Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Priority Accommodations ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform and services.

This policy applies to all users of the Priority Accommodations platform, including hostel owners, students, and visitors in Ghana.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on platform
• Location Data: General location based on IP address (not precise GPS)
• Log Data: Access times, error logs, referring URLs

2.3 Information from Third Parties

• CUG Admissions System: Student verification data (with your consent)
• Payment Providers: Transaction status and confirmation

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

• Provide Services: Create accounts, process bookings, facilitate payments
• Verification: Confirm your identity and student status
• Communication: Send booking confirmations, important updates, and respond to inquiries
• Improve Platform: Analyze usage patterns to enhance features
• Safety & Security: Detect fraud, prevent abuse, and protect users
• Legal Compliance: Meet regulatory requirements and respond to legal requests
• Marketing: Send promotional content (only with your consent)

4. Information Sharing

We may share your information with:

4.1 Other Users

• Hostel owners can see tenant information for confirmed bookings
• Students can see hostel owner contact details after booking
• Public profiles display limited information as you choose

4.2 Service Providers

• Payment processors (MTN Mobile Money, Vodafone Cash, banks)
• Cloud hosting providers
• Email and SMS service providers
• Analytics services

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or to protect our rights and safety.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:

• Encryption: All data transmitted via HTTPS/TLS encryption
• Password Security: Passwords are hashed using bcrypt algorithm
• Access Controls: Limited employee access to personal data
• Regular Audits: Periodic security assessments and updates
• Secure Infrastructure: Data hosted on secure, monitored servers

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We encourage you to use strong passwords and protect your account credentials.

6. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy:

• Active Accounts: Data retained while your account is active
• Closed Accounts: Basic data retained for 3 years for legal/accounting purposes
• Transaction Records: Retained for 7 years per Ghanaian tax law
• Communication Logs: Retained for 2 years

You may request deletion of your data at any time, subject to legal retention requirements.

7. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access Request a copy of your personal data
• Rectification Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Erasure Request deletion of your data
• Portability Receive your data in a machine-readable format
• Restriction Limit how we process your data
• Objection Object to certain processing activities
• Withdraw Consent Withdraw previously given consent

To exercise these rights, contact us using the information provided below. We will respond within 30 days.

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you logged in to your account
• Remember your preferences
• Understand how you use our platform
• Improve our services

Types of Cookies We Use

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling certain cookies may affect platform functionality.

9. Third-Party Services

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites and integrate with external services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

Key Third-Party Integrations

• CUG Admissions System: Student verification
• Payment Gateways: MTN Mobile Money, Vodafone Cash, bank APIs
• Google Services: Maps, Analytics

10. Children's Privacy

Priority Accommodations is not intended for children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we discover that a child has provided us with personal information, we will delete it immediately.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on our platform
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending an email notification for material changes

Your continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us: