Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Properly is a service provided by LucroTech Business Solutions, a company registered in the Republic of South Africa. We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services. Please read this privacy policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access the site.

2. Responsible Party

In terms of POPIA, the responsible party for the processing of your personal information is:

3. Information We Collect

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Register on our platform
• Post a property request
• Respond to a property request
• Contact us with enquiries
• Subscribe to our newsletter

3.1 Personal Information

The personal information we may collect includes:

• Identity Information: Full name, identity number (where required for verification)
• Contact Information: Email address, phone number, physical address
• Account Information: Username, password (encrypted), account preferences
• Property Request Information: Property requirements, budget ranges, preferred locations
• Professional Information: For agents - agency name, registration details, professional qualifications

3.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you access our website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address and browser type
• Device information
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Referring website addresses

4. Purpose of Processing

In terms of Section 13 of POPIA, we process your personal information for the following purposes:

• To create and manage your account
• To facilitate property matching between seekers and providers
• To communicate with you about your requests and matches
• To send you marketing communications (with your consent)
• To improve our services and user experience
• To comply with legal obligations
• To prevent fraud and ensure platform security

5. Lawful Basis for Processing

We process your personal information based on one or more of the following lawful grounds as set out in POPIA:

• Consent: You have given us consent to process your personal information for specific purposes
• Contract: Processing is necessary for the performance of our service agreement with you
• Legal Obligation: Processing is necessary to comply with South African law
• Legitimate Interest: Processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, provided these do not override your rights

6. Disclosure of Information

We may share your information in the following situations:

• With Other Users: When you post a request, certain information may be visible to agents and property owners. When you respond to a request, your contact information may be shared with the requester.
• Service Providers: We may share information with third-party service providers who assist us in operating our platform, subject to appropriate data processing agreements.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government regulation.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new entity.

7. Your Rights Under POPIA

As a data subject under POPIA, you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: You may request confirmation of whether we hold your personal information and request access to such information
• Right to Correction: You may request that we correct or update inaccurate personal information
• Right to Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements
• Right to Object: You may object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing purposes
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw consent at any time
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: You may lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator if you believe your rights have been violated

8. Data Security

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

• Encryption of sensitive data in transit and at rest
• Secure password hashing
• Regular security assessments
• Access controls and authentication measures
• Staff training on data protection

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

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. When personal information is no longer required, we will securely delete or anonymise it.

• Active Accounts: Information is retained while your account is active
• Closed Accounts: Basic information may be retained for up to 5 years for legal compliance
• Marketing Data: Retained until you withdraw consent
• Transaction Records: Retained for 5 years as required by South African tax law

10. Cookies and Tracking

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Understand how you use our website
• Improve our services

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

11. Cross-Border Transfers

In certain circumstances, we may transfer your personal information to countries outside South Africa for processing. When we do so, we ensure that:

• The recipient country has adequate data protection laws, or
• We have appropriate safeguards in place, such as binding corporate rules or standard contractual clauses, or
• You have provided consent to the transfer

12. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

13. Direct Marketing

In accordance with Section 69 of POPIA, we will only send you direct marketing communications if you have opted in to receive them. You may opt out of marketing communications at any time by:

• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email
• Contacting us at privacy@properly.co.za
• Updating your preferences in your account settings

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your rights, or have any concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact us: