Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Elsja Properties ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website elsjaprop.co.za.

This policy complies with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We may collect the following personal information:

• Name and contact information (email, phone number)
• Property preferences and requirements
• Communication history with our team
• Authentication information (when using Google OAuth)

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect:

• IP address and device information
• Browser type and version
• Pages visited and time spent on site
• Referring website information
• Cookies and similar technologies (with your consent)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

• Providing real estate services and property information
• Responding to your inquiries and requests
• Improving our website and services
• Analyzing website usage and performance
• Ensuring website security and preventing fraud
• Complying with legal obligations

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

4.1 What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit our website. They help us provide a better experience and understand how you use our site.

4.2 Types of Cookies We Use

5. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• With your explicit consent
• To comply with legal obligations
• To protect our rights and safety
• With service providers who assist in our operations (under strict confidentiality agreements)

6. Data Security

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

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Regular security assessments
• Access controls and authentication
• Secure hosting and infrastructure

7. Your Rights

Under POPIA and GDPR, you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal information
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal information
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation of data processing
• Right to Data Portability: Request your data in a structured format
• Right to Object: Object to processing of your personal information
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for cookie usage

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Specifically:

• Contact form submissions: 2 years
• Authentication data: Until account deletion or 2 years of inactivity
• Analytics data: 26 months (Google Analytics)
• Cookie consent preferences: Until withdrawn or 2 years

9. Third-Party Services

Our website uses the following third-party services:

• Google Analytics: Website analytics and performance tracking
• Google OAuth: User authentication
• Google reCAPTCHA: Spam prevention

These services have their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them.

10. Children's Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 18, please contact us immediately.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than South Africa, including the United States. We ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and implement appropriate safeguards.

12. 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 policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

13. Contact Information

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

14. Cookie Management

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" button in the footer of our website. You can also:

• Delete cookies through your browser settings
• Set your browser to refuse cookies
• Use browser extensions to block tracking

Note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.