HomeMaster Privacy Policy

This is the privacy notice of Designer Software Ltd trading as HomeMaster. In this document, “we”, “our”, “us”, or HomeMaster refer to Designer Software.

We are a company registered in England under company number 03130341 and is part of a group of companies with Aareon AG (a company based in Germany) as the Parent Company.

Our registered address is International House, 36-38 Cornhill, London, England, EC3V 3NG.

 

Introduction

This privacy notice aims to inform you about how we collect and process any information that we collect from you, while you visit our website or that you provide to us. It covers information that could identify you (“personal information”) and information that could not. In the context of the law and this notice, “process” means collect, store, transfer, use or otherwise act on information. It tells you about your privacy rights and how the law protects you.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information. Our policy is not just an exercise in complying with the law, but a continuation of our respect for you and your personal information.

We undertake to preserve the confidentiality of all information you provide to us, and hope that you reciprocate.

The law requires us to tell you about your rights and our obligations to you in regards to the processing and control of your personal data. We do this now, by requesting that you read the information provided at https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/.

Except as set out below, we do not share, sell, or disclose to a third party any information collected through our website.

 

1. Controller and Processor

The difference between a Data Controller and Data Processor is important:

  • When HomeMaster carries out functions on behalf of other Data Controllers, (our customers) this means we act as their Data Processor. We carry out functions which may involve individuals’ personal information on behalf of our customers and these processing operations are based on our customers’ written instructions and under a contract.
  • Where HomeMaster processes information when carrying out marketing activities, we do so as a Data Controller.

2. Data Protection Officer

We have appointed a data protection officer (DPO) who is responsible for ensuring that our policy is followed.

If you have any questions about this privacy notice, including any requests to exercise your legal rights, please contact our DPO, on info@designersoftware.co.uk

 


3. Data we process when you visit our website

When you visit our web pages, our web servers store the following in server log files by default: the IP address of your PC and the date and time of your request, the type of your Internet browser and the operating system of your PC as well as the page from which you visit us. We also record information about the software you are using to browse our website, such as the type of computer or device and the screen resolution. We use this information in aggregate to assess the popularity of the webpages on our website and how we perform in providing content to you. If combined with other information we know about you from previous visits, the data possibly could be used to identify you personally, even if you are not signed in to our website.

In the event of illegal use, we reserve the right to check this data to support a legal claim or prosecution.

On our website and within our platform we use Pendo, a third-party analytics and engagement platform, to enhance your experience when using our services. Pendo helps us understand how users interact with our website and platform, enabling us to:

  • Analyse usage patterns to improve functionality and user experience.
  • Deliver in-app messages and updates about our services.
  • Collect feedback through surveys and polls to inform product development.
  • Promote new product launches, features, and webinars.

Pendo collects usage data via a tracking script embedded in our platform. This may include information such as pages visited, features used, and interaction times. We do not share personally identifiable information with Pendo unless explicitly configured, and any data shared is handled in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Other personal data is not collected when you visit our websites, unless you voluntarily provide information, e.g. your name, address, telephone number or e-mail address, as part of registration, application for certain services, for a survey or receipt of company and product-related information, participation in a competition or to implement a contract. The personal data that you voluntarily provide will be stored and used for the purposes stated in each case. 

 

4. The bases on which we process information about you

The law requires us to determine under which of six defined bases we process different categories of your personal information, and to notify you of the basis for each category.

If a basis on which we process your personal information is no longer relevant then we shall immediately stop processing your data.

If the basis changes then if required by law we shall notify you of the change and of any new basis under which we have determined that we can continue to process your information.

  • Information we process with your consent

Through certain actions such as when you browse our website or ask us to provide you more information about our business or that of our affiliates, including our products and services or that of our affiliates, you provide your consent to us to process information that may be personal information.

Wherever possible, we aim to obtain your explicit consent to process this information, for example, by asking you to agree to our use of cookies.

We continue to process your information on this basis until you withdraw your consent or it can be reasonably assumed that your consent no longer exists.

You may withdraw your consent at any time by instructing us info@designersoftware.co.uk.

  • Information we process for the purposes of legitimate interests

We may process information on the basis there is a legitimate interest, either to you or to us, of doing so.

Where we process your information on this basis, we do after having given careful consideration to:

  • whether the same objective could be achieved through other means
  • whether processing (or not processing) might cause you harm
  • whether you would expect us to process your data, and whether you would, in the round, consider it reasonable to do so

For example, we may process your data on this basis for the purposes of:

  • identifying appropriate persons to market our services to;
  • record-keeping for the proper and necessary administration of our business;
  • responding to unsolicited communication from you to which we believe you would expect a response;
  • protecting and asserting the legal rights of any party;
  • insuring against or obtaining professional advice that is required to manage organisational or business risk;
  • protecting your interests where we believe we have a duty to do so; and
  • providing you with suggesting and advice on our products and services or those of our affiliates.
  • Information we process because we have a legal obligation

Sometimes, we must process your information in order to comply with a statutory obligation.

For example, we may be required to give information to legal authorities if they so request or if they have the proper authorisation such as a search warrant or court order.

This may include your personal information.

Specific uses of information you provide to us

 

5. Complaints regarding content on our website

If you complain about any of the content on our website, we shall investigate your complaint.

If we feel it is justified or if we believe the law requires us to do so, we shall remove the content while we investigate.

Free speech is a fundamental right, so we have to make a judgment as to whose right will be obstructed: yours, or that of the person who posted the content that offends you.

