Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to RateMyAccom ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our platform.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: Email address (including your .ac.uk university email for verification), name, university affiliation
• Review Content: Reviews, ratings, comments, photos, and videos you submit
• Profile Information: Any additional information you choose to add to your profile

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

• Usage Data: Pages viewed, time spent on pages, links clicked
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, IP address
• Cookies: We use cookies to enhance your experience and analyze site usage

3. How We Use Your Information

• To verify you are a genuine UK university student (.ac.uk email verification)
• To enable you to post and view accommodation reviews
• To maintain the integrity and authenticity of our platform
• To improve our services and user experience
• To communicate important updates and notifications
• To prevent fraud and ensure platform security
• To comply with legal obligations

4. Student Email Verification

To maintain trust and authenticity, we require verification of your UK university email address (.ac.uk domain):

• Your student email is used solely for verification purposes
• We store your verified student email securely
• Your student email is never publicly displayed or shared
• Verification ensures only real students can post reviews

5. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

• Public Reviews: Reviews and ratings you post are publicly visible (your name and university may be displayed)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights
• Service Providers: With trusted third parties who help operate our platform (e.g., hosting, analytics)
• With Your Consent: Any other sharing will be done only with your explicit consent

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information, including encryption, secure servers, and regular security audits. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Erasure: Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
• Restriction: Request limitation of processing your data
• Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Object: Object to processing of your data

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@ratemyaccom.cc

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations. Reviews remain on the platform unless you request deletion or they violate our guidelines.

9. Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you logged in
• Remember your preferences
• Analyze site traffic and usage
• Improve our services

You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings.

10. Children's Privacy

Our service is intended for university students (typically 18+). We do not knowingly collect information from individuals under 18. If you believe we have collected information from someone under 18, please contact us.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any significant changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: