Privacy Policy

First House Planner is an online planning and budgeting tool that helps first-time buyers in the UK work out what they can afford, plan their move and keep track of the costs along the way. It is operated by AppsByJamie ("we", "us", "our").

We are the data controller for the personal information described in this policy, which means we are responsible for deciding how it is used and for keeping it safe. If you have any questions you can reach us at any time through the Contact page.

We only collect what we need to run the app for you:

• Account details. Your name and email address when you create an account, or the name and email address we receive from Google if you choose to sign up with Google.
• Information you enter. The income, housing costs, outgoings, savings and other figures you add to the affordability calculator, plus the items, fees, spending entries, tasks, snagging notes and document details you add to the other tools.
• Documents you upload. Any files you choose to store in Documents & Policies, such as insurance policies, warranties or certificates.
• Messages you send us. Your name, email address, the topic you select and the message itself when you use the contact form, report a bug or send feedback.
• Payment information. If you subscribe to Premium, our payment provider Stripe processes your card details. We never see or store your full card number. We receive only a customer reference, your subscription status and your billing dates.
• Usage information. Basic technical information such as your browser type, device type and the pages you visit, used to keep the app working, secure and reliable.

• To create and manage your account and keep you signed in.
• To run the calculations and save the information you enter, so your figures are there when you come back.
• To share data with a partner, but only where you have deliberately linked your account with theirs.
• To send you essential account emails, such as verification, password reset and payment confirmations.
• To take and manage payment for Premium subscriptions.
• To answer your messages, bug reports and feedback.
• To keep the app secure, prevent misuse and fix problems.
• To understand how the app is used so we can improve it.

Under UK data protection law we must have a lawful basis for using your information. We rely on:

• Contract. To create your account, provide the tools you use and take payment for Premium.
• Consent. To link your account with a partner and for any optional emails you opt into. You can withdraw your consent at any time.
• Legitimate interests. To keep the app secure, prevent abuse and improve our features.
• Legal obligation. To keep records for tax and accounting purposes where the law requires it.

We do not sell your personal information and we do not share it for advertising. We share it only with the trusted providers that help us run the service:

• Our hosting and database platform, which stores your account and app data securely on our behalf.
• Stripe, which processes subscription payments and handles card data under its own privacy policy.
• Google, if you choose to sign in with Google, so we can verify your identity and create your account.
• Our email provider, which delivers account and notification emails.
• A linked partner, but only if you have deliberately connected your account with theirs and only for the shared features you choose to use.
• Authorities, where we are legally required to do so.

All of these providers must protect your information and may use it only for the purposes we set out. Some of them may process data outside the UK, in which case appropriate safeguards are put in place.

First House Planner uses a small number of essential cookies and similar browser storage to keep you signed in and to remember your preferences. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies.

If you sign in with Google, Google may set its own cookies as part of that sign-in process. You can clear cookies in your browser settings at any time, although you will be signed out if you do.

We keep your account information and the data you enter for as long as your account is open. If you delete your account, we delete your personal information and the data you have entered, apart from anything we are required to keep for legal or accounting reasons.

Contact form messages are kept only for as long as we need them to deal with your enquiry.

Your data is private to you. The app uses strict per-user access rules, which means only you, and a partner you have deliberately linked with, can see the financial information you enter. Our team cannot see your calculator figures or your uploaded documents.

No online service can promise perfect security, so please use a strong, unique password and keep it to yourself.

Under UK data protection law you have the right to:

• Access a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correct information that is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Delete your information (often called the right to erasure).
• Restrict or object to how we use your information.
• Portability of information you gave us, in a common electronic format.
• Withdraw consent at any time where we rely on consent.

You can delete your account yourself at any time in Account Settings. For anything else, contact us through the Contact page and we will respond within one month. If you are unhappy with how we have handled your information, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

First House Planner is designed for adults. You must be 18 or over to create an account, and we do not knowingly collect information from children. If you believe a child has given us their information, please contact us and we will delete it.

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in the app or in the law. When we make a significant change we will let you know in the app. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last updated.

If you have any questions about this policy or about how your information is handled, please get in touch through the Contact page and choose "Contact" as your topic. We will be happy to help.