 

6. Communicating with us

When you contact us, whether by telephone, through our website or by e-mail, we collect the data you have given to us in order to reply with the information you need.

We record your request and our reply in order to increase the efficiency of our business.

We keep personally identifiable information associated with your message, such as your name and email address so as to be able to track our communications with you to provide a high quality service.

 

7. Third parties

Although we do not disclose your personal information to any third party (except as set out in this notice), we sometimes receive data that is indirectly made up from your personal information from third parties whose services we use.

In some circumstances we need to disclose your personal information to business partners, suppliers, and sub-contractors for the performance of any contract we enter into with them or you, which can include (but is not limited to) those suppliers listed below in Annex 1.

 

8. Informing us of changes

It is important that the personal data we hold about you is accurate and current. Please keep us informed if your personal data changes.

 

9. Access to your personal information

At any time you may review or update personally identifiable information that we hold about you, by emailing info@designersoftware.co.uk.

After receiving the request, we will tell you when we expect to provide you with the information, and whether we require any identification.

 

10. Individual Rights

Under certain circumstances, you have rights under data protection laws in relation to your personal information. For detailed information on your rights please click here. This may limit the service we can provide to you.

 

11. Verification of your information

When we receive any request to access, edit or delete personal identifiable information we shall first take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting you access or otherwise taking any action. This is important to safeguard your information.

 

Other matters

 

12. Children

We do not sell products or provide services for purchase by children, nor do we market to children.

 

13.  Encryption of data sent between us

We use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates to verify our identity to your browser and to encrypt any data you give us.

Whenever information is transferred between us, you can check that it is done so using SSL by looking for a closed padlock symbol or other trust mark in your browser’s URL bar or toolbar.

 

14. How you can complain

If you are not happy with our privacy policy or if you have any complaint then you should tell us.

If you are in any way dissatisfied about how we process your personal information, you have a right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). This can be done at https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/. We would, however, appreciate the opportunity to talk to you about your concern before you approach the ICO.

 

15. Retention period for personal data

Except as otherwise mentioned in this privacy notice, we keep your personal information only for as long as required by us:

  • to provide you with the services you have requested;
  • to comply with other law, including for the period demanded by our tax authorities
  • to send you promotional materials or communications regarding our content and services or those of our affiliates or third parties including those that work for us, are a party to any of our webinars, or provide similar products to us and we feel may be of interest to you
  • to support a claim or defence in court.

16. Compliance with the law

Our privacy policy has been compiled so as to comply with the law of every country or legal jurisdiction in which we aim to do business. If you think it fails to satisfy the law of your jurisdiction, we should like to hear from you.

17. Security

In accordance with the applicable laws and regulations, we have taken adequate technical and organisational measures to safeguard the security of your personal information. We store the personal information that we process on a secure database that is protected by technical access controls. We periodically review our information collection, storage and processing practices, including physical security measures, to guard against unauthorised access to systems.

We restrict access to personal information to employees, third parties and agents who need to know that information in order to process it for us, and who are subject to strict contractual confidentiality obligations and may be disciplined or terminated if they fail to meet these obligations.

Please be advised that while we strive to protect your personally identifiable data, we make no guarantees or assurances about our ability to prevent any such loss, access, or misuse and are not responsible in the event that such loss or misuse occurs.

We may transfer your personal data outside the European Economic Area (EEA) in our performance of Services.

Whenever we transfer your personal data out of the EEA, we ensure an appropriate degree of protection is afforded to it by ensuring at least one of the following safeguards is implemented:

  • We will only transfer your personal data to countries that have been deemed to provide an adequate level of protection for personal data by the UK;
  • Where we use certain service providers, we may use specific contracts approved by the UK which give personal data the same protection it has in the UK;
  • Where we use providers based in the USA, we carry out due diligence before and during any continued involvement and will check the service providers we are presently using have signed up to the EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Frameworks (DPF) and the UK Extension to the EU-U.S. DPF as set forth by the US Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use and retention of personal information from the EEA, Switzerland and the UK, respectively. Further details on the DPF can be found here
  • We have signed a Data Sharing Agreement which following our exit from the EU, means we can continue to share data within the confines of the Group;
  • Our directors and other appointed individuals working for HomeMaster may, in limited circumstances, access an individual’s contact information outside of the UK and European Union, e.g. if they are remote working, absent from the office and need to access critical business information or working abroad. If they do so they will be using our security measures and will be subject to their arrangements with us which are subject to English Law, in line with the UK GDPR and the same legal protections that would apply to accessing personal data within the UK.

18. Review of this privacy policy

We may update this privacy notice from time to time as necessary. The terms that apply to you are those posted here on our website on the day you use our website. We advise you to print a copy for your records.

If you have any question regarding our privacy policy, please contact us.

 

Annex 1 – Third Party Recipients of Personal Information

We process some of your Personal Information using third party organisations. They are obligated to us to ensure that they process your data securely. We use the following organisations to process Personal Information for us:

  • Red Giraffe Marketing (Public Website – www.homemaster.co.uk)
  • Microsoft Corporation (Internal collaboration & external emailing)
  • Monday.com (CRM platform)
  • Salesforce (CRM Platform)
  • Zoom Video Communications Inc (online collaboration platform)
  • Trello (planning platform)
  • Canva (Marketing platform)
  • Hubspot (Marketing platform)
  • Pendo (Website Experience Management and Product Optimisation Service)