Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

At Porchplus (referred to as "we," "us," "our," or "Porchplus"), we prioritise your privacy and are committed to handling your personal information with care and transparency. This Privacy Policy outlines how Porchplus collects, uses, discloses, and protects personal data in compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023.

What counts as Personal Data

Personal Data refers to any information related to an identified or identifiable natural person, including but not limited to:

• Name, contact details (address, phone number, email)
• Photos and property-related data
• Bank details and transaction history
• Posts or interactions on the platform
• Geo-location data relating to property searches and inspections
• Maintenance and repair records
• Unique identifiers such as IP addresses or device information

You do not need an account to search listings or view public profiles. However, we believe you should always know what data we collect, how we use it, and that you have meaningful control over both.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal data depending on how you use our services:

• Account Information: Name, email, phone number, address, and password.
• Identification and Verification Data: Government-issued ID, proof of ownership or lease, and payment information.
• Platform Activity: Listings created, properties managed, inspection requests, bookings, complaints, support conversations, and settings.
• Technical Information: Device type, IP address, browser type, app version, operating system, cookies, and geolocation data.
• Communications: Chat messages, email correspondences, customer support tickets, and WhatsApp interactions.

Consent and Your Choices

By providing your personal information to Porchplus, you consent to its collection and use as described in this Policy. You may withdraw consent at any time by contacting us at info@porchplus.com. If you do not agree with how we handle your data, we advise you not to provide personal information to Porchplus.

3. How We Use Your Data

• Personalising your experience on the platform
• Managing property listings, leases, and maintenance activities
• Processing secure rent payments and other financial obligations
• Conducting user verification, background checks, and KYC
• Sending essential service notifications — rent reminders, inspection updates, account alerts — via SMS, email, and WhatsApp
• Responding to support requests
• Preventing fraud, abuse, and security breaches
• Enforcing our Terms of Service

4. Communication Channels

We may contact you via email, SMS, and WhatsApp for service-related communications. By registering with Porchplus, you consent to receiving these communications. You can manage preferences in your account settings, though certain essential communications cannot be fully opted out of while your tenancy or management relationship is active.

5. Data Sharing and Third Parties

We do not sell, trade, or transfer your Personal Data to outside parties without notice. We may share your data only in the following circumstances:

• Legal compliance: When required by law, court order, or regulatory authority.
• Corporate transactions: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of business assets, with continued data protection commitments.
• Enforcement: To enforce our Terms of Service and maintain a safe platform.
• Affiliates: With subsidiaries or partner companies bound by the same data protection standards.
• Safety: To prevent fraud, mitigate security risks, and protect users.

Our processing of Personal Data is grounded in your consent, contractual necessity, legal obligation, vital interests, or public interest — as applicable to each situation.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Porchplus uses cookies and similar technologies to improve user experience, monitor performance, and support service communications. You can adjust cookie preferences in your browser settings. We do not use cookies for third-party ad targeting.

7. Security of Your Data

We continuously implement and update administrative, technical, and physical security measures including:

• Firewalls to block unauthorised access
• Data encryption during transmission and at rest
• Role-based access controls limiting who can access your data

If you suspect your account credentials have been compromised, contact us immediately at info@porchplus.com.

8. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy, or as required by applicable law. Booking, complaint, and transaction records may be retained for a minimum of 5 years.

9. Your Rights

Under the NDPA 2023, you have the following rights:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Erasure: Request deletion of your data, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Restriction: Request that we limit how we process your data in certain circumstances.
• Portability: Request your data in a machine-readable format for transfer to another provider.
• Objection: Object to processing for direct marketing purposes.
• Withdraw consent: Withdraw consent at any time without negative consequence.
• Complaint: File a complaint with NITDA (Nigeria's data protection authority).

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@porchplus.com.

10. Changes to This Policy

Porchplus may update this Privacy Policy at any time. Changes will be posted at porchplus.com/privacy and communicated via email or in-app notification. Continued use of the platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact Us

For questions, complaints, or data requests, contact us at info@porchplus.com. We are committed to addressing your concerns promptly and ensuring your privacy rights are upheld.