Privacy Policy.

Privacy Commitment
At Hart Buyers Agency, we are committed to respecting your privacy and protecting your personal information. We comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) set out in the Act. All Hart Buyers Agency employees, officers, and subcontractors are required to understand and meet our privacy obligations. We support this through training and by applying internal policies and procedures that safeguard your personal information against unauthorised collection, use, disclosure, storage, access, or disposal. This Privacy Policy applies to all interactions with Hart Buyers Agency—whether in person, by phone, email, written communication, or through our website.

About This Policy
This policy explains how we manage personal information. It outlines the types of personal information we collect and hold, describes how we collect, use, store, and disclose that information, explains the purposes for which personal information is handled, informs you of your rights to access and correct your personal information, explains how to lodge a privacy complaint and how we manage those complaints, advises if and when personal information may be shared with overseas recipients, and promotes transparency in our information management practices.

Definitions
Personal information refers to any information or opinion that can identify you or make you reasonably identifiable, whether true or not and regardless of format. Sensitive information includes details about your racial or ethnic origin, political opinions or affiliations, religious or philosophical beliefs, union or professional memberships, sexual orientation or practices, criminal record, health or genetic information, or biometric data.

Collection of Personal Information
We collect personal information necessary to deliver our services when you engage with us as a buyer, seller, landlord, or tenant. This may include your full name, date of birth, contact details, residential and postal addresses, email and phone numbers, employment details, financial information such as income or bank details, household or family information, and property ownership details. Although we rarely collect sensitive information, certain service requests, such as those relating to accessibility, may imply it. We only collect sensitive data where it is reasonably required for a service, you have given explicit consent, or it is required or authorised by law. We generally collect personal information directly from you through forms, phone, email, in person, or online. At times, we may collect information from third parties such as legal or financial advisers, tenancy databases, credit agencies, or previous property managers. If we receive personal information unintentionally, we assess whether we can legally retain it. If not, and where appropriate, we destroy or de-identify it. You may remain anonymous or use a pseudonym when dealing with us, where lawful and practical. However, some processes may require full identification.

Use and Disclosure
We use your personal information to assist with buying, selling, or leasing property, coordinate repairs and maintenance, manage tenancy matters and bond transactions, communicate with government agencies such as the Titles Registry or RTA, maintain client relationships, and promote relevant services or property opportunities. We may share your information with other buyers, sellers, landlords, or tenants; your legal or financial representatives; insurance providers, tradespeople, or utility companies; government bodies and regulators; property advertising platforms; technology providers such as CRMs or cloud storage; and parties involved in business transitions, such as the sale of our agency. We only disclose your information where you have provided consent, it is a reasonably expected part of our service, it is required or authorised by law, or it is necessary for law enforcement or regulatory purposes. Some third-party platforms we use may be based overseas. In such cases, we take reasonable steps to ensure your data is handled in line with Australian privacy standards.

Marketing
We may use your personal information to share updates, offers, or news relevant to you. You can opt out of receiving marketing communications at any time by contacting us.

Accuracy and Security
We take reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information is accurate and up to date. If your details change or are incorrect, please let us know. We protect your information through confidentiality agreements, secure physical storage, password-protected systems, access controls and encryption, regular audits, and responsible disposal.

Website and Online Privacy
Our website may contain links to third-party sites. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices and encourage you to review their privacy policies directly.

Access and Corrections
You may request access to or correction of your personal information. We will acknowledge your request within 7 business days and respond within 10 business days. In some cases, we may charge a reasonable fee or decline access if permitted by law—for instance, where it affects others’ privacy or legal proceedings. If we refuse access, we will provide an explanation.

Complaints
If you believe we have mishandled your personal information, please contact us. We aim to acknowledge all complaints within 2 business days and resolve them within 20 business days. If additional time is needed, we will keep you informed. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC): GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001; Email: enquiries@oaic.gov.au; Phone: 1300 363 992; Website: www.oaic.gov.au

Policy Updates
We review this policy at least annually, after any privacy or security incident, and when there are relevant legal, operational, or regulatory changes. The latest version is always available on our website: www.hartbuyersagency.com.au

Contact Us
Hart Buyers Agency
Phone: 0431 910 424
Email: info@hartbuyersagency.com.au
Contact: Meghan Coles

(a) Hart Buyers Agency (HBA) is not a licensed financial services adviser, accountant, solicitor, builder, engineer, architect, town planner, or property manager;

(b) HBA is a licensed real estate agency operating as a buyer’s agent;

(c) the information provided on this website is offered by HBA as general information only and is not tailored to the reader’s specific financial situation, objectives, or expectations;

(d) the reader must not rely on the information provided on this website as financial, legal, or property advice when making decisions regarding their finances or the purchase or sale of real estate;

(e) independent professional advice should be sought from qualified legal, financial, taxation, or accounting professionals before making any decisions based on the information provided by HBA;

(f) the general nature of the content means it may not be suitable or relevant to the individual needs or circumstances of the reader;

(g) HBA does not provide representations, warranties, or guarantees regarding the appropriateness or viability of any property investment based on the information presented;

(h) HBA makes no predictions regarding short- or long-term movements in the Australian financial or property markets and cannot guarantee future investment outcomes, which are subject to variables beyond its control;

(i) HBA does not guarantee the qualifications, reliability, or performance of any third-party service providers referenced on this website.

I acknowledge that I have read and understood the above disclaimer regarding Hart Buyers Agency’s (HBA) services before accessing any information provided on this website.