Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Homes and Homies ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information when you use our home-sharing platform.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

  • Name and contact information
  • Email address
  • Profile information (including photos and bio)
  • Authentication data (Google account information when using Google Sign-In)
  • Communication preferences

2.2 Payment Information

  • Subscription status and history
  • Payment method information (processed securely by Stripe)
  • Billing address
  • Transaction history

2.3 Property Information

  • Property details and photos
  • Location information
  • Availability and pricing
  • Council tax information (where applicable)

2.4 Usage Information

  • Search history and preferences
  • Saved properties
  • Chat messages and communications
  • Device and browser information

3. How We Use Your Information

  • To provide and maintain our home-sharing platform
  • To process and manage your subscription
  • To facilitate communication between users
  • To process and manage property listings
  • To send notifications about relevant updates
  • To improve our services and user experience
  • To comply with legal obligations

4. Payment Processing

We use Stripe to process all payments. When you make a payment:

  • Your payment information is processed directly by Stripe
  • We do not store your full payment card details
  • We only store the last four digits of your card number for reference
  • Your payment data is protected by Stripe's security measures

5. Legal Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we process your personal data on the following legal bases:

  • Contract: To fulfill our obligations to you as a user of our platform
  • Legitimate Interests: To provide and improve our services
  • Consent: Where you have given us explicit permission
  • Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws

6. Data Sharing and Third Parties

We may share your information with:

  • Other users (as necessary for the platform's functionality)
  • Service providers, including:
    • Google (for authentication services)
    • Stripe (for payment processing)
    • PostHog (for analytics and user behavior tracking)
    • Email service providers (for communication and marketing)
  • Legal authorities when required by law

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

8. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

  • Access your personal data
  • Correct inaccurate data
  • Request deletion of your data
  • Object to processing
  • Data portability
  • Withdraw consent

To delete your account and all associated data, please email us at help@homesandhomies.co.uk. We will process your request within 30 days and send you a confirmation once completed.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@homesandhomies.com. We will respond to your request within one month as required by UK GDPR.

9. Data Retention

We will completely delete your personal information upon account closure. We may retain certain anonymized or aggregated data that can no longer be associated with you for analytical purposes. For legal compliance purposes, we may retain certain transaction records and correspondence for up to 6 years as required by UK law.

10. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your experience on our platform:

  • Authentication cookies: To remember your login status
  • Preference cookies: To remember your settings and preferences
  • Analytics cookies: We use PostHog to collect anonymous information about how visitors use our website

You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings.

11. Age Restrictions

Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18 years of age. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal data from anyone under the age of 18, we will delete that information.

12. Marketing Communications

We may send you marketing communications about our services, promotions, and updates. You can opt out of receiving marketing communications at any time by:

  • Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in our emails
  • Updating your communication preferences in your account settings
  • Contacting us directly at privacy@homesandhomies.com

13. Automated Decision Making

We use automated decision-making and algorithmic processes to:

  • Match users with suitable rooms or potential housemates
  • Recommend relevant listings based on search history and preferences
  • Detect potentially fraudulent activities

You have the right to request human intervention, express your point of view, and contest any automated decision by contacting us.

14. Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach that may pose a risk to your rights and freedoms, we will:

  • Notify the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach
  • Inform affected users without undue delay
  • Provide information on the nature of the breach and recommendations to mitigate potential adverse effects

15. International Data Transfers

Your data may be processed on servers located outside of the UK and European Economic Area (EEA). When transferring data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

  • Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the UK Information Commissioner
  • Only transferring data to countries with adequate data protection laws as determined by the UK government
  • Obtaining your explicit consent where required

16. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and if the changes are significant, we will provide a more prominent notice or directly notify you by email.

17. Complaints

If you are concerned about how we handle your personal data, please contact us first. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection issues (www.ico.org.uk).

18. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: privacy@homesandhomies.com

19. Last Updated

This Privacy Policy was last updated on 13th May 2025.