Privacy Policy & Collection Notice

1. Introduction

Danielou Pty Ltd trading as Elders Real Estate Wollongong (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

This Privacy Policy and Collection Notice has been prepared to comply with APP 1 and APP 1.4 and explains:

What personal information we collect and hold;
How and why we collect, use and disclose personal information;
How personal information is stored, protected, retained and destroyed;
How individuals may access or correct their personal information or make a privacy complaint.

This Policy applies to all aspects of our real estate business, including sales, leasing, property management, inspections, open homes, auctions, and online interactions.

This Policy is available:

On our website: https://wollongong.eldersrealestate.com.au/privacy-policy/
At our office: 353 Crown Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
At open homes, auctions, and inspections
Upon request, free of charge

2. Collection Notice

When we collect personal information, we will inform you of:

The identity and contact details of our business;
The purpose of collection;
Whether collection is required or authorised by law;
The consequences if information is not provided;
How to access, correct, or complain about handling of personal information;
Whether information may be disclosed to third parties or overseas recipients.

3. What Personal Information We Collect

We collect only personal information that is reasonably necessary for our real estate business, which includes the services of Property Management and Sales.

(a) Clients, property owners, buyers, tenants, and prospective clients

Full name
Residential and postal address
Email address and telephone numbers
Date of birth
Identification details (driver licence, passport, proof of age cards)
Financial information (rent payments, trust account payments, proof of income)
Rental history, references, and employment details
Property preferences and inspection history
Information about pets, vehicles, or co-occupants if relevant to tenancy
Communications with us (emails, phone calls, messages)
CCTV footage at office premises (for security purposes only)
Offers, bids, and negotiation history
Property details and ownership information

(b) Contractors and service providers

Name and business details
Contact details including postal address, phone number, and email address
Licensing and insurance details
Bank account details for payment

(c) Website and online interactions

IP address, device, and browser information (cookies)
Enquiry details submitted via online forms or website enquiries
Marketing preferences

Sensitive information is only collected where required by law or with your consent. Identification information is collected to verify identity, comply with legal obligations, and reduce fraud and security risks.

4. How We Collect Personal Information

We collect personal information:

Directly from you (in person, by phone, email, online forms, QR codes, inspections, open homes, auctions)

When you submit a rental application or tenancy agreement
When you inspect a rental property
When you submit a vendor or purchaser enquiry
When you provide documentation for property sales

From third parties with your consent or where authorised by law (referees, employers, tenancy databases, government agencies)
From publicly available sources where relevant and lawful

In-person collection (open homes, auctions, inspections)

Individuals are informed why information is being collected
Only information necessary for the stated purpose is collected
This Privacy Policy is available at collection points
Staff are trained to explain privacy obligations and respond to questions

How we collect personal information from other sources

Agents, landlords, tenants, and property owners
Contractors, legal, financial, and other professional advisors
Public registers and publicly available sources (e.g., NSW Land Registry)
Property valuers, insurers, and related service providers

We only collect information from other sources if it is reasonably necessary to provide our services.

5. When the law authorises or requires collection

Certain laws may require us to collect personal information, including:

Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002 (NSW), Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW) and associated regulations
Other legal, regulatory, or compliance obligations

If required by law, we may collect, store, and disclose your personal information without your consent.

6. Why We Collect, Hold, Use and Disclose Personal Information

We collect, hold, use, and disclose personal information where reasonably necessary to:

Provide real estate agency services (sales, leasing, property management)
Conduct inspections, open homes and auctions
Process tenancy applications and manage tenancies
Manage property sales and purchases
Comply with legal and regulatory obligations (including trust accounting)
Communicate with clients, buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants
Maintain client and contact databases
Manage payments, invoices, and trust account transactions
Handle complaints and disputes
Improve services and customer experience

If personal information is not provided, we may be unable to provide services such as processing rental applications, admitting individuals to inspections or auctions, registering purchasers for auctions or bids, or listing properties.

