Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

House Survey Cost Calculator ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") operates the house survey cost calculator website located at surveycalcuk.co.uk (the "Site"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and otherwise process personal data in connection with our Site and services.

We are committed to complying with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. This Privacy Policy sets out the basis on which we process your personal data.

2. Data We Collect

We collect personal data in the following ways:

• Survey Calculator Input: When you use our cost calculator, we collect information about the property details you enter (location, size, type of property) to provide an estimate.
• Contact Information: If you contact us via email or contact form, we collect your name, email address, and message content.
• Automatically Collected Data: We automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing activity, including IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time spent on our Site.
• Cookies and Tracking: We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience and understand how you interact with our Site.

3. Cookies

We use both essential and non-essential cookies on our Site:

Essential Cookies: These are necessary for the Site to function properly and include session management and security features. These are set without consent.

Non-Essential Cookies: These include analytics and performance cookies that help us understand how you use our Site. We only set these after obtaining your consent via our cookie banner.

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our Site.

4. How We Use Your Data

We use the personal data we collect for the following purposes:

• To provide and improve our survey cost calculator service
• To respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
• To analyze website usage and improve user experience
• To comply with legal obligations
• To prevent fraud and ensure security of our Site
• To send occasional service updates (only if you have opted in)

5. Legal Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we only process your personal data where we have a lawful basis to do so. Our legal bases include:

• Consent: Where you have given us explicit consent to process your data
• Contract: Where processing is necessary to fulfill a service you have requested
• Legal Obligation: Where we are required by law to process your data
• Legitimate Interests: Where we have legitimate interests in processing your data that are not overridden by your rights

6. Third Parties and Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data to third parties. However, we may share your data with:

• Service Providers: Companies that provide hosting, analytics, email, and customer support services on our behalf
• Legal Requirements: Law enforcement agencies if required by law or legal process
• Analytics Providers: We use Google Analytics to understand website usage patterns (with anonymization where possible)

All third parties are bound by confidentiality agreements and are only permitted to use your data for the specific purposes we have authorized.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected:

• Calculator inputs are retained for up to 30 days to improve our service
• Contact form submissions are retained for up to 12 months
• Analytics data is retained in accordance with Google Analytics retention settings (typically 14-26 months)
• If you request deletion, we will remove your data within 30 days

8. Your Rights Under UK GDPR

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Right to Rectification: You can request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
• Right to Erasure: You can request deletion of your personal data (the "right to be forgotten")
• Right to Restrict Processing: You can request that we limit how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: You can request your data in a structured, commonly-used format
• Right to Object: You can object to processing of your data on grounds relating to your particular situation
• Right to Withdraw Consent: You can withdraw consent for processing at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us.

9. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include encryption, secure server hosting, and regular security assessments. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. International Data Transfers

Our Site and services are hosted and operated in the United Kingdom. If we transfer your personal data to countries outside the UK, we will do so in compliance with UK GDPR and will implement appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses.

11. Children's Privacy

Our Site is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal data from a child under 13, we will delete such data immediately.

12. Policy Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on our Site and updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of the Site following any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your rights, or have a privacy concern, please contact us:

14. Data Protection Officer / Supervisory Authority

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), if you believe we have violated your data protection rights. You can contact the ICO or by telephone at 0303 123 1113.