Privacy Policy

HomeDhek ("we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website, mobile application, and related services (collectively, the "Platform").

This policy applies to all users of HomeDhek, including property owners, tenants, students, and visitors. By using our Platform, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

2.1 Personal Information

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:

• Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, date of birth, profile photo
• Contact Details: Physical address, city, state, postal code
• Professional Information: College/university name, course of study, occupation
• Property Information: For property owners - property details, photos, amenities, pricing
• Payment Information: Billing address, payment method details (processed by secure third parties)
• Communication Data: Messages sent through our Platform, support inquiries
• Saved Properties: Properties bookmarked by users for future reference

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

We automatically collect certain information when you use our Platform:

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on Platform, click patterns, search queries
• Location Data: General location based on IP address, precise location if granted
• Cookies and Tracking: Information collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from:

• Social media platforms (if you choose to connect your accounts)
• Background check services (with your consent)
• Marketing partners and analytics providers
• Payment processors and financial institutions

We use your information for the following purposes:

3.1 Platform Operations

• Create and manage user accounts
• Display property listings and college directory
• Facilitate communication between users
• Process bookings and payments
• Maintain saved properties lists
• Provide customer support

3.2 Safety and Security

• Verify user identity and prevent fraud
• Conduct background checks (with consent)
• Monitor for prohibited activities
• Protect against security threats
• Investigate disputes and violations

3.3 Personalization and Improvement

• Personalize search results and recommendations
• Analyze usage patterns to improve our services
• Conduct research and analytics
• Develop new features and functionality

3.4 Communication and Marketing

• Send important notifications about your account or bookings
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Send promotional emails (with your consent)
• Conduct surveys and request feedback

4.1 With Other Users

We share limited information to facilitate Platform functionality:

• Property owners can see basic tenant information when receiving inquiries
• Tenants can see property owner contact information for confirmed bookings
• Profile information you choose to make public
• Reviews and ratings you provide

4.2 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers:

• Payment processors for transaction handling
• Cloud storage and hosting providers
• Email and communication services
• Analytics and marketing platforms
• Background check and verification services

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or to:

• Comply with legal processes and government requests
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of HomeDhek, users, or others
• Investigate fraud or security issues

4.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of business assets, user information may be transferred as part of the transaction, subject to the same privacy protections.

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your information:

5.1 Technical Safeguards

• SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
• Encrypted storage of sensitive information
• Regular security assessments and penetration testing
• Secure servers with restricted access
• Multi-factor authentication for sensitive operations

5.2 Administrative Safeguards

• Employee access controls and training
• Regular security policy updates
• Incident response procedures
• Vendor security assessments

5.3 Your Responsibility

You can help protect your information by:

• Using strong, unique passwords
• Not sharing account credentials
• Reporting suspicious activities
• Keeping your contact information updated

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience:

6.1 Types of Cookies

6.2 Cookie Management

You can control cookies through:

• Browser settings to block or delete cookies
• Our cookie consent banner preferences
• Opt-out links from marketing partners
• Do Not Track browser signals (where supported)

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

7.1 Access and Portability

• Request access to your personal information
• Receive a copy of your data in a portable format
• View your saved properties and account history

7.2 Correction and Updates

• Correct inaccurate personal information
• Update your profile and preferences
• Modify your saved properties list

7.3 Deletion and Restriction

• Request deletion of your personal information
• Restrict processing of your data
• Object to certain uses of your information

7.4 Consent Withdrawal

• Withdraw consent for marketing communications
• Opt out of optional data processing
• Disable location tracking

7.5 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise these rights:

• Contact us at info@homedhek.com
• Use the privacy settings in your account
• Submit a formal request with identity verification

We retain your information for different periods based on the type of data:

We regularly review our data retention practices and delete information that is no longer necessary for business or legal purposes.

HomeDhek operates primarily in India, but we may transfer your information to other countries for processing and storage. When we do:

• We ensure adequate protection through appropriate safeguards
• We use standard contractual clauses or other approved mechanisms
• We comply with applicable data protection laws
• We notify users of significant cross-border transfers

If you are located in the European Union, we provide appropriate safeguards for transfers outside the EEA in accordance with GDPR requirements.

HomeDhek is not intended for children under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16.

For users between 16-18 years old:

• Parental or guardian consent is required
• Limited account functionality may be provided
• Additional verification may be requested
• Parents/guardians can request account deletion

If you believe we have collected information from a child under 16, please contact us immediately at info@homedhek.com for prompt removal.

Our Platform may contain links to third-party websites and services, including:

• Social media platforms
• Payment processors
• College websites from our directory
• Map and location services
• Analytics and advertising partners

These third parties have their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for their privacy practices or the content of their services.

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements.

12.1 Notification of Changes

When we make significant changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Send email notifications to registered users
• Display prominent notices on our Platform
• Provide a 30-day notice period for material changes

12.2 Your Options

If you disagree with policy changes, you may delete your account before the changes take effect. Continued use of the Platform after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

For questions about this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us: