This Privacy Policy describes how Sound Choice NZ Limited (the "Company", "we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, and discloses your personal information when you visit our website, use our services, or otherwise communicate with us regarding property purchases in Christchurch and Waimakariri regions (collectively, the "Services"). For purposes of this Privacy Policy, "you" and "your" means you as the user of the Services, whether you are a property owner, website visitor, or another individual whose information we have collected pursuant to this Privacy Policy.
Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using and accessing any of the Services, you agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to this Privacy Policy, please do not use or access any of the Services.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, including to reflect changes to our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will post the revised Privacy Policy on our website, update the "Last updated" date and take any other steps required by applicable law.
How We Collect and Use Your Personal Information
To provide our property purchasing services, we collect and have collected over the past 12 months personal information about you from a variety of sources, as set out below. The information that we collect and use varies depending on how you interact with us.
In addition to the specific uses set out below, we may use information we collect about you to communicate with you, provide the Services, comply with any applicable legal obligations, enforce any applicable terms of service, and to protect or defend the Services, our rights, and the rights of our users or others.
What Personal Information We Collect
The types of personal information we obtain about you depends on how you interact with our Services. When we use the term "personal information", we are referring to information that identifies, relates to, describes or can be associated with you. The following sections describe the categories and specific types of personal information we collect.
Information We Collect Directly from You
Information that you directly submit to us through our Services may include:
Contact details including your name, address, phone number, email address
Property information including property address, property condition details, ownership information, and mortgage details
Transaction information including purchase agreements, settlement details, and payment information
Financial information including bank account details for settlement purposes
Communication records including the information you choose to include in communications with us, for example, when requesting a property evaluation or cash offer
Some features of the Services may require you to directly provide us with certain information about yourself. You may elect not to provide this information, but doing so may prevent you from receiving our property purchasing services.
Information We Collect Automatically
We also automatically collect certain information about your interaction with the Services ("Usage Data"). To do this, we may use cookies, pixels and similar technologies. Usage Data may include information about how you access and use our website, including device information, browser information, information about your network connection, your IP address and other information regarding your interaction with the Services.
Information We Obtain from Third Parties
We may obtain information about you from third parties, including:
Property databases and public records including property valuations, ownership records, and property history information
Credit reporting agencies for verification purposes during property transactions
Legal and professional service providers including lawyers, surveyors, and valuers who assist with property transactions
Government agencies including territorial authorities and Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) for property verification and compliance purposes
Any information we obtain from third parties will be treated in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable New Zealand privacy laws.
How We Use Your Personal Information
Property Purchasing Services: We use your personal information to evaluate your property, make cash offers, conduct due diligence, and complete property purchases, including processing settlements, arranging inspections, and managing the transfer of ownership.
Communication: We use your personal information to communicate with you about your property, provide updates on our purchasing process, and respond to your inquiries. This includes phone calls, emails, and text messages.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance: We use your personal information to comply with New Zealand legal obligations, including anti-money laundering requirements, property transfer regulations, and tax obligations.
Business Operations: We use your personal information to maintain our business records, conduct market analysis for property investment purposes, and improve our services.
Cookies and Online Tracking
Like many websites, we use cookies on our website. We use cookies to improve our website functionality, remember your preferences, and analyze how visitors use our site. Most browsers automatically accept cookies by default, but you can choose to set your browser to remove or reject cookies through your browser controls.
How We Disclose Personal Information
We may disclose your personal information to third parties in certain circumstances:
Professional service providers including lawyers, accountants, surveyors, and property valuers who assist with property transactions
Financial institutions including banks and lenders for settlement and financing purposes
Government agencies including territorial authorities, LINZ, and Inland Revenue as required by law
Business partners who assist with property renovations, maintenance, or resale activities
Legal and regulatory authorities when required to comply with court orders, legal processes, or regulatory investigations
We require all third parties to protect your personal information and comply with applicable privacy laws.
Security and Retention of Your Information
We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, please be aware that no security measures are perfect or impenetrable.
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Property transaction records are typically retained for seven years in accordance with New Zealand legal requirements.
Your Rights and Choices
Under the Privacy Act 2020, you have certain rights regarding your personal information:
Right of Access: You may request access to the personal information we hold about you
Right of Correction: You may request that we correct any inaccurate personal information about you
Right to Restrict Processing: You may request that we limit how we use your personal information in certain circumstances
Right to Complain: You may lodge a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner if you believe we have breached your privacy
To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details provided below. We may need to verify your identity before responding to your request.