Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

AccomUS is an accommodation listing and communication platform operating in Zimbabwe. When we refer to "AccomUS", "we", "our", or "us" in this Privacy Policy, we mean the AccomUS platform and its operators. Our platform is accessible at accomus.co.zw.

This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, who we share it with, and what rights you have over your data. We take your privacy seriously and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways:

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Registration data: name, email address, phone number, role (Tenant or Landlord), and profile photo.
• KYC documents: national ID, passport, or other identity documents submitted for verification purposes.
• Property listings: property title, description, location, photos, rental price, and amenities.
• Payment information: transaction references and mobile money numbers used for subscription payments. We do not store full card numbers.
• Communications: messages sent through the AccomUS chat system between Tenants and Landlords.
• Support requests: information you provide when contacting our support team.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Log data: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, and pages visited.
• Session data: login timestamps, session duration, and navigation patterns.
• Cookies: session cookies required for platform functionality. We do not use third-party advertising cookies.
• Location data: approximate location derived from IP address. We do not collect GPS coordinates unless you explicitly enable map features.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

• Google OAuth: if you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email address, and Google account ID from Google. We do not receive your Google password.
• Payment processors: we receive payment confirmation status from payment gateways (Paynow, EcoCash, etc.) but not your full financial details.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To create and manage your AccomUS account;
• To display property listings and facilitate connections between Tenants and Landlords;
• To process subscription payments and maintain payment records;
• To verify your identity through KYC processes where required;
• To operate the in-platform messaging system;
• To send you transactional emails (account verification, payment receipts, KYC decisions);
• To send you platform notifications (new messages, listing updates) where you have not opted out;
• To detect, prevent, and investigate fraud, abuse, or security incidents;
• To comply with our legal obligations under Zimbabwean law;
• To improve the platform, fix technical issues, and develop new features;
• To enforce our Terms and Conditions.

We do not use your data to serve targeted advertising from third parties. We do not sell your personal data to any third party, ever.

4. How We Share Your Information

AccomUS does not sell or rent your personal data. We share information only in the following limited circumstances:

4.1 Between Platform Users

When a subscribed Tenant contacts a Landlord through AccomUS, the Landlord's publicly listed contact details (phone number and email) become visible to that Tenant. Similarly, your public profile name and photo are visible to other users you interact with through the platform. You should not include sensitive personal information in property descriptions or chat messages.

4.2 Service Providers

We engage trusted third-party service providers who process data on our behalf, including:

• Payment processors (Paynow Zimbabwe, EcoCash, InnBucks) — to process subscription payments;
• SMS gateways (Africa's Talking) — to send verification codes and notifications;
• Cloud hosting providers — to host the platform and store data securely.

These providers are contractually required to protect your data and use it only for the specific purpose we engage them for.

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information to law enforcement, regulators, or courts where required by Zimbabwean law, court order, or where we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the safety of any person, prevent fraud, or enforce our Terms and Conditions.

5. KYC Data and Identity Documents

KYC documents (such as national IDs or passports) are collected for identity verification only. These documents are:

• Stored with encryption at rest;
• Accessible only to authorised AccomUS staff for verification purposes;
• Not shared with Tenants, Landlords, or any other third party outside of legal requirements;
• Retained for a minimum period required by applicable law, and then securely deleted.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the services. If you close your account, we will:

• Delete or anonymise your personal profile data within 30 days of account closure;
• Retain transaction and payment records for a minimum of 7 years as required by Zimbabwean financial regulations;
• Retain any data required for ongoing dispute resolution or legal proceedings;
• Anonymise chat message content after account deletion but retain metadata for platform integrity.

7. Cookies

AccomUS uses essential cookies to keep you logged in and maintain your session preferences (such as dark mode and language). We do not use tracking cookies or third-party advertising cookies. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but doing so will prevent the platform from functioning correctly.

8. Data Security

We take reasonable and appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data, including:

• HTTPS encryption for all data in transit;
• Encrypted storage of passwords (we never store plain-text passwords);
• Encrypted storage of sensitive KYC documents;
• Access controls limiting staff access to user data on a need-to-know basis;
• Audit logging of all administrative actions;
• Regular security reviews of our platform infrastructure.

While we take security seriously, no internet-based system is 100% secure. You are responsible for keeping your login credentials confidential. If you suspect unauthorised access to your account, contact us immediately at support@accomus.co.zw.

9. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal data held by AccomUS:

• Access: you may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you;
• Correction: you may update inaccurate or incomplete data via your profile settings or by contacting us;
• Deletion: you may request deletion of your account and associated personal data, subject to retention obligations;
• Objection: you may opt out of non-essential communications such as promotional notifications;
• Portability: you may request an export of your data in a commonly used format.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at privacy@accomus.co.zw. We will respond within 14 business days.

10. Children's Privacy

AccomUS is not intended for persons under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has registered on our platform, please contact us immediately so we can remove their account and data.

11. Third-Party Links

Property listings may include links to external websites (e.g. a Landlord's own website or social media). AccomUS is not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before sharing any personal information.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. When we make material changes, we will notify you by email or by displaying a notice on the platform at least 14 days before the change takes effect. Your continued use of AccomUS after the effective date of any change constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

For any privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns, please contact our Privacy Officer: