Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Owner Builder Buddy Pty Ltd ("we", "our", "us") 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, website, and services.

By using our services, you consent to the collection and use of your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. This policy complies with the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We collect the following types of personal information when you create an account and use our platform:

• Name, email address, phone number, and postal address
• Australian Business Number (ABN) and Australian Company Number (ACN) for trade professionals
• Professional licenses and certifications for trades
• Project details including property address, budget range, and construction timeline
• Business information for trade companies (business name, address, service areas)
• Communication records including messages between users and support interactions
• Profile photos and business documentation (licenses, insurance certificates)
• Document uploads including plans, permits, receipts, and invoices

2.2 Technical Information

We automatically collect certain technical information when you use our platform:

• IP address, browser type, and device information
• Usage data including pages visited, features used, and time spent on the platform
• Authentication and session data (login times, access patterns)
• Log files for security and error tracking

2.3 Project and Financial Information

For owner-builders and construction projects, we collect:

• Build stage progress and timeline information
• Budget tracking data and expense records
• Receipt information (vendor names, amounts, dates, payment methods)
• Product selections and supplier information
• Property details (lot size, floor area, bedrooms, bathrooms)
• Permit and inspection status information

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Providing and maintaining our platform and services
• Creating and managing user accounts and profiles
• Facilitating connections between owner-builders and licensed trades
• Managing construction projects, timelines, and budgets
• Storing and organizing project documents and files
• Enabling messaging between users on the platform
• Sending transactional notifications about your account and projects (project updates, new messages, system alerts)
• Providing customer support and responding to inquiries
• Improving our services and developing new features
• Ensuring platform security, preventing fraud, and enforcing our terms of service
• Complying with legal obligations and regulatory requirements
• Powering AI features including the NCC (National Construction Code) chatbot for regulatory guidance

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 With Other Users

When you use our platform, certain information is shared with other users to facilitate construction project collaboration:

• For Trade Professionals: Your business name, location, contact details, trade categories, and professional credentials are visible to owner-builders searching for trades
• For Owner-Builders: Your name, project location, and project requirements are shared when you invite trades to quote on your project
• For All Users: Messages, document shares, and project collaboration information are shared with authorized project participants
• Reviews and Ratings: Feedback and ratings you provide or receive may be visible to other users

4.2 With Service Providers

We share your information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our platform:

Optional Integrations: If you choose to connect optional services:

• Dropbox: If enabled, documents may be stored in your Dropbox account
• Slack: Available for admin users only for internal team communications

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law or in response to:

• Valid legal processes (court orders, subpoenas, warrants)
• Government or regulatory authority requests
• Situations involving potential threats to safety or security
• Enforcement of our terms of service or investigation of violations

4.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of the business transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control of your personal information.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption: All data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest in our database
• Access Controls: Row Level Security (RLS) policies ensure users can only access their authorized data
• Authentication: Secure authentication system with password hashing and session management
• Database Security: PostgreSQL database with role-based access control and audit logging
• Regular Updates: Security patches and updates applied regularly to all systems
• Secure Storage: Documents stored in secure cloud storage with access logging
• Monitoring: Automated monitoring for suspicious activity and security incidents

While we implement strong security measures, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but continuously work to protect your data.

6. Your Rights and Choices

Under Australian privacy law, you have the following rights:

6.1 Account Deletion

When you delete your account:

• Your personal information will be anonymized or deleted within 30 days
• Some information may be retained for legal compliance (audit logs, financial records)
• Shared project data visible to other users may remain for project continuity
• Deleted accounts cannot be recovered

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details provided below. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

7. Cookies and Session Management

Our platform uses minimal cookies for essential functionality:

We do not use third-party tracking cookies, advertising cookies, or analytics cookies. Our platform does not track your activity across other websites.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services and maintain your active account
• Comply with Australian tax and business record-keeping requirements (typically 7 years for financial records)
• Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements
• Improve our services and prevent fraud

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries outside Australia:

By using our platform, you consent to the transfer of your personal information to these countries for processing. You may withdraw consent at any time by closing your account.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are designed for adults involved in construction projects and are not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. Construction work in Australia requires users to be 18+ to legally enter into contracts with licensed trades. If we become aware that we have collected information from a person under 18, we will take steps to delete it promptly.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. When we make material changes:

• We will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy
• We will notify you by email if the changes significantly affect your rights
• For minor updates, we will post a notification on the platform

Your continued use of our services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact us: