Legal

Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY

1. Introduction

House And Land Packages Pty Ltd (ABN 92 631 641 408) ("HALP", "we", "us", or "our") operates multiple property and business directory platforms including:

www.halp.com.au
www.boutiquedevelopments.com.au
Associated websites within our network

We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). "Personal Information" has the meaning given in the Privacy Act, being in sum - Information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable, whether true or not, and whether recorded in material form or not.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose, and manage your personal information we collect either from you when you use our websites, services, and platforms or otherwise interact with us, or from third parties.

2. Information We Collect and How we Collect it

2.1 Personal Information

We may collect the following types of personal information: Contact Information (name, email, phone, mailing address, suburb/state/postcode); Property-Related Information (search preferences, budget and finance capacity, preferred locations and school zones, property type preferences, investment or owner-occupier status); Professional Information for Business Listings (business name and trading name, ABN/ACN, business address, professional licenses and credentials, PI Insurance details, trust account details where applicable, business logo and marketing materials, service areas and specializations); Mortgage and Finance Information (income, employment status, deposit amount, current mortgage/rental commitments, credit-related information via third-party providers only); Account Information (username and encrypted password, account preferences, subscription and payment history, saved searches, communication preferences); Inquiry and Communication Data (messages via contact forms, email correspondence, phone call records, feedback and survey responses, customer support interactions).

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our websites, we automatically collect Technical Information (IP address, device identifiers, browser type and version, operating system, device type, screen resolution); Usage Data (pages visited and time on each, search queries and filters, properties viewed and saved, click paths and navigation patterns, referral sources, date and time of access); Location Data (general location based on IP address, precise location if you grant permission on mobile devices, location preferences for property searches).

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from real estate agents, developers, and builders you contact through our platform; mortgage brokers and financial service providers in our network; property data providers and aggregators; credit reporting agencies (with your consent); social media platforms; marketing and analytics service providers; government databases (for school zone and demographic information); your employer or organization you work with in the course of our dealings with them.

2.4 Information You Choose to Provide

We may also collect information when you subscribe to our newsletters or alerts; register for an account; complete mortgage calculators; download property guides; submit property listings or business directory entries; participate in surveys or promotions; provide reviews or testimonials; attend events or webinars.

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Primary Uses

We use your personal information to deliver our services (property search and discovery, connections with developers/builders/agents, mortgage broker connections, school zone information, property listings, business directory management); communicate with you (respond to inquiries, send property alerts, provide mortgage rate updates, service-related notifications, account/subscription info); improve the platform (analyze usage patterns, develop new features, market research, test/optimize performance, improve search algorithms); and market with your consent (newsletters, information about new developments, promotions, educational content).

3.2 Legitimate Interests

We may also process information based on legitimate business interests, including preventing fraud and maintaining platform security, enforcing our Terms of Service, protecting our legal rights and property, complying with legal obligations, managing and improving our business operations, and conducting business analytics and reporting.

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 When We Share Your Information

We may share your personal information with property industry partners (developers, builders, real estate agents, property management, project marketing and sales teams); financial services partners (mortgage brokers in our HALP Home Loans network, home loan lenders, mortgage aggregators); professional service providers (conveyancers, solicitors, building inspectors, valuers, removalists and utility services — upon request); technology and service providers (Amazon Web Services (AWS) for hosting and backups; CRM platforms Pipedrive and ActiveCampaign; Google Drive; Google Workspace; Stripe; Google Analytics; marketing automation platforms; SMS providers); business operations (affiliates, professional advisors, business purchasers/successors); and legal requirements (government agencies, courts, regulatory authorities as required by law).

4.2 How We Share Information

Property Listing Inquiries: when you submit an inquiry about a specific property listing through our platform, your inquiry (name, email, phone, message) goes directly to the listing agent, developer, or builder. HALP does not store or process these property-specific inquiries. The property advertiser becomes the data controller for your inquiry. You should review the privacy policy of the property advertiser. We facilitate the connection but do not retain your inquiry data. General Platform Inquiries: when you use our general inquiry forms (Contact Us, Join Us, Advertise With Us), your information is collected and stored by HALP in our CRM systems (Pipedrive, ActiveCampaign), with supporting documentation possibly stored in Google Drive. We use this information to respond to your inquiry and provide services, and may follow up via email or phone.

Form Types and Data Flow: Property Listing Inquiries -> Direct to listing agent (not stored by HALP); "Contact Us" Forms -> Stored in Pipedrive, ActiveCampaign, Google Drive; "Join Us" Forms -> Stored in Pipedrive, ActiveCampaign, Google Drive (for business directory inquiries); "Advertise With Us" Forms -> Stored in Pipedrive, ActiveCampaign, Google Drive; Newsletter Subscriptions -> Stored in ActiveCampaign; Account Registration -> Stored in our secure database.

Business Directory: if you list your business in our professional directory, your business information will be publicly displayed on our websites, including your business name, services, contact details, and any information you choose to provide. Aggregated Data: we may share anonymized, aggregated data that does not identify you personally for industry reporting, market analysis, and research purposes.

4.3 No Sale of Personal Information

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. Any sharing of information is done with your consent, to provide services you've requested, with service providers who assist us, for the permitted purposes in section 4.1 and 4.2, or as required by law.

5. Data Security and Storage

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures including SSL encryption for data transmission, encrypted storage, secure authentication and access controls, regular security assessments, restricted access on a need-to-know basis, secure AWS data centers with physical security, regular backups on AWS, PCI-DSS compliant payment processing via Stripe, and staff training on privacy and data security.

