1. Overview & Scope

AffordableRentals Canada Inc. ("we," "our," "us," or "Company") operates the website affordablerentals.ca (the "Site"). This Privacy Policy describes our practices regarding the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of personal information that we collect from users of the Site, including visitors, renters, landlords, and property managers. We are committed to protecting your privacy and complying with applicable Canadian privacy laws, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and any relevant provincial legislation.

By using the Site, you consent to the collection and use of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our Site.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when using our Site, including but not limited to:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address when you fill out inquiry forms, contact us, or subscribe to updates.
• Inquiry Details: Messages, questions, or comments you submit about rental listings, including property address and preferred move-in dates.
• Account Information: If you create an account, we may collect a username, password, and saved searches or favorite listings.
• Newsletter Opt-in: Your email address and marketing preferences if you sign up for rental alerts or promotional communications.

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our Site, we automatically collect certain technical information through cookies, log files, and analytics tools:

• Device & Browser Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and referring URLs.
• Usage Data: Pages viewed, time spent on the Site, search queries, clicks, scroll behavior, and interaction with listings.
• Location Data: Approximate geographic location derived from your IP address (city/region level).

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third-party service providers (e.g., Google Analytics) or property management partners who refer you to our Site. This data is used to improve our services and personalize your experience.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the personal information we collect for the following legitimate business purposes:

• To Provide and Improve Our Services: Respond to rental inquiries, connect you with property managers, display relevant listings, and enhance site functionality.
• Communication: Send you responses to your inquiries, property availability updates, lease application follow-ups, and administrative messages.
• Marketing & Newsletters: With your consent, we may send you email newsletters, rental deals, market insights, and promotional offers. You can opt out anytime via the unsubscribe link in our emails.
• Analytics & Personalization: Analyze usage trends, track site performance, and personalize your experience (e.g., showing properties similar to your past searches).
• Legal Compliance & Security: Detect and prevent fraud, enforce our Terms of Use, comply with legal obligations, and protect the rights and safety of our users and the public.

4. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies (pixels, web beacons, local storage) to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. You can control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling them may affect site functionality.

You can manage your cookie preferences via your browser settings or through our cookie consent manager (where available). For more information, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.

5. How We Share & Disclose Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes. However, we may share information in the following circumstances:

• Property Managers & Landlords: When you submit an inquiry about a rental listing, we share your name, email, phone number, and message with the relevant property manager or landlord so they can respond to you directly.
• Service Providers: We engage trusted third-party vendors to perform services on our behalf, including email delivery (e.g., Zoho SMTP), analytics (Google Analytics), hosting, and customer support. These providers have access only to the information necessary to perform their functions and are contractually obligated to protect your data.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, subpoena, court order, or governmental request, or to protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users or the public.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, or sale of assets, your personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Inquiry data is generally retained for up to 24 months after your last interaction, after which it is anonymized or securely deleted. You may request deletion of your information at any time (see Section 9).

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. These include encryption for data transmission (TLS/SSL), firewalls, access controls, and regular security assessments. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for keeping any account credentials confidential.

8. International Data Transfers

AffordableRentals Canada is based in Canada, and your information is primarily stored on servers located in Canada and the United States. Some service providers (e.g., email platforms) may process data in other jurisdictions. When we transfer personal information outside Canada, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as standard contractual clauses or binding corporate rules, in compliance with PIPEDA.

9. Your Privacy Rights & Choices

Under Canadian privacy law (PIPEDA) and similar provincial laws, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw your consent for certain processing (e.g., marketing emails) at any time.
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention obligations.
• Opt-Out of Marketing: Click the "unsubscribe" link in any promotional email or contact us directly.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 11. We will respond within 30 days. There is no fee for reasonable requests, but we may charge a nominal fee for excessive or repetitive requests.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Site is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete it promptly. Parents or guardians who believe their child has provided us with personal information should contact us.

11. Contact Us & Privacy Officer

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our handling of your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer:

• Email: privacy@affordablerentals.ca
• Mail: Privacy Officer, AffordableRentals Canada Inc., 220 Yonge Street, Suite 500, Toronto, ON M5B 2H1, Canada
• Phone: 1-888-233-6736 (1-888-AFFORD-RENT)

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at www.priv.gc.ca or call 1-800-282-1376.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal obligations, or operational needs. The revised version will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Significant changes will be notified via a banner on our Site or by email (if you have an account). Your continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.