PRIVACY POLICY
What is Personal Information?
In this Privacy Policy, the term “Personal Information” is defined as per the Privacy Act 1988. Generally, it refers to any information that can identify you personally, such as your name, address, phone number, email address, and profession or occupation. If the information we collect can identify you or makes you reasonably identifiable, it will be considered Personal Information.
What type of Personal Information does Rahme & Associates collect and hold about me?
Rahme & Associates may collect the following information if you are a current or prospective tenant, purchaser, or landlord of real estate, or if you visit our website or make an inquiry through other means:
- Contact details (including name, address, phone number, and email address)
- Driver’s license number
- Current property details
- Desired property ownership details
- Details of properties sold or acquired by you
If you are a current or prospective tenant for a rental property, we may collect additional information, such as:
- Employment details, including status, employer, salary, and length of employment
- Other sources of income
- Personal and financial referees whom we may contact about your application
At times, Rahme & Associates may require other forms of Personal Information to provide services to you. How does Rahme & Associates collect Personal Information about me?
We primarily collect your Personal Information directly from you, unless it is unreasonable or impractical to do so. This may occur through communications like emails or phone calls, when you use our website, or during conversations with our representatives.
We may also collect information about you from third-party sources, including:
- Public databases such as social media pages, Telstra White Pages, Australia Post DPID database, and Titles Office
- Credit reporting bodies, law enforcement agencies, and other government entities
- Referrals and recommendations from existing clients
As part of our due diligence process before entering lease or rental agreements, we may disclose your information to authorized credit-checking agencies.
What happens if we can’t collect your Personal Information?
If you do not provide us with the Personal Information we request, some or all of the following may occur:
- We may not be able to provide our services at the same standard or at all
- We may not be able to inform you about services you might want, including new properties for lease or purchase
- Our website content may not be tailored to your preferences, resulting in a less enjoyable experience
As part of our due diligence process before entering lease or rental agreements, we may disclose your information to authorized credit-checking agencies.
Why does Rahme & Associates collect, hold, use, and disclose your Personal Information?
We collect this information for various purposes, including:
- To provide you with the services and/or products you require
- To comply with local, state, and federal legislation regarding real estate
- To enable our third-party partners to assist you with related services
- For internal administration, marketing, planning, product development, and research
- To update our records and keep your contact details current
- To handle queries or customer service issues promptly
- To keep you informed about services of interest to you
- To conduct relevant business processing functions
Your Personal Information will not be shared, sold, rented, or disclosed except as described in this Privacy Policy.
How does Rahme & Associates use the Personal Information held about me?
We use your Personal Information solely for:
- Compliance with real estate regulations and laws across Australia
- Improving our products and services
- Purposes you would reasonably expect us to use your information for
- Providing access to protected areas of our website and assessing its performance
- Conducting business processing functions, including sharing information with our contractors and service providers
Conducting business processing functions, including sharing information with our contractors and service providers
What about direct marketing?
We may send you direct marketing communications regarding services we believe may interest you, such as:
- Offers for products or services from Rahme & Associates and our third-party partners
- News and promotional material about our activities
These communications may be sent via mail, SMS, fax, or email, in accordance with applicable marketing laws. We will provide an opt-out option in every communication, allowing you to decline further communications from us.
You can request to stop receiving direct marketing at any time by contacting us.
The Rahme & Associates website
Our privacy policy also applies to our website at www.rahmeassociates.com.au.
When you access our website, we may send a “cookie” (a small summary file containing a unique ID number) to your computer, enabling us to recognize you on future visits. We use cookies to measure traffic patterns and enhance your online experience. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies if desired. Can I be anonymous when I deal with Rahme & Associates?
You may preserve some anonymity when interacting with us, such as browsing our website or accessing real estate advertising without providing Personal Information. However, when engaging in transactions involving property, legislation requires you to provide Personal Information for identification.
What happens if I want to access or correct the Personal Information held about me?
You can request access to your Personal Information at any time by contacting us. We will respond within 14 days and aim to provide the information within 30 days. A reasonable fee may apply for this service.
There may be situations where we cannot grant access, such as if providing it would pose a threat to anyone's life or health, or if it is legally restricted. Who does Rahme & Associates disclose my Personal Information to?
We may disclose your Personal Information:
- Within Rahme & Associates and to our employees and contractors for operational purposes
- To the National Tenancy Database if you are a tenant of a property we manage
- To third-party suppliers and service providers for business and marketing purposes
- To any organization for authorized purposes with your consent
We do not sell your personal details to other organizations but may use your information for internal marketing and research.
We may also share information with related bodies corporate and third-party service providers located overseas. How does Rahme & Associates keep my Personal Information secure?
We take reasonable steps to secure your information, ensuring it is accessible only to authorized personnel. If your Personal Information is no longer needed, we will destroy or permanently de-identify it.
Who do I contact for further information?
For inquiries about your Personal Information, you can contact the Rahme & Associates Privacy Officer at 02 9139 8824 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Sydney time), Monday to Friday, or via email at admin@rahmeassociates.com.au.
What if I have a complaint or concern?
You can address any complaints or concerns to our Privacy Officer through the contact details provided. We will aim to resolve your complaint within 90 days.
What if you are unable to resolve my complaint or concern?
If your complaint remains unresolved, you may refer it to the Australian Information Commissioner. The contact details are as follows: The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218
Sydney NSW 1042
Phone: 1300 363 992
Email: enquiries@oaic.gov.au
How does this policy change over time?
Rahme & Associates may update this Privacy Policy periodically, with changes posted on our website. The most recent update was on 23rd October 2024.
This privacy policy is not legally binding unless specified by relevant legislation.
Disclaimer
Rahme & Associates strives to ensure that the information provided is accurate at the time of publication but does not guarantee its currency or accuracy for any specific purpose. The user assumes full responsibility for the use of this information.
You may use the information for non-commercial purposes; however, unauthorized commercial use may result in copyright infringement.
