1. Scope and data controller
This privacy policy applies to the HouseChime Android application (“the app”) and the website at housechime.com. The data controller for the limited personal data described in this policy is Raffaele Pannisco, an independent developer trading as HouseChime (“HouseChime”, “we”, “us”, or “our”).
You can contact the controller at support@housechime.com. HouseChime has no user accounts and does not operate a server that receives or stores your maintenance database.
2. App information stored on your device
HouseChime lets you enter and manage information such as:
- your home profile and selected home systems;
- maintenance tasks, categories, schedules, locations, and notes;
- completion history, optional completion notes, and optional costs; and
- reminder preferences and other app settings.
This information is stored locally in the app’s private storage on your device. It is used to provide schedules, reminders, completion history, and other features you request. We do not receive it, use it for advertising, or track it across apps or websites.
3. Local crash diagnostics
If the app crashes, it writes one diagnostic report to the app’s private storage. The report contains the time of the crash, the name of the affected software thread, and a technical stack trace. It is used only to preserve diagnostic information on your device. It is excluded from Android backup and is never uploaded or sent to us automatically.
The most recent report remains on your device until another crash replaces it, you clear HouseChime’s app storage, or you uninstall the app.
4. Google Play Billing
If you choose to buy or restore the optional HouseChime Pro unlock, the transaction is handled by Google Play Billing. Google may process purchase, payment, account, device, and fraud-prevention information under the Google Privacy Policy.
To determine whether Pro should be unlocked, the app receives purchase-entitlement information from Google Play, including the product identifier, purchase state, acknowledgement state, and a purchase token. The token is used in memory to acknowledge the purchase to Google Play; HouseChime does not store it in its own database or send it to a HouseChime server. The app stores only the resulting Pro-unlocked status on your device. Your tasks, home profile, notes, costs, and maintenance history are not sent to Google Play Billing.
5. Backups and exports you choose
HouseChime does not automatically back up your data to the cloud. You can choose to create a ZIP backup or export your history as a CSV file. Android’s system file picker lets you select the destination. The selected destination might be local storage or a third-party service you have connected, such as a cloud-storage provider.
Once you send a backup or export to another service, that service’s privacy policy and security practices apply. You control when these files are created, where they are saved, and with whom they are shared.
6. Notifications and device access
If you allow notifications, HouseChime uses Android’s notification features to show maintenance reminders on your device. Depending on your Android notification and lock-screen settings, task information may be visible in a notification. You can change notification permission and visibility at any time in Android system settings.
The app uses network access for Google Play Billing and related Google Play services. It does not use that access to upload your maintenance database to HouseChime.
HouseChime does not request access to your contacts, precise location, microphone, or camera.
7. Website technical data
The HouseChime website is a static website. It does not use analytics, advertising trackers, contact forms, or marketing cookies. It does not attempt to identify you across websites.
The website is hosted by Namecheap. Like other hosting services, Namecheap automatically processes server-log information needed to deliver and protect the site. This may include your IP address, date and time of access, requested page or file, HTTP response, referrer, and browser or device user-agent information. You can read the Namecheap Privacy Policy.
We rely on our legitimate interests in operating, securing, and troubleshooting the website as the legal basis for this limited processing. We do not use server logs for advertising or profiling and do not intentionally archive or download them. Namecheap controls its infrastructure-level retention. If we download a log extract to investigate a security or technical incident, we delete it within 30 days after the investigation ends unless it must be retained longer to establish, exercise, or defend a legal claim.
8. Support communications
If you email us, we receive the email address you use and the contents of your message, including any attachment you choose to provide. Please do not send a HouseChime backup or sensitive information unless it is necessary for your support request.
We use support correspondence to answer your request, troubleshoot problems, protect HouseChime, and keep an appropriate record of the response. The legal basis is our legitimate interest in providing support and securing the service, taking steps at your request before a contract where relevant, and complying with legal obligations where applicable.
Support email is handled using HouseChime’s Namecheap-hosted mailbox. We normally delete support correspondence within 24 months after the last communication. We may retain a message longer when reasonably necessary for an unresolved dispute, security investigation, transaction record, or legal obligation.
9. Sharing, processors, and international transfers
We do not sell personal data. We do not share your HouseChime tasks, history, or home profile with advertisers, data brokers, or analytics providers.
Limited data may be processed by Namecheap for website hosting and support email, Google for Google Play Billing, a storage provider you deliberately select for an export or backup, or a competent authority when disclosure is legally required. These providers process information only for the relevant service and under their own terms or data-protection obligations.
Namecheap and Google may process information outside Ireland or the European Economic Area. Where GDPR applies to a restricted international transfer, the transfer must be covered by a lawful mechanism such as an adequacy decision or approved contractual safeguards. You may contact us for more information about the safeguards relevant to your information.
10. Retention and deletion
Your HouseChime data remains on your device until you change or delete it, clear the app’s storage, restore a different backup, or uninstall the app. Deleting a task may retain its past completion entries in History so your maintenance record remains useful; you can delete individual completion entries in the app.
Backups and exports remain wherever you chose to save them until you delete them from that destination. Because we do not receive or store your app database, we cannot retrieve or delete a copy on your behalf.
The retention periods for local crash diagnostics, website log extracts, and support correspondence are described in the relevant sections above. HouseChime has no account to close or remote maintenance database to delete.
11. Data security
HouseChime stores its database within Android’s app-private storage, disables Android automatic cloud backup and device transfer for app data, and uses HTTPS for the website. Access to hosting and support services is restricted to the developer and the providers needed to operate them.
You are responsible for keeping your device, screen lock, Google account, and any exported files secure. No storage or transmission method can be guaranteed completely secure, but limiting data transfer reduces unnecessary exposure.
12. Your data-protection rights
If GDPR or similar law applies, you may have rights to request access to, correction of, deletion of, restriction of, or a portable copy of personal data we hold about you, and to object to processing based on legitimate interests. These rights can be limited by law and may not apply in every situation.
Most information in the app never reaches us. You can exercise control over that information directly by editing or deleting it, clearing app storage, deleting saved exports, or uninstalling the app. For website-log extracts or support correspondence that we hold, email support@housechime.com. We may ask for enough information to verify and locate your request.
HouseChime does not use your personal data for automated decision-making or profiling. If you are in Ireland or believe Irish data-protection law applies, you may also complain to the Data Protection Commission. You may contact another competent supervisory authority where applicable.
13. Children’s privacy
HouseChime is a general home-maintenance utility and is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
14. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy if HouseChime’s features or legal obligations change. The current version will remain available on this page, and the effective date at the top will be updated. If a change materially affects how app data is handled, we will provide an appropriate notice.
15. Contact
For privacy questions, requests, or concerns about HouseChime, contact:
HouseChime Privacy
Email: support@housechime.com