Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy


Last Updated: 17/10/2024

The Affordable Housing Network (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is registered in England and Wales under company number 16009837 and with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) under registration number [TBC]. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit and use our platform (“the Platform”). It also details your rights under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.By using the Platform, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this policy, you must not access or use the Platform.

1. Data Controller
The Affordable Housing Network is the data controller responsible for your personal data. If you have any questions regarding this policy or how we process your data, you can contact us at:

Email: info@theaffordablehousingnetwork.com
Address: The Affordable Housing Network, 85 Great Portland Street, First Floor, W1W 7LT.

2. Information We Collect
We may collect and process the following types of personal data:

  • Account Data: Information you provide when creating an account, including your name, email address, job title/position, company name, registration number and address for which you represent and password.
  • Transactional Data: Details of transactions you carry out on the Platform, such as property information and payment details.
  • Usage Data: Information about your interactions with the Platform, including IP address, browser type, referral URL, pages visited, and time spent on the site.
  • Communication Data: Any correspondence with us via email, support requests, or Platform messages.
  • User-Generated Content (UGC): Reviews, comments, or other content that you post on the Platform.
  • Compliance Data: Information provided for identity verification and compliance with legal obligations (e.g., anti-money laundering regulations).

We also collect certain information automatically via cookies and similar technologies (see Section 11: Cookies and Analytics for more details).

3. How We Use Your Data
We will only use your personal data when the law allows us to. Common reasons for processing your personal data include:

  • To provide the Platform: We use your account and transactional data to manage your account, facilitate transactions between Developers and Affordable Housing Providers (‘’You’’), and enable the smooth functioning of the Platform.
  • To communicate with you: We use your email address and communication data to respond to your inquiries, provide customer support, and send service-related notifications (e.g., updates or changes to our services).
  • For marketing purposes: With your consent, we may send you promotional emails or newsletters about our services and events. You can opt out at any time.
  • To improve our Platform: Usage data is analysed to improve user experience, maintain security, and ensure the Platform functions effectively.
  • To publicise user-generated content (UGC): We may use your reviews, comments, or other UGC for marketing purposes (see Publicising User-Generated Content below).
  • To comply with legal obligations: This includes identity verification, anti-fraud measures, and compliance with tax or legal reporting obligations.

4. Publicising User-Generated Content (UGC)
By posting content on the Platform, you grant us a royalty-free, perpetual, and irrevocable licence to use, reproduce, publish, and distribute your content across various media, including but not limited to, for promotional purposes.

5. Legal Basis for Processing
We rely on the following legal bases to process your personal data:

  • Contractual Necessity: To provide the services you request via the Platform.
  • Legitimate Interests: To improve our services, maintain Platform security, and promote our business, including the use of UGC.
  • Consent: For email marketing and the use of cookies (where applicable).
  • Legal Obligations: To comply with applicable laws and regulations (e.g., Anti-Money Laundering requirements).

6. Sharing Your Data
We may share your data with:

  • Service Providers: Third-party providers who assist in delivering our services (e.g., hosting, payment processing, customer support, analytics). We ensure that these providers comply with data protection laws and only process your data on our behalf.
  • Law Enforcement and Regulators: We may share your data if required by law or necessary to protect our rights or the rights of others.
  • Business Transfers: If we undergo a merger, acquisition, or sale, your data may be transferred as part of the transaction.

7. International Data Transfers
While we primarily store and process your data within the UK, some of our third-party service providers may be located outside the UK, including in countries that do not provide the same level of data protection as the UK. In such cases, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

  • Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), or
  • Other lawful mechanisms recognised by the UK GDPR.

8. Data Retention
We retain personal data (following deactivation of the User’s account, by us or you) only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, and to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. Specifically:

  • Account and transactional data: Retained for the duration of your account and up to 7 years thereafter for legal and tax reasons.
  • Marketing data: Retained until you opt out of receiving such communications.
  • UGC: Retained indefinitely unless you request its deletion.

9. Your Data Protection Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Rectification: You can request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Erasure: You can request that we delete your personal data in certain circumstances.
  • Restriction: You can request that we restrict the processing of your data.
  • Portability: You can request to receive your data in a structured, commonly used format.
  • Objection: You can object to the processing of your data for direct marketing purposes or in instances where we rely on legitimate interests.
  • Withdraw consent: Where we rely on your consent to process data, you can withdraw this consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at support@theaffordablehousingnetwork.com.

10. Data Security
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to safeguard your data from unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. This includes encryption, secure servers, and access controls. However, no system can guarantee complete security, so we cannot ensure absolute protection of your data.

11. Cookies and Analytics
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your experience on the Platform. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us:

  • Recognise you when you return to the Platform
  • Personalise content
  • Measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns
  • Analyse traffic and user behaviour

We also use third-party analytics services like Google Analytics to understand how our Platform is used. Google Analytics may collect data such as your IP address, browser type, and activity on the Platform. This data is anonymised and cannot be traced back to you.

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. However, this may impact your ability to use certain features of the Platform.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. We will notify you of any significant changes by email or via the Platform. Continued use of the Platform after any changes have been made constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

13. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us at:

Email: support@theaffordablehousingnetwork.com
Address: The Affordable Housing Network, 85 Great Portland Street, First Floor, W1W 7LT.

14. Complaints
If you believe we have not handled your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy, we encourage you to contact us first at complaints@theaffordablehousingnetwork.com. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at:

The ICO’s address:

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Helpline: 0303 123 1113

ICO website: www.ico.org.uk.

Contact

email – info@theaffordablehousingnetwork.com

tel – 020 381 30188

©️2024 The Affordable Housing Network – Company Registration Number 16009837 – All rights reserved