Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

App Factory Dev Ltd ("we," "us," or "our") operates HomeNav, a house buying guidance platform for the UK market. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use our service.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data transparently in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: Name, email address, password
• Financial Information: Income, outgoings, deposit amount (for affordability calculations)
• Property Information: Property addresses, search criteria, preferences
• Communication Data: Messages sent through our platform, support inquiries
• Documents: Any documents you choose to upload (stored securely)

2.2 Information We Collect Automatically

• Usage Data: Pages viewed, features used, time spent on platform
• Device Information: IP address, browser type, device type
• Cookies: See our Cookie Policy below

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

• Provide affordability calculations and property analysis
• Deliver personalised guidance and recommendations
• Maintain and improve our service
• Communicate with you about your account and our services
• Provide customer support
• Comply with legal obligations
• Detect and prevent fraud or abuse

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we process your data based on:

• Contract Performance: To provide the HomeNav service you've requested
• Legitimate Interests: To improve our service and prevent fraud
• Consent: For marketing communications (where applicable)
• Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws

5. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We may share information with:

5.1 Service Providers

• Cloud hosting providers (AWS/Google Cloud)
• Payment processors (Stripe)
• Customer support tools
• Analytics services

5.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or to protect our rights, safety, or the rights of others.

5.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data:

• Encryption in transit and at rest
• Regular security assessments
• Access controls and authentication
• Employee training on data protection
• Incident response procedures

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations:

• Account Data: Until you delete your account
• Financial Calculations: For the duration of your house buying journey
• Support Communications: 2 years after resolution
• Marketing Data: Until you unsubscribe

8. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Erasure: Request deletion of your data
• Portability: Receive your data in a structured format
• Restriction: Limit how we process your data
• Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Withdraw Consent: For processing based on consent

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@homenav.co.uk.

9. Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you logged in
• Remember your preferences
• Analyse how our service is used
• Improve user experience

You can control cookie settings through your browser, but some features may not work properly if cookies are disabled.

10. Third-Party Services

Our service integrates with third-party data sources:

• Land Registry (property price data)
• ONS (house price indices)
• Environment Agency (flood risk)
• Police UK (crime statistics)

These are publicly available data sources. We do not share your personal information with these organisations.

11. International Transfers

Your data is primarily processed within the UK and EU. Where we use services outside these regions, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place through adequacy decisions or standard contractual clauses.

12. Children's Privacy

HomeNav is not intended for users under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, we will delete it.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of material changes via email or prominent notice on our platform.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices:

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe we have not handled your data properly.