Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly to us, including:

• Personal details: Name, email address, phone number, date of birth
• Financial information: Income, employment status, loan amount, deposit, existing debts
• Property information: Location, value, loan purpose, property type
• Employment details: Employer name, occupation, length of employment
• Technical data: IP address, browser type, device information, cookies
• Usage data: Pages viewed, time spent, interactions with our website

2. How We Use Your Information

Primary Uses:

• To provide personalized home loan quotes and comparisons
• To connect you with suitable licensed mortgage advisors or lenders
• To improve your user experience and provide customer support
• To respond to your inquiries and communicate about our services

Secondary Uses:

• Analytics and service improvements
• Regulatory compliance and risk management
• Fraud prevention and technical monitoring
• Internal recordkeeping and business operations

3. Who We Share Your Information With

We may share your information with:

• Authorized service providers: Who help operate our platform under strict confidentiality agreements (e.g., hosting, form handling, analytics, email services)
• Regulators or legal authorities: When required by law, court order, or to prevent fraud, including Financial Markets Authority or Privacy Commissioner
• Related entities: Within our corporate group, subject to the same privacy protections

All third parties we work with are required to:

• Be registered on New Zealand's Financial Service Providers Register (where applicable)
• Comply with the Privacy Act 2020 and other applicable laws
• Use your information only for the specified purposes
• Maintain appropriate security measures
• Keep your information confidential

4. Data Security

We take security seriously. Your data is protected through:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest: We use SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmission
• Access controls and secure infrastructure: Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Regular system monitoring and privacy training: Ongoing staff training and security audits
• Secure servers and databases: Industry-standard hosting and database security
• Multi-factor authentication: For administrative access to sensitive systems
• Regular security updates: Timely patching and software updates

While we implement strong security measures, no system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but we work continuously to protect your information.

5. Your Rights

Under the Privacy Act 2020 and New Zealand privacy laws, you have the right to:

• Access your personal information: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction: Ask us to correct any inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion: Ask us to delete your information (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Withdraw consent: Opt-out of marketing communications at any time
• Object to processing: Object to certain uses of your information
• Data portability: Request your information in a portable format
• Lodge a complaint: Contact the Privacy Commissioner if you're unsatisfied with our response

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@home-loans.co.nz

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience, analyze usage, and provide personalized content.

Types of cookies we use:

• Essential cookies: Required for website functionality
• Analytics cookies: To understand how visitors use our site (Google Analytics)
• Functional cookies: To remember your preferences
• Marketing cookies: To deliver relevant advertisements

You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

7. Data Retention

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

• Active inquiries: Until your mortgage application is complete or you withdraw consent
• Completed applications: Typically 7 years from your last interaction (for legal/regulatory compliance)
• Marketing data: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion
• Website analytics: Aggregated data may be retained indefinitely

8. International Data Transfers

Your information is primarily stored and processed in New Zealand. However, some of our service providers (e.g., cloud hosting, analytics) may store data on servers located overseas.

When we transfer data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including:

• Choosing providers in countries with adequate privacy protections
• Using standard contractual clauses approved by privacy regulators
• Implementing technical and organizational security measures

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

10. Marketing Communications

We may send you marketing communications about mortgage products, special offers, and industry updates if:

• You have provided consent, or
• We have a legitimate interest and you haven't opted out

You can opt-out at any time by:

• Clicking "unsubscribe" in any marketing email
• Contacting us at privacy@home-loans.co.nz
• Updating your communication preferences in your account

11. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions, to exercise your rights, or to raise concerns, please contact us:

If you're not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner:

12. Changes to This Policy

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 website
• Updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy
• Sending you an email notification (for significant changes)

Your continued use of our services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.