Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Hart Home & Garden ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you visit our website and engage with our landscaping services. This policy complies with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa.

2. Information We Collect

Contact Form Information: When you submit a quotation request, contact form, or service inquiry, we collect your name, email address, phone number, property address, and service requirements.

Website Usage Data: We automatically collect information about your interactions with our website, including pages visited, time spent, referral source, and device type (via cookies and similar technologies).

Service Agreement Information: For clients, we collect details necessary to provide services, including property information, project scope, payment details (via secure payment processors), and communication records.

Cookies & Analytics: We use cookies and analytics tools to understand user behavior and improve our website (see Section 8).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Responding to quotation requests and service inquiries
• Providing, delivering, and maintaining landscaping services
• Processing payments and managing invoices
• Communicating about project progress, updates, and changes
• Improving website functionality and user experience
• Sending marketing communications (only with consent)
• Complying with legal obligations
• Protecting against fraud and maintaining security

4. Lawful Basis Under POPIA

We process your personal information on the following lawful bases under POPIA:

• Consent: We obtain explicit consent before marketing communications or non-essential data use
• Contractual Performance: Processing necessary to deliver services you request
• Legal Compliance: Processing required by South African law, including tax and business regulations
• Legitimate Interests: Processing necessary to operate our business securely and improve services

5. Sharing with Third Parties

We do not sell or rent your personal information. We may share information with trusted third parties in limited circumstances:

• Web Hosting Provider: Your data is stored on secure servers
• Email Service Provider: For communications only, under data processing agreements
• Payment Processors: For secure transaction processing
• Legal/Compliance: When required by law or to protect rights

All third parties are bound by confidentiality and data protection agreements. We do not share information with third parties for their own marketing without your explicit consent.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary:

• Service Inquiries: 12 months (for follow-up purposes)
• Completed Projects: 7 years (for tax and legal compliance)
• Marketing Communications: Until you unsubscribe
• Website Analytics: Aggregated data retained indefinitely; individual identifiers deleted after 24 months

After the retention period, data is securely deleted or anonymized. If you request deletion, we will remove your data within 30 days, except where required by law to retain.

7. Your Rights Under POPIA

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right of Access: Request a copy of your personal data we hold
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data (subject to legal obligations)
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation of how we use your data
• Right to Object: Object to certain processing activities (e.g., marketing)
• Right to Portability: Receive your data in a structured, commonly used format

To exercise any of these rights, contact our Information Officer at [INFO_OFFICER_NAME] via the details in Section 12.

8. Cookies & Analytics

Our website uses cookies and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to understand user behavior and improve functionality. These tools may collect information about your browsing patterns, device type, and location. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Refusing non-essential cookies will not affect core website functionality.

9. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include encryption, secure servers, and restricted access. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it promptly. Parents or guardians who believe a child's information has been collected should contact us immediately.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our website following any changes signifies your acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Contact & Information Officer

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights under POPIA, please contact:

Last updated: 5 June 2026