This Abode Architects privacy policy explains how we collect, use, and store your personal data in accordance with UK data protection law.
Abode Architects Privacy Policy
Contact Details
Abode Architects LLPEmail:
Postal address: Redding, Fernbrae Close, Rowledge, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4ED
Last Updated:
It is important that the personal data we hold about you is accurate and up-to-date. Please keep us informed if your personal data changes during your relationship with us.
How and Why We Collect and Process Your Personal Data
We collect, use and store personal data about our potential, existing and past clients, staff, suppliers, and website visitors where we need to perform legitimate business activities such as entering into a contract with a client or complying with our legal or regulatory obligations.
We Collect Your Data Through:
Direct Interactions when you:
- Contact us to request or receive architectural services
- Request a quote for our services
- Submit enquiries via our website contact forms
- Book a discovery call through our online booking system
- Subscribe to our newsletter or updates (if applicable)
- Engage with us as a supplier or consultant
- Comment on our blog or content (if applicable)
Automated Technologies when you:
- Visit and browse our website
- Interact with our email communications
- Engage with our digital marketing campaigns
We only collect, use and store your personal data to the extent the law allows us to and as laid out in this Abode Architects privacy policy. This includes where we need to provide a quote for services, perform the contract we are about to enter into with you, or where it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or in some circumstances those of a third party such as the local planning authority).
We may have to share your personal data with a limited number of third parties such as local planning authorities, structural engineers, building control officers, planning consultants, or external suppliers for the performance of a contract to which you are a party.
We do not sell or share your personal data with other organisations for their marketing purposes.
Types of Data We Collect, Process and Store
For Project Clients:
We collect, print and store personal data including, but not limited to your first name, last name, title, postal/billing and site address, email address, and telephone numbers.
For Website Visitors:
When you visit our website or interact with our digital services, we may collect data including, but not limited to:
- IP addresses
- Browser type and version
- Device information
- Pages visited and time spent on pages
- Referring website addresses
- Contact form submissions (name, email, phone number, message content)
- Newsletter subscription details (name, email address)
- Blog comment information (name, email address, comment content) if applicable
- Discovery call booking information (name, email, phone number, preferred dates/times)
Cookies
Our website uses cookies. A cookie is a small text file that is downloaded onto a device, such as a computer, tablet or smartphone, when the user accesses the website. It allows the website to recognise your device and store some information about your preferences or past actions.
We use cookies to:
- Ensure our website functions correctly
- Remember your preferences and settings
- Analyse how visitors use our website
- Improve our website performance
- Deliver relevant marketing content
For detailed information about the cookies we use and how to manage your cookie preferences, please see our separate Cookie Policy.
Third Party Services and Data Sharing
We may use the following third-party services to help us operate our website and deliver our services:
Analytics and Website Performance:
- Google Analytics (to understand how visitors use our website)
- Website hosting providers
Marketing and Communications:
- Email service providers (for newsletters and client communications)
- Google AdWords and remarketing services (to show relevant advertisements to previous website visitors)
- Social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram) for advertising
Professional Services:
- Planning consultants
- Structural engineers
- Building control officers
- Local planning authorities
- Professional indemnity insurers
These third parties only process your personal data on our instructions and are required to keep your data secure and confidential.
Remarketing:
We use remarketing services to advertise to previous visitors to our website. This means you may see our advertisements on third-party websites, including Google search results or websites in the Google Display Network, based on your previous visits to our site.
You can set preferences for how Google advertises to you using the Google Ad Preferences page, and you can opt out of interest-based advertising entirely through your browser's cookie settings.
Data Retention
We retain your personal data for as long as necessary for the particular purpose for which it was collected:
Project Clients:
We retain project client data for at least six years following the completion of our appointment on your project, but this can be longer to meet the requirements of our professional indemnity insurance policy (typically up to 12 years for certain projects).
Prospective Clients:
Information we receive from potential clients through contact forms or enquiries is retained for one year.
Newsletter Subscribers:
We retain your subscription data until you unsubscribe from our mailing list.
Website Visitors:
Analytics and cookie data is typically retained in accordance with our analytics provider's data retention policies (usually 26 months for Google Analytics).
Your Legal Rights
Under certain circumstances, you have rights under data protection laws in relation to your personal data. These include the right to:
Request Access to Your Personal Data
(commonly known as a "data subject access request"). This enables you to receive a copy of the personal data we hold about you and to check that we are lawfully processing it.
Request Correction of Your Personal Data
This enables you to have any incomplete or inaccurate data we hold about you corrected.
Request Erasure of Your Personal Data
This enables you to ask us to delete or remove personal data where there is no good reason for us continuing to process it. You also have the right to ask us to delete or remove your personal data where you have successfully exercised your right to object to processing (see below), where we may have processed your information unlawfully, or where we are required to erase your personal data to comply with the law. We may not always be able to comply with your request for specific legal reasons, and we will notify you at the time of your request if this applies.
Object to Processing of Your Personal Data
Where we are relying on a legitimate interest (or those of a third party) and there is something about your particular situation which makes you want to object to processing on this ground, as you feel it impacts on your fundamental rights and freedoms. You also have the right to object where we are processing your personal data for direct marketing purposes.
Request Restriction of Processing
This enables you to ask us to suspend the processing of your personal data in the following scenarios:
- If you want us to establish the data's accuracy
- Where our use of the data is unlawful but you do not want us to erase it
- Where you need us to hold the data even if we no longer require it, as you need it to establish, exercise or defend legal claims
- You have objected to our use of your data but we need to verify whether we have overriding legitimate grounds to use it
Request the Transfer of Your Personal Data
To you or to a third party (data portability).
Withdraw Consent
Where we are relying on consent to process your personal data. However, this will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before you withdraw your consent.
Making a Complaint
You have the right to make a complaint at any time to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection issues.
Website: www.ico.org.uk
We would, however, appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns before you approach the ICO, so please contact us in the first instance.
Links to External Sites
Our website may contain links to external sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the privacy policy of every site you visit.
We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies or practices of any third-party sites or services.
Security
The security of your personal information is important to us. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal data, including secure servers, encrypted communications, and restricted access to personal data, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but we take all measures reasonably necessary to protect against unauthorised access, use, alteration or destruction of personal data.
Privacy Policy Changes
Although most changes are likely to be minor, Abode Architects LLP may change this Privacy Policy from time to time, and at Abode Architects LLP's sole discretion. We encourage visitors to frequently check this page for any changes to our Privacy Policy. Your continued use of this website after any change in this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of such change.