Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Account Information (When Authentication is Implemented)

When you create an account, we collect:

• Email address
• Name (optional)
• Password (encrypted)
• Account creation date

1.2 Rating Data

When you submit a rating, we collect:

• Numeric ratings (0-10) for each aspect
• Tenancy start and end dates
• Rental amount and frequency (optional)
• Property details (bedrooms, bathrooms, dwelling type)
• Timestamp of rating submission

1.3 Automatically Collected Data

• IP address (for security and fraud prevention)
• Browser type and version
• Device information
• Pages visited and time spent
• Search queries

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 Aggregated Ratings

Your individual ratings are combined with other ratings to calculate aggregated scores for properties. These aggregated scores are what we display publicly. Individual ratings are never shown publicly.

2.2 Time-Based Analysis

Tenancy dates allow us to:

• Weight recent experiences more heavily
• Show how properties change over time
• Provide historical trend analysis

2.3 System Improvements

We use anonymized data to:

• Improve our rating algorithms
• Detect and prevent fraud
• Enhance search functionality
• Understand usage patterns

3. What We Display Publicly

3.1 Aggregated Scores Only

Publicly visible information includes:

• Property addresses
• Aggregated rating scores (e.g., "7.5/10 from 24 ratings")
• Sample sizes (number of ratings)
• Historical trends (year-by-year aggregates)

3.2 What We Never Display

We never publicly display:

• Individual user ratings
• Tenant names or identities
• Specific tenancy dates for individuals
• Individual rental amounts
• Any information that could identify a specific tenant

4. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We may share aggregated, anonymized data for:

• Research purposes (academic studies)
• Policy advocacy (housing quality improvements)
• Public reports (rental market trends)

Any shared data will be thoroughly anonymized and cannot identify individual tenants.

5. Data Security

We protect your data through:

• Encrypted passwords (bcrypt or similar)
• HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
• Secure database access controls
• Regular security audits
• Limited staff access to personal data

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your data
• Correction: Update incorrect information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and ratings
• Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format

To exercise these rights, please contact us.

7. Data Retention

We retain rating data indefinitely for historical trend analysis, even if you delete your account. However, your account information and any link between you and your ratings will be permanently removed, making it impossible to identify you as the source of those ratings.

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies for:

• Session management (keeping you logged in)
• Security (CSRF protection)
• Analytics (understanding site usage)

You can disable cookies in your browser, but this may limit functionality.

9. Children's Privacy

RentRant is not intended for users under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from children.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email (if you have an account) or prominent site notice. Continued use constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

For privacy-related questions or to exercise your rights, please contact us.