Privacy Notice

1. Information we collect

Depending on how you use RentABHK, we may collect:

• Account details: your name, email address, mobile number, login details and the reasons you selected for joining.
• Housing details: property or room descriptions, photos, rent, availability, location, preferences and information you provide to create or manage a listing or requirement.
• Enquiries: the details you send when asking about a home, contacting a poster, requesting rental assistance or reporting a problem.
• Flatmate details: the profile and preferences you choose to provide, plus your separate visibility and contact-sharing choices.
• Permission records: choices about publication, community promotion, contact, marketing and cookies, together with information needed to record when and how a choice was made. A broker’s declaration that they obtained an owner’s permission is recorded as the broker’s declaration, not as consent given directly to us by the owner.
• Technical information: information such as browser and device details, IP address, security events and information needed to operate the site and investigate errors or misuse.
• Payment records, if purchases become available: order and transaction references, amounts and statuses needed to confirm purchases and handle refunds. Any payment screen will explain the payment provider before you pay.

We may also receive information from someone who submits a listing or enquiry involving you. If we learn that a property may be available through a referral or another source, we may use the contact details available to us to ask its owner whether they want our help. We do not treat a property advertised elsewhere as permission to publish it on RentABHK.

2. Why we use information

We use information to:

• create and secure accounts;
• display and manage approved homes, rooms, requirements and flatmate features;
• respond to enquiries and connect people as requested;
• provide RentABHK Assisted services;
• review listing permissions and investigate reports;
• record and respect your privacy choices;
• prevent fraud and misuse, maintain the site and fix problems;
• manage purchases and accounting if payments are enabled; and
• comply with applicable legal obligations.

We send promotional messages by WhatsApp, SMS or email only where you have chosen to receive them. Messages about an enquiry you made, a listing you submitted, your account or a service you requested are service communications.

3. What visitors and members can see

People browsing without signing in can see basic details of an approved listing, including its cover photo and selected property information such as rent, general location, type and availability. More photos, fuller descriptions, charges and ways to connect may require sign-in.

Signed-in access does not mean every member can see every private detail. What is available depends on the listing, the service and the choices of the people involved. Map locations may identify a society or general property location; they should not be understood as a public disclosure of a private flat number.

We do not display an owner’s phone number publicly on a listing. For a RentABHK Managed home, enquiries normally come through RentABHK. An owner’s contact details may be shared with a particular person only where the owner has separately agreed to that sharing.

4. Listing and promotion permission

An owner, or a person authorised by the owner, may submit property details and photos for publication on RentABHK. A person posting someone else’s property must confirm they have the owner’s permission. We may request evidence, and we may pause or remove a listing while a concern is reviewed.

Permission to publish on RentABHK does not automatically permit promotion in our housing communities or other channels. Promotion is a separate choice. If permission is withdrawn or an owner disputes a listing, please contact us; we will review the report and take appropriate action. We can remove material from channels we control, but copies already shared or saved by other people may remain outside our control.

Owner-permission evidence supplied to our team is kept for internal review and is not displayed with a public listing.

5. Flatmate privacy

A flatmate profile is shown to other eligible members only when its owner has chosen to make it visible. Choosing to share interest in another person and choosing to reveal a phone number are separate decisions. Posting a room does not by itself publish someone’s private flatmate profile or phone number.

You can change available flatmate privacy choices in your account. If a feature is unavailable, this section does not mean it is currently open for use.

6. When we share information

We share information only as needed for the relevant service:

• With another person involved in your enquiry: information needed for the contact or arrangement you requested, subject to the choices shown before sharing.
• With an agent, if agent contact is available: contact details for a posted requirement only when you have chosen to permit that access. You can withdraw that permission. An agent who has already received information must respect applicable rules and your request to stop contact; tell us about misuse.
• With service providers: providers that help operate hosting, sign-in, storage, maps, communications and, if enabled, payments or AI features. Different providers may handle information under their own terms and privacy practices as well as their arrangements with us.
• With authorities or others where appropriate: when required by applicable law, a valid legal request, or to address a serious safety or fraud concern.
• If the business changes hands: information may be transferred as part of a genuine business transfer, subject to applicable law and appropriate notice.

We do not sell lists of users’ personal information.

7. WhatsApp, maps and AI features

When you choose to open a WhatsApp link or message an official RentABHK number, WhatsApp handles that interaction under its own privacy terms. We receive the information you send us and use it to respond to or manage the enquiry.

Maps may load material from a map provider. When you use a map, your browser may connect to that provider under its own policies.

Ordinary search does not require the AI search helper. If you deliberately use an AI feature, the text you enter may be processed by a provider to interpret your request. Please avoid entering unnecessary phone numbers, identity documents or other sensitive information into an AI search box. We will identify the provider and explain any additional data use when that feature is available.

8. Cookies and similar technology

Essential browser storage helps the website function, including sign-in and remembering necessary settings. Optional visit counting runs according to the choice presented in our cookie controls. You can review or change that choice through Cookie settings.

If we add advertising trackers, social-media pixels or other optional technology later, we will update this notice and the relevant controls before using them.

9. How long we keep information

We keep information while it is needed to provide the service, handle enquiries, maintain records of permissions, prevent misuse, address disputes and meet applicable legal obligations. Different records are needed for different periods.

Removing a listing from public view does not necessarily delete every related submission, permission record or complaint. When you request deletion, we will assess what can be removed and what must reasonably be retained, and explain any limitation that applies. We will not claim that every record disappears immediately from backups or from copies held by other people.

10. Security

We use reasonable organisational and technical measures to protect information and restrict access to people who need it for their work. No website or messaging service can guarantee absolute security. If you believe information has been exposed or misused, please contact privacy@rentabhk.com so we can investigate and take appropriate action. We will make any notifications required by applicable law.

11. Your choices and requests

You can use the privacy controls available in your account or contact us to:

• ask what personal information we hold about you;
• correct inaccurate information;
• request deletion where appropriate;
• change or withdraw optional choices, including marketing or promotion;
• report a listing or use of information you did not authorise; and
• raise a privacy grievance.

We may need to verify that a request comes from the right person before disclosing, changing or deleting information. Withdrawing a choice does not undo processing that already took place, and some information may still be needed for an existing transaction, safety matter or legal obligation.

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and its rules come into force in stages. We will comply with the provisions applicable to RentABHK as they take effect. This notice does not limit rights available under applicable law.

12. Children

RentABHK accounts are intended for adults aged 18 or older. If you believe a child has created an account or their information has been submitted improperly, email privacy@rentabhk.com so we can review it.

13. Questions and complaints

For a privacy request or grievance, use the Make a privacy request page or email privacy@rentabhk.com. For a property published without its owner’s permission, you can also select “Report a problem with this listing” on the listing page. Include the listing reference if you have it.

We review requests and complaints and respond within timelines required by applicable law. If you are dissatisfied with our handling of a privacy grievance, you may have the right to approach the relevant authority under applicable law.

14. Changes to this notice

We may update this notice when our services or legal obligations change. The date at the top shows when this version was last updated. We will provide additional notice where a material change requires it.

Please also read our Terms & Conditions.