic Houses and supporting all our members, including by representing their interests before Government).

• Tailoring our messages to our potential and existing supporters to ensure all marketing communications you receive from us are relevant;

Where this is necessary for our legitimate interests, and where we send marketing communications by electronic means, where we have your consent.

Your marketing preferences

Historic Houses will always act upon your wishes in respect of what type of communications you want to receive and how you want to receive them. There are some communications, however, that we need to send you regardless of your marketing preferences. These are what we would describe as essential communications to fulfil our contractual obligations to you as a member of Historic Houses. Examples of this type of communication would be:

• Transaction notifications, such as payment receipts or Direct Debit confirmations.
• Membership related mailings such as your renewal reminder, our regular magazine and AGM notices.

You are always in control of how we communicate with you. You can update your choices and/or your contact details through your member profile page online or by contacting us using the details below:

Members

Telephone: +44(0)1462 896688

Email: members@historichouses.org

Post: Historic Houses Membership, PO Box 21, Baldock SG7 5SH.

House Members, Next Generation, Associate House Members and Corporate Members:

Telephone: +44(0)207 259 5688

Email: info@historichouses.org

Post: Historic Houses’ House Membership, Warwick House, 25-27 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0PP.

Sharing your information with others

We do not sell or share your personal information for other organisations to use other than as set out below.

Personal data collected and processed by us may be shared with the following groups where necessary:

• Historic Houses employees and volunteers, for the purposes of administering your membership and giving you access to the full range of membership benefits to which you are entitled.
• Also, under strict obligations of confidentiality and with other appropriate contractual protections in place:
  • Our Contractors (such as our membership administrators, Hall McCartney Ltd)
  • Our Advisors

When we allow such third parties access to your information, we will always have complete control of what they see, what they allowed to do with it and how long they can use it.

How long your information is kept

We hold your information only as long as necessary for each purpose we use it. For most membership data, this means we retain it for so long as you have a valid Historic Houses membership and for a period of six years after your last interaction with us (for accounting, tax reporting and record-keeping purposes).

Your rights

You have the right to ask us, in writing, for a copy of all the personal data held about you (this is known as a ‘subject access request’). A copy will be sent to you as soon as possible and this will be no later than one month after your request.

If you would like to access your personal data held by us, please apply in writing to our membership team:

Historic Houses – Subject Access Request, PO Box 21, Baldock SG7 5SH.

Under the DPA, you also have the following rights:

• To require us not to send you marketing communications;
• To require that we cease processing your personal data if the processing is causing you damage or distress.

Once the GDPR takes effect on 25 May 2018, you will also have the following additional rights:

• To require us to correct the personal data we hold about you if it is inaccurate;
• To request that we erase your personal data;
• To request that we restrict our data processing activities (and, where our processing is based on your consent, you may withdraw that consent, without affecting the lawfulness of our processing based on consent before its withdrawal);

• To receive from us the personal data we hold about you which you have provided to us, in a reasonable format specified by you, including for the purpose of you transmitting that personal data to another data controller; and
• To object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to any of our particular processing activities where you feel this has a disproportionate impact on your rights.

Please note that the above rights are not absolute, and we may be entitled to refuse requests where exceptions apply: for example, if we can show our processing is necessary for a lawful purpose set out in this Privacy Notice.

Updating and amending your personal information

We will always try to keep your data as up-to-date as possible.  If, at any time, you want to update or amend your personal data or marketing preferences then you can do so by logging into your profile online. Alternatively, you can contact our membership team on:

Members

Telephone: +44(0)1462 896688

Email: members@historichouses.org

Post: Historic Houses Membership, PO Box 21, Baldock SG7 5SH.

House Members, Next Generation, Associate House Members and Corporate Members:

Telephone: +44(0)207 259 5688

Email: info@historichouses.org

Post: Historic Houses Membership, Warwick House, 25-27 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0PP.

The verification, updating or amendment of personal data will take place within 28 days of receipt of your request.

Contact and complaints

If you have any queries about this Privacy Notice or how we process your personal information, or if you wish to exercise any of your rights under applicable law, you may the Director of Finance and Operations:

• by email: info@historichouses.org
• by telephone: 0207 259 5688;
• or by post: Historic Houses, Warwick House, 25-27 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0PP.

If you are not satisfied with how we are processing your personal information, you can make a complaint to the Information Commissioner. You can find out more about your rights under applicable data protection legislation from the Information Commissioner’s Office website available at www.ico.org.uk.