Payment Security: all payment processing is handled by Stripe (PCI-DSS Level 1 certified). Payment forms are processed securely through Stripe. HALP does not store complete credit card numbers. We may store limited payment info for subscription management (last 4 digits, expiry date) and tokenized payment methods for recurring subscriptions.

Data Retention: account information is retained while your account is active plus 7 years after closure; inquiry and communication records up to 7 years; transaction records 7 years; marketing data until you unsubscribe or withdraw consent; website analytics typically 26 months. After the retention period, we securely delete or anonymize your personal information where practical given our storage systems.

Data Storage Locations: your personal information may be stored on secure servers located in Australia, with Amazon Web Services (AWS), and with cloud service providers who may store data internationally (Pipedrive, ActiveCampaign). Primary Storage Infrastructure: Website Hosting & Backups on AWS; CRM Systems on Pipedrive; Marketing Automation on ActiveCampaign; Document Storage on Google Drive; Payment Processing on Stripe.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit our websites. We use essential cookies (required for website functionality), analytics cookies (Google Analytics), functional cookies (preferences, saved searches, personalized content), and marketing cookies (with your consent, for relevant advertising and measurement).

You can control cookies through your browser settings, our cookie consent banner, or third-party opt-out tools (e.g. Google Analytics opt-out). Disabling certain cookies may limit website functionality. We may also use web beacons and pixel tags, device fingerprinting, local storage technologies, and social media widgets and plugins.

7. Your Privacy Rights

You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you, request correction, and receive a copy in a portable format. Contact privacy@halp.com.au. You can opt out of marketing by using the unsubscribe link in emails, replying STOP to SMS, updating your preferences, or contacting us; note you cannot opt out of essential service communications. You may request deletion of your account by contacting privacy@halp.com.au; we will confirm your identity, delete your account and personal information (subject to legal retention requirements), and notify you when complete.

Complaint Process: contact our Privacy Officer at privacy@halp.com.au (acknowledged within 7 days), we will investigate and respond within 30 days, and if unsatisfied you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au, 1300 363 992, or enquiries@oaic.gov.au.

8. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 18 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete it promptly. Parents or guardians should contact privacy@halp.com.au.

9. Third-Party Links and Services

Our websites may contain links to third-party websites, services, and platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies. Third-Party Services We Use include AWS (hosting/backups), Google Analytics, Pipedrive (CRM), ActiveCampaign (email/CRM), Google Drive (document storage), Stripe (payment processing), and social media platforms. Each service has its own privacy policy.

10. International Data Transfers

Some of our service providers may be located overseas or store data on international servers. When we transfer your personal information outside Australia, to the extent reasonably practical we ensure the recipient country has privacy protections substantially similar to Australia, we have appropriate contractual protections in place, or we have your consent. Countries where data may be transferred include the United States (AWS, Stripe, Google, Pipedrive, ActiveCampaign) and European Union countries.

11. Marketing and Direct Marketing

With your consent, we may send property listings and alerts, newsletters, information about new developments and projects, home loan and finance updates, educational content, and promotional offers. We obtain consent when you subscribe, create an account and opt in, submit an inquiry and consent to updates, or download resources and opt in. You can opt out at any time via unsubscribe links, account settings, replying STOP, or contacting unsubscribe@halp.com.au. We process opt-outs within 5 business days. We do not share your information with third parties for their own direct marketing without your explicit consent.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date, notify account holders via email, display a prominent notice, and provide a reasonable period for review. Continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

13. Contact Us

Privacy Officer — Email: privacy@halp.com.au. Phone: 1300 137 406. Mail: 235 Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick VIC 3185. General inquiries: within 5 business days. Access requests: within 30 days. Complaint investigations: within 30 days.

14. Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ summarises key points of our Privacy Policy in plain language. It is provided for convenience only — the full policy above governs in case of any inconsistency.

Q1. What personal information does HALP collect?

Contact details, property search preferences, mortgage and finance information, business listing details (for advertisers), account information, and technical data such as your IP address and browsing activity on our sites. See section 2.

Q2. How does HALP use my information?

To deliver our property search, business directory, and home loan connection services; respond to inquiries; improve our platforms; and, with your consent, send marketing communications. See section 3.

Q3. Does HALP sell my personal information?

No. We share it only with your consent, with service providers who help us operate, with property and finance partners you've asked us to connect you with, or where required by law. See section 4.3.

Q4. Who does HALP share my information with?

Property developers, builders and real estate agents whose listings you inquire about; mortgage brokers and lenders in our network; technology service providers (AWS, Pipedrive, ActiveCampaign, Stripe, Google Analytics); professional advisors; and government or regulatory bodies where legally required. See section 4.

Q5. Is my information stored in Australia?

Some information is stored in Australia, but some of our service providers are based overseas (primarily the US and EU). Where data is transferred internationally we take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate protections. See sections 5 and 10.

Q6. How long is my information kept?

Account and transaction records are generally retained for 7 years after closure. Marketing data is kept until you unsubscribe. Website analytics is typically retained for 26 months. See section 5.

Q7. How can I access, correct or delete my information?

Email privacy@halp.com.au. We'll verify your identity and respond within 30 days. See section 7.

Q8. How do I opt out of marketing?

Unsubscribe in any marketing email, reply STOP to SMS, update account preferences, or email unsubscribe@halp.com.au. See section 11.

Q9. How do I make a privacy complaint?

Contact our Privacy Officer at privacy@halp.com.au. We'll acknowledge within 7 days and respond within 30 days. If unsatisfied, contact the OAIC at www.oaic.gov.au or 1300 363 992. See section 7.