Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

My Local Surveyors Direct Ltd ("we", "our", "us") is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website mylocalsurveyorsdirect.co.uk or use our property surveying services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using our website or services, you accept and consent to the practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information You Provide

When you contact us for property surveying services, we may collect the following personal information:

• Contact details: Name, email address, postal address, telephone number
• Property information: Property address, property type, survey requirements
• Financial information: Payment details (processed securely through third-party payment providers)
• Communication records: Correspondence via email, phone, or contact forms
• Survey preferences: Type of survey required, preferred appointment dates, special requirements

2.2 Information Automatically Collected

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain technical information:

• Device information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device type
• Usage data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, navigation paths, referral sources
• Cookies and tracking technologies: See our Cookie Policy for details

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

3.1 Service Delivery

• To provide property surveying services and connect you with accredited building surveyors
• To schedule and coordinate survey appointments
• To communicate about your survey requirements and property details
• To deliver survey reports and related documentation
• To process payments and issue invoices

3.2 Communication

• To respond to your enquiries and provide customer support
• To send appointment confirmations and reminders
• To provide updates about your survey
• To send service-related notifications

3.3 Marketing and Promotions (with consent)

• To send newsletters and property industry insights
• To inform you about new services or special offers
• To send relevant property advice and guidance

You can opt out of marketing communications at any time using the unsubscribe link in our emails or by contacting us directly.

3.4 Website Improvement

• To analyze website usage and improve user experience
• To personalize content and recommendations
• To conduct research and analytics
• To troubleshoot technical issues

3.5 Legal Compliance

• To comply with legal obligations and regulations
• To protect against fraud, abuse, and security threats
• To enforce our terms and conditions
• To respond to legal requests from authorities

4. Legal Basis for Processing (UK GDPR)

Under UK GDPR, we process your personal data on the following legal bases:

• Contractual necessity: To fulfill our surveying services contract with you
• Consent: For marketing communications (you can withdraw consent at any time)
• Legitimate interests: To improve our services, prevent fraud, and ensure website security
• Legal obligations: To comply with UK laws and regulations

5. How We Share Your Information

We may share your personal information with the following parties:

5.1 Surveying Professionals

We share relevant property and contact information with accredited building surveyors, domestic energy assessors, and property professionals in our network to deliver the requested services.

5.2 Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us with:

• Payment processing (e.g., Stripe, PayPal)
• CRM and email marketing (e.g., HubSpot)
• Website hosting and analytics (e.g., Google Analytics)
• IT support and security services

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for specified purposes.

5.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or to protect our rights, property, or safety.

5.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new owner, subject to the same privacy protections.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Access controls and authentication procedures
• Secure data storage with reputable hosting providers
• Staff training on data protection and privacy

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

• Survey records: Retained for 7 years (in line with professional indemnity insurance requirements)
• Financial records: Retained for 6 years (HMRC requirement)
• Marketing data: Retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion
• Website analytics: Anonymized and retained for up to 26 months

After the retention period, we securely delete or anonymize your personal information.

8. Your Rights Under UK GDPR

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

8.1 Right to Access

You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you (Subject Access Request).

8.2 Right to Rectification

You can request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.

8.3 Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten")

You can request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances (subject to legal obligations).

8.4 Right to Restrict Processing

You can request that we limit how we use your personal data in certain situations.

8.5 Right to Data Portability

You can request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format.

8.6 Right to Object

You can object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing purposes.

8.7 Right to Withdraw Consent

Where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw it at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 12.

9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your website experience, analyze usage, and deliver personalized content. For detailed information, please read our Cookie Policy.

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings or by using the cookie consent banner on our website.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., surveyor profiles, industry resources). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

11. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed at children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected data from a child, we will take steps to delete it promptly.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

13. Complaints

If you believe we have not handled your personal data in accordance with UK GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK supervisory authority:

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or business operations. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last updated" date.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

15. Consent

By using our website and services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.