Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Herts Build is a lead generation service connecting homeowners with local building specialists across Barnet borough and Hertfordshire. We take data protection seriously and handle your personal data in line with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. For any data protection question, contact us at info@hertsbuild.co.uk.

2. What Data We Collect

When you submit an enquiry through our website we collect:

• Your name
• Your phone number
• Your email address
• Your postcode
• The service you are enquiring about
• Any project description you provide
• Technical data: IP address, browser type, timestamp (anti-spam and security)

If you accept analytics cookies, we also collect anonymised website usage data via Google Analytics 4 and Microsoft Clarity. Microsoft Clarity captures aggregated usage analytics including anonymised session activity (pages viewed, clicks, scrolling and heatmaps) to help us improve the site. Neither tool is used for advertising or cross-site tracking. You can decline these at any time via the cookie banner.

3. Why We Collect It (Legal Basis)

We collect your enquiry data on the basis of your consent, which you provide by ticking the consent checkbox on the enquiry form. We process the data to:

• Match your enquiry with a local building specialist
• Pass your contact details to those specialists so they can contact you
• Follow up with you on the service experience

4. Who We Share It With

We pass your enquiry to a local building specialist in the specialist we work with so they can contact you and provide a quote. By submitting the enquiry form (and ticking the consent box) you authorise this disclosure.

We do not sell your data to third parties. We do not share your data with advertising networks. We do not use it for any purpose beyond connecting you with specialists for your specific enquiry.

We may use processors (form-handling services, email infrastructure, hosting) who process the data on our behalf under contractual GDPR-compliant terms. These are technical service providers only — they don't market to you.

5. Cookies & Analytics

We use one essential session cookie for basic site functionality, and optionally Google Analytics 4 and Microsoft Clarity (both consent-required) for anonymised usage statistics and site-improvement insights. We do not use marketing cookies, retargeting pixels, or third-party advertising trackers.

You control analytics via the cookie banner shown on first visit. Decline analytics and no GA4 cookies are set.

6. How Long We Keep It

We retain enquiry data for 90 days from submission, after which it is deleted from our active systems. Backup archives may retain copies for up to a further 30 days before secure deletion.

The specialist we work with operate under their own retention policies once your enquiry has been passed to them — typically they retain quote-related data for the duration of any contract plus 6 years for tax records (HMRC requirement).

7. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR you have the following rights:

• Right of access — request a copy of data we hold about you
• Right to rectification — correct inaccurate data
• Right to erasure — request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing — limit how we use your data
• Right to data portability — receive your data in a portable format
• Right to object — to processing based on legitimate interests
• Right to withdraw consent — at any time

To exercise any of these rights, email info@hertsbuild.co.uk. We respond within 30 days.

8. How to Complain

If you're unhappy with how we've handled your data, please contact us first at info@hertsbuild.co.uk. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office: ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint.

9. Security

Enquiry data is transmitted over HTTPS. We use industry-standard service providers for form handling and storage. Access to enquiry data is restricted to staff who need it to operate the service.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be flagged at the top of this page. The "Last updated" date reflects the most recent revision.