Privacy Policy
Last updated: January 26, 2026
Introduction
AussieRoomsH3 ("we," "us," "our") is committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform to connect property owners with renters seeking accommodation in Australia.
This policy complies with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). By using AussieRoomsH3, you consent to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms, please do not access or use the platform.
Information We Collect
1. Personal Information You Provide
When you register and use our platform, we collect:
- Account Information: Full name, email address, phone number, date of birth
- Profile Information: Profile photo, bio, occupation, work schedule, lifestyle preferences
- Owner-Specific Data: Property address, room details, rental prices, viewing availability, photos
- Renter-Specific Data: Desired location, budget, move-in date, preferences for amenities and furnishing
- Verification Data: Government-issued ID (for identity verification purposes)
- Lifestyle & Compatibility Data: Cleanliness preferences, noise tolerance, smoking habits, pet ownership, guest frequency, personality traits, interests, hobbies
- Communication Data: Messages sent through viewing requests, noticeboard posts, check-in responses
- Payment Information: Payment schedules and tracking data (note: we do NOT store payment methods or process transactions)
2. Automatically Collected Information
- Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
- Usage Data: Pages viewed, features used, search queries, clicks, time spent on pages
- Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address (not precise GPS tracking)
- Geospatial Data: H3 hexagon indices for properties (used for map search functionality)
- Cookies & Tracking: Session cookies, authentication tokens, preference cookies
3. Information from Third Parties
- Authentication Services: Firebase Authentication data (Google, Facebook, Apple sign-in)
- Public Records: Property ownership verification through public databases
- Analytics Services: Aggregate usage statistics from analytics tools
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- Platform Operation: To create and manage your account, facilitate connections between owners and renters, process viewing requests
- AI Compatibility Matching: To generate compatibility reports using Google Gemini AI, analyzing lifestyle habits, personality traits, and interests to help users find compatible housemates
- Geospatial Search: To enable map-based room search using H3 hexagonal indexing technology
- Communication: To send notifications about viewing requests, messages, agreements, and platform updates
- Safety & Verification: To verify user identities, prevent fraud, and ensure platform safety
- Legal Compliance: To enforce our Terms & Conditions, comply with state-specific regulations (e.g., SA room limits), and respond to legal requests
- Platform Improvement: To analyze usage patterns, improve features, and develop new functionality
- Customer Support: To respond to inquiries, troubleshoot issues, and provide assistance
- Household Features: To power the shared noticeboard, weekly check-ins, and AI-generated household summaries
How We Share Your Information
We do NOT sell your personal information to third parties.
We may share your information in the following circumstances:
With Other Users
Your profile information, property listings, and compatibility data are visible to other users as part of the platform's core functionality. You control what information you include in your profile.
Service Providers
- Google Cloud Platform: Firestore database storage, Firebase Authentication, Google Genkit AI for compatibility reports
- Map Services: MapLibre and Carto for map visualization (no personal data shared)
- Analytics Services: Aggregate usage data only (no personally identifiable information)
Legal Requirements
We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of AussieRoomsH3, our users, or others.
Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.
With Your Consent
We may share information with third parties when you provide explicit consent.
Data Storage and Security
Data Storage
Your data is stored in Google Cloud Firestore databases located in Australia and Southeast Asia regions. We implement industry-standard security measures including:
- Encryption in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
- Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
- Access controls and authentication requirements
- Automated backups and disaster recovery systems
Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. When you delete your account:
- Profile data is permanently deleted within 30 days
- Transactional records (agreements, payment tracking) are retained for 7 years for legal and tax compliance
- Anonymized aggregate data may be retained indefinitely for analytics purposes
Security Limitations
While we implement strong security measures, no system is 100% secure. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. Report any unauthorized access immediately.
Your Rights and Choices
Under Australian Privacy Law, you have the following rights:
- Access: Request a copy of your personal information we hold
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data (subject to legal retention requirements)
- Restriction: Request limitation on how we process certain data
- Portability: Request export of your data in a machine-readable format
- Objection: Object to certain types of processing (e.g., direct marketing)
- Withdraw Consent: Withdraw previously given consent at any time
- Complaint: Lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@aussieroomsh3.com.au. We will respond within 30 days.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to:
- Maintain your login session and remember your preferences
- Analyze usage patterns and improve platform performance
- Provide personalized search results and recommendations
- Prevent fraud and enhance security
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may limit platform functionality.
Children's Privacy
AussieRoomsH3 is not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we discover we have collected data from a child, we will delete it immediately. If you believe we have information about a child, please contact us at privacy@aussieroomsh3.com.au.
Third-Party Links
Our platform may contain links to third-party websites or services (e.g., social media, map services). 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.
International Data Transfers
While we primarily store data within Australia, some service providers (e.g., Google Cloud Platform) may process data in other countries. We ensure that any international transfers comply with Australian privacy law and that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information.
AI and Automated Decision Making
We use Google Gemini AI to generate compatibility reports between owners and renters. This AI analyzes profile information to produce compatibility scores across multiple dimensions (lifestyle habits, personality traits, interests).
Important: AI compatibility reports are advisory only and do not make binding decisions. Users retain full control over who they choose to rent to or rent from. We are not liable for the accuracy or outcomes of AI-generated compatibility assessments.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes via email or prominent notice on the platform. Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Last Updated: January 26, 2026
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:
Email: privacy@aussieroomsh3.com.au
Phone: 1300 123 456
Mail: Privacy Officer, AussieRoomsH3, PO BOX 123, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
You can also lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au