Surveyors Bristol ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard information you provide when using our website at surveyorsbristol.co.uk.
This policy is written in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
1. Who We Are
Surveyors Bristol is an independent practice of RICS-regulated professional building surveyors operating in Bristol and the surrounding areas. We are the data controller for the personal data described in this policy.
2. What Data We Collect
We may collect the following categories of personal data:
- Contact information: name, company name (if applicable), property address being surveyed.
- Communication data: messages and enquiries you submit through our contact forms.
- Usage data: information about how you use our website, collected via cookies and analytics tools (see Section 6).
We do not collect or store phone numbers or email addresses directly on our website. Contact form submissions are processed through HubSpot (see Section 5).
3. How We Use Your Data
We use your personal data to:
- Respond to your enquiries and provide survey quotations.
- Deliver the surveying services you request.
- Improve our website and user experience.
- Comply with legal obligations (e.g., RICS regulatory requirements).
We process your data on the lawful basis of legitimate interests (responding to your enquiries) and contractual necessity (where you engage us to carry out a survey).
4. How Long We Keep Your Data
We retain your data for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with our legal obligations. Enquiry data is retained for up to 2 years. Survey-related records are retained for 6 years in line with professional indemnity insurance requirements and RICS guidance.
5. Third-Party Data Processors
HubSpot
Our website uses HubSpot CRM and marketing tools. When you submit a contact form, your data is transmitted to HubSpot and stored on their servers. HubSpot is located in the United States and is subject to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. You can view HubSpot's privacy policy at legal.hubspot.com/privacy-policy.
Google Analytics
We may use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect anonymised usage data. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
6. Cookies
Our website uses cookies — small text files stored on your device. We use the following types of cookies:
- Essential cookies: Necessary for the website to function. These cannot be disabled.
- Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors use the website. You can decline these via our cookie banner.
- Marketing cookies: Used by HubSpot to track interactions with our website and measure marketing effectiveness. You can decline these via our cookie banner.
You can manage your cookie preferences at any time via your browser settings or our cookie consent banner.
7. Your Rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Right of access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Right to rectification: You can ask us to correct inaccurate data.
- Right to erasure: You can ask us to delete your data, subject to our legal retention obligations.
- Right to object: You can object to our processing of your data on the basis of legitimate interests.
- Right to data portability: You can request your data in a machine-readable format.
To exercise any of these rights, please use the contact form on our Contact page.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk if you believe your data has been handled improperly.
8. Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. Our website is served over HTTPS, and access to our CRM systems is restricted to authorised staff.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "last updated" date at the top of this page will reflect any changes. Continued use of our website after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please use the contact form on our website.