Cookie Policy

1. What are cookies and similar technologies?

Cookies are small text files that websites can place on or access from your device.

Websites and online services can also use other technologies to store or access information on a device. These can include local storage, session storage and similar browser technologies.

In this policy, references to “cookies and similar technologies” include these types of storage and access technologies where appropriate.

Some cookies are session cookies, which generally expire when your browser session ends.

Others are persistent cookies, which may remain on your device for a specified period or until they are deleted.

2. How Dwella uses cookies and similar technologies

Dwella may use cookies and similar technologies for purposes including:

• Authenticating users and maintaining signed-in sessions;
• Protecting accounts and keeping Dwella secure;
• Preventing fraud, abuse and misuse;
• Providing functionality requested by users;
• Maintaining technical information needed for pages and features to operate correctly;
• Remembering certain choices where appropriate; and
• Preserving information needed to provide a feature you are actively using.

We assess the purpose of each technology to determine whether consent is required under applicable UK law.

Where consent is not required, the relevant technology may operate automatically.

Where consent is required, the relevant technology will not be used until you have provided the required consent.

3. Strictly necessary and security technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies where they are necessary to provide or secure Dwella and the services you request.

These may include technologies required for:

• Account authentication;
• Maintaining secure signed-in sessions;
• Account and platform security;
• Fraud and misuse prevention;
• Protection against cross-site request forgery (CSRF);
• Maintaining technical state required for requested functionality; and
• Other security measures necessary to operate the service.

Where a technology is exempt from the consent requirement because it is strictly necessary or another applicable exemption applies, we may use it without asking for consent.

These technologies cannot generally be disabled through Dwella itself where doing so would prevent the requested service or security function from operating.

You may be able to block or delete them through your browser, but doing so may prevent you from signing in or using parts of Dwella correctly.

4. Signing in and account sessions

When you create an account or sign in to Dwella, cookies or similar browser technologies may be used by Dwella and the infrastructure used to provide authentication services.

These technologies help authenticate your account, maintain a secure signed-in session and prevent you from having to sign in again on every page.

They may also be used to support security functions associated with your account and session.

Signing out ends your active Dwella session. Some browser-stored information may remain after you sign out until it expires or is removed from your browser, where appropriate.

5. Preferences, functionality and unfinished work

Dwella may store certain information in your browser where this is necessary or appropriate to provide functionality you have requested or preserve information associated with a feature you are actively using.

For example, information relating to a listing you are part-way through creating may be stored locally so that your work is not unnecessarily lost if you refresh or leave a page.

We do not use this information for third-party advertising or cross-site advertising tracking.

A technology is not treated as exempt from consent merely because it is convenient or improves the user experience. We consider its actual purpose and use when determining whether consent is required.

Where consent is required, we will obtain it before using the relevant technology.

6. Product and service information recorded on our servers

Dwella records a limited number of product and service events directly on our servers to understand whether important parts of the service are operating correctly and how core functionality is being used.

For example, we may record that an account was created, a search was confirmed, a listing was published, a connection was requested or an enquiry was sent.

This information is recorded in our systems rather than through the use of third-party analytics cookies or similar analytics technologies on your device.

We do not include the content of private messages in these product-event records.

Where server-side information relates to an identifiable individual, it may constitute personal information and is processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

We do not sell this information or use it for third-party advertising.

7. Third-party services and Google Maps

Some Dwella functionality uses services provided by third parties.

In particular, Dwella uses Google Maps Platform to provide certain location, address, map and nearby-transport functionality.

Depending on the feature being used, this may include services such as Google Maps, Google Places and Google Routes.

When Google content or functionality is loaded in your browser, your browser may communicate directly with Google. Google may receive technical information such as your IP address, browser or device information and information necessary to provide the requested map or location functionality.

Google may also use cookies or similar technologies in connection with its services.

Google acts as a separate provider in relation to its services, and Google's own privacy and cookie information applies to its processing.

We assess third-party technologies used by Dwella to determine whether storing or accessing information on your device requires consent.

Where consent is required for a third-party technology, we will not load or use that technology until the required consent has been obtained.

We do not currently embed third-party advertising services, social-media tracking pixels or similar cross-site advertising technologies.

8. Information about the technologies we use

We aim to provide clear information about cookies and similar technologies used by Dwella, including, where applicable:

• The name or identifier of the cookie or storage technology;
• The provider responsible for it;
• Its purpose;
• Whether it is a session or persistent technology;
• How long it remains on your device or the criteria used to determine that period; and
• Whether consent is required.

The particular technologies used by Dwella may change as our service and technical infrastructure develop.

We periodically review the cookies and similar technologies used by the service so that this policy and any cookie information presented through Dwella remain accurate.

We will not classify a technology as strictly necessary solely because it is useful or convenient. Its purpose and operation must support the relevant exemption under applicable law.

9. How long cookies and browser information are stored

Different cookies and browser-storage items remain on your device for different periods.

Some are temporary and expire when your browser session ends.

Others may remain for longer where appropriate for purposes such as maintaining authentication, security or requested functionality.

We seek to limit storage periods to what is appropriate for the purpose for which a technology is used.

Where appropriate, information about the duration of individual cookies or similar technologies will be provided as part of the information Dwella makes available about those technologies.

You can also remove cookies and locally stored information using your browser settings.

10. Your choices and consent

Where a cookie or similar technology requires consent under applicable UK law, Dwella will request that consent before using the relevant technology.

Consent will not be assumed merely because you continue browsing or using Dwella.

Where consent is required, you will be given appropriate information about the relevant technology before making your choice.

Where applicable, you will also be able to change or withdraw your consent.

Withdrawing consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing that took place before consent was withdrawn.

Technologies that do not require consent, including those that are strictly necessary to provide or secure a service you have requested, may continue to operate where permitted by law.

11. Browser controls

Most browsers allow you to view, delete or block cookies and clear locally stored website information.

Your browser's help or settings pages should provide information about the controls available to you.

Blocking or deleting technologies necessary for Dwella to operate may affect the service.

For example, you may be unable to remain signed in or use certain account or property features.

Browser controls are separate from any consent controls Dwella provides for technologies that require consent.

12. Advertising and tracking

Dwella does not currently use:

• Third-party advertising cookies;
• Behavioural advertising technologies;
• Advertising tracking pixels;
• Third-party advertising networks; or
• Cookies designed to track members across unrelated websites for advertising purposes.

We also do not currently use third-party analytics services such as Google Analytics.

If this changes in the future, we will review the technologies before introducing them, update this policy where necessary and obtain consent before using technologies for which consent is required.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this Cookie Policy as Dwella develops, the technologies used by the service change, our practices change or applicable legal requirements change.

The date at the top of this policy shows when the latest version took effect.

Where we introduce a technology that requires consent, we will obtain the required consent before using that technology.

A previous consent will not automatically be treated as consent to materially different purposes where further consent is required.

14. Contact us

If you have questions about Dwella's use of cookies or similar technologies, contact:

DWELLA GROUP UK LTD, trading as dwella

Company number: 17457319

Email: dwellauk@outlook.com. You can also contact us through the contact page on dwella.