7. How Your Personal Information May Be Used

Property Management

To identify and verify landlords, tenants, and applicants
To process rental applications and manage tenancies
To advertise, market, and promote properties
To liaise with landlords, tenants, contractors, and service providers
To comply with legal or regulatory obligations

Sales

To identify and verify vendors, purchasers, and prospective buyers
To negotiate and manage property sales
To advertise and market properties
To liaise with agents, contractors, and advisors
To comply with legal obligations

General Purposes

To maintain records and update contact details
To run our business efficiently and perform administrative tasks
To provide statistical or other information to related service providers
For direct marketing purposes, unless you opt out (see section 10)

Personal information about other people: if you provide information about another person (e.g., co-tenant, partner, referee), you confirm that they consent to us collecting and using their information. Their information will be handled according to this Privacy Policy.

Where we disclose information to tenancy databases:

Individuals will be informed if a listing is made
Individuals may request access to and correction of listings
Listings will only be made in accordance with applicable legislation

8. Disclosure of Personal Information

We may disclose personal information to:

Property owners, buyers, tenants, and prospective parties involved in a transaction
Other agents involved in property sales or management
Auctioneers, valuers, insurers, and mortgage providers
Legal, financial, or professional representatives
Service providers and contractors (trades, IT providers, software, marketing platforms)
Banks, insurers, and professional advisers
Government agencies, regulators, or courts where required or authorised by law
Tenancy databases such as TICA, where applicable and lawful
Related entities within the Elders group, where reasonably necessary

We do not sell or trade personal information and only disclose information that is reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

9. Overseas Disclosure

Personal information is not generally disclosed to overseas recipients. However, we may use cloud-based software or service providers whose servers are located outside Australia. We take reasonable steps to ensure overseas recipients handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the APPs.

10. Direct Marketing and Opt-Out

We may use personal information (excluding sensitive information) to provide information about properties or services that may be of interest to you. You may opt out at any time by notifying us in writing or using the unsubscribe option in electronic communications. Direct marketing communications will comply with the Spam Act 2003 (Cth).

11. Anonymity and Pseudonymity

Where lawful and practicable, individuals may interact with us anonymously or using a pseudonym. Due to the nature of real estate transactions, inspections, auctions, and tenancy applications, we are generally unable to deal with individuals who do not identify themselves.

12. Storage and Security

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure, including:

Secure electronic systems and password protection
Restricted staff access on a need-to-know basis
Locked physical files
Staff privacy training

13. Retention, Destruction and De-Identification

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to meet business, legal, and regulatory requirements. When no longer required, information is securely destroyed or permanently de-identified.

14. Data Breaches

In the event of a suspected or actual data breach, we will assess the incident and, where required, comply with the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme, including notifying affected individuals and the OAIC.

15. Access and Correction

You may request access to personal information we hold about you or request correction if inaccurate, incomplete, or out-of-date. Requests should be made to:

Privacy Officer: Lou Niceski
Phone: 4228 7878
Email: info@elderswollongong.com
Address: 353 Crown Street, Wollongong NSW 2500

16. Complaints

If you believe we have breached the Australian Privacy Principles, you may lodge a complaint with us. We will:

Acknowledge your complaint
Investigate promptly
Respond in writing with the outcome (within 30 days)

If unresolved, complaints may be escalated to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):

Website: https://www.oaic.gov.au
Phone: 1300 363 992
Post: GPO Box 5288, Sydney NSW 2001

17. Automated Decision-Making and AI

We do not use automated decision-making systems or AI tools. All decisions relating to sales, leasing, and property management are made by our staff.

18. Staff Awareness and Implementation

This Privacy Policy is actively implemented through:

Staff training on privacy obligations
Compliance as part of day-to-day operations
Regular review of privacy practices
Policy availability in-office and online, including collection points

19. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements or business practices. The most current version is available on our website or upon request.

20. Contact Us

For privacy enquiries, access requests, or complaints:

Privacy Officer: Lou Niceski
Danielou Pty Ltd – Elders Real Estate Wollongong
ABN: 19 091 294 530
Phone: 4228 7878
Email: info@elderswollongong.com
Address: 353 Crown Street, Wollongong NSW 2500