Realty Wise (Pty) Ltd – Privacy Policy (POPIA Compliant)
1. Introduction and Scope
Realty Wise is the Responsible Party (the entity that determines the purpose and means of processing personal information) with respect to your Personal Information. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring your Personal Information is processed lawfully, securely and transparently.
This Policy applies to all Personal Information collected by us, including through our website, mobile applications, social media and any physical or electronic communications related to our real estate services (buying, selling, leasing, property management, etc.).
2. Information of the Responsible Party
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Responsible Party: | Realty Wise (Pty) Ltd |
| Information Officer: | Mariette Schoeman |
| Physical Address: | Raymond Avenue, Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria, South Africa |
| Email Address: | support@realty-wise.co.za |
| Telephone Number: | 079 874 5572 |
3. Personal Information We Collect
We only collect Personal Information that is adequate, relevant and not excessive for the specific purposes of providing our real estate services, as required by law, or with your consent.
We may collect the following types of information:
| Category | Examples of Information Collected (for Real Estate) |
|---|---|
| Identity Data | Full Name, Surname, ID/Passport Number, date of birth, marital status (for transfer/bond application purposes). |
| Contact Data | Email address, residential/physical address, postal address, mobile and landline telephone numbers. |
| Financial Data | Bank statements, proof of funds, income statements, credit reports, SARS tax numbers (essential for bond applications, FICA compliance and property transfers). |
| Transaction Data | Details about payments to and from you, details of properties you have viewed, bought, sold or leased. |
| Technical Data | IP address, login data, browser type and version, device information and website usage data collected via cookies. |
| FICA/Compliance Data | Proof of Address (utility bills) and documents required to comply with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA). |
4. How We Collect Personal Information
We collect information primarily in the following ways:
- Directly from You: When you contact us, sign a mandate/contract, submit an enquiry via our website, attend a viewing, register for a newsletter or provide documents for FICA/transfer purposes.
- From Public Records: Information available in public records, such as the Deeds Office, municipal records or public company registers.
- From Third Parties (Operators): With your consent, from credit bureaus, bond originators, attorneys and other third-party service providers necessary to conclude a property transaction.
5. Purpose and Basis for Processing
We process your Personal Information based on one or more of the following legal justifications under POPIA:
| Purpose of Processing | Legal Basis under POPIA |
|---|---|
| To Provide Real Estate Services | Processing is necessary to perform a contract with you (e.g., selling a house, rental agreement). |
| Compliance and Verification | Processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation (e.g., FICA, tax laws, Property Practitioners Act). |
| Marketing and Communication | Based on your consent (for unsolicited electronic marketing) or a legitimate interest (for existing clients). |
| Security and Access | To protect the legitimate interests of Realty Wise and ensure the security of our website and premises. |
6. Disclosure of Personal Information (Sharing)
We will only disclose your Personal Information to third parties where necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined above, where we have a legal obligation to do so, or where we have your explicit consent.
Recipients of your data may include:
- Operators: Attorneys and Conveyancers, Bond Originators, Banks, Credit Bureaus, FICA compliance service providers.
- Government/Regulatory Bodies: The South African Revenue Service (SARS), Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA).
- Other Parties: Prospective buyers or tenants (limited information), or other agents in a joint mandate situation.
We ensure that any third party (Operator) processing your Personal Information is bound by a written agreement to maintain the same level of security and confidentiality required by POPIA.
7. Security and Integrity of Personal Information
We are legally obliged to provide adequate protection for the Personal Information we hold and to stop unauthorised access and use. We have implemented technical and organisational security measures to protect your information against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, disclosure or access.
Our security practices include: access control policies, physical security measures, IT safeguards (firewalls, encryption, anti-virus) and employee training.
8. Retention and Restriction of Records
We will only retain your Personal Information for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law (e.g., FICA and tax legislation require retention for a period of five to seven years).
Once the purpose or legal retention period has expired, we will securely destroy or de-identify the information in a manner that prevents its reconstruction.
9. Your Rights as a Data Subject
Under POPIA, you have the right to:
- Right to Access: Request a copy of the Personal Information we hold about you. This may be subject to a prescribed fee.
- Right to Correction/Deletion: Request us to correct, destroy or delete Personal Information that is inaccurate, irrelevant, excessive or has been retained for longer than necessary.
- Right to Object: Object to the processing of your Personal Information, on reasonable grounds relating to your particular situation.
- Right to Lodge a Complaint: Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator if you believe your rights under POPIA have been infringed.
10. Direct Marketing
We will only use your Personal Information for the purpose of sending you unsolicited electronic marketing communications (e.g., newsletters, promotions) if you have explicitly consented to receiving them. You have the right to opt-out of these communications at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in the email or by contacting our Information Officer at support@realty-wise.co.za.
11. Complaints and Contact Details for the Regulator
If you have a complaint regarding our processing of your Personal Information, you may contact:
- The Information Regulator (South Africa)
- Physical Address: JD House, 27 Stiemens Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2001
- Postal Address: P.O. Box 31533, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2017
- Complaints Email: complaints.IR@justice.gov.za
You may also contact Realty Wise directly with any queries or concerns regarding your Personal Information at support@realty-wise.co.za.
12. Policy Updates
We reserve the right to amend this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version will always be posted on our website at https://realty-wise.co.za/privacy-policy/ and will replace any previous versions.
For any questions about this Policy or how your information is handled, please contact our Information Officer at support@realty-wise.co.za.