Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

SubSwap ("we", "us", or "our") is a housing platform serving Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador). You can reach us at hello@subswap.ca.

2. Accounts We Support

SubSwap has two account types:

• Student accounts — for verified students at Atlantic Canadian post-secondary institutions, used for finding subleases and roommates.
• Landlord accounts — for property owners, property managers, and rental businesses listing units to students. Landlord accounts go through manual business verification before any listing becomes visible.

3. What Information We Collect

For both account types we collect:

• Account information — email address, full name, date of birth, and password (stored hashed, never in plain text)
• Device data — device type and push notification token (if you opt in)
• Usage data — swipes, matches, messages, and in-app activity

For student accounts we additionally collect:

• Profile information — photo, bio, lifestyle preferences (sleep schedule, cleanliness, smoking, drinking, pets, guest frequency, study habits, etc.), housing intent, budget range, and preferred rental term
• Listing information — if you post a sublease: address, rent, room type, photos, amenities, and availability dates
• Voice messages — if you send a voice message, we access your device microphone to record audio, which is uploaded and stored on our servers
• Messaging metadata — read receipts (when a message was seen) and online/last-seen status
• Approximate location — if you grant permission, we use your device location while the app is open to sort listings and roommates by distance from where you are. Location is not stored on our servers and is never shared with other users.

For landlord accounts we additionally collect:

• Business information — business name, business address, business website, and a business phone number for verification
• Listing information — for each unit: address, rent, room type, photos, amenities, and availability

4. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Create and manage your account
• Show your profile or listings to the right audience (other verified students, or verified landlords' listings to students)
• Match students with compatible roommates or subleases
• Send push notifications about matches and messages (only if you opt in)
• Verify that students are enrolled at an Atlantic Canadian institution, and that landlords are legitimate businesses
• Sort listings and roommates by distance from your current location (only when you grant location permission)
• Improve the app and fix bugs
• Respond to your support requests

5. What We Don't Do

• We do not sell your data to third parties
• We do not show ads or let advertisers target you
• We do not share your personal information with anyone outside of SubSwap without your consent
• We do not store your password in plain text
• We do not track your location in the background or while the app is closed

6. Who Can See Your Profile

Students see other verified students and verified-landlord listings in the swipe feed. Landlords see student profiles only when a student has swiped right on one of their listings (which opens a chat). Personal contact info (exact email address, business phone) is never shown to other users. You can delete your account at any time from Account Settings, which permanently removes all your data.

7. Photos

Photos you upload are stored securely and are only visible to other SubSwap users in the contexts described above. All photos are screened for inappropriate content. You can remove photos from your profile or listings at any time.

8. Messages & Voice Messages

Text messages and voice messages sent through SubSwap are stored in our database and cloud storage to deliver them to recipients. Voice message audio files are stored securely in the same manner as photos. We do not read or listen to your messages except where required by law or to investigate serious safety concerns.

9. Read Receipts & Online Status

SubSwap shows read receipts (indicating when your message was seen) and online/last-seen status to users you are matched with or in conversation with. This data is transmitted in real time and is not permanently stored on our servers.

10. Push Notifications

If you enable push notifications, we store a device token to send you alerts about new messages, matches, and (for landlords) listing activity. Admins are also notified when a new landlord submits for verification. You can disable notifications at any time in your Account Settings or device settings.

11. Location

If you grant the "While Using the App" location permission, SubSwap uses your approximate device location to sort listings and roommates by proximity. Location is read on-device and is not transmitted to or stored on our servers, nor shared with other users. You can revoke location permission at any time from your device settings.

12. Data Storage

Your data is stored using Supabase. We use industry-standard security practices including encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS), row-level security on every database table, and hashed passwords. Photos, listing images, and voice message audio files are stored in Supabase Storage with the same security protections.

13. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate information
• Delete your account and all associated data
• Opt out of push notifications or location at any time

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@subswap.ca or use the Delete Account option in the app.

14. Cookies & Local Storage

The SubSwap mobile app uses native secure storage to keep you logged in. The SubSwap website (this page) uses standard browser storage; we do not use tracking or advertising cookies.

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We'll notify you of significant changes via email or an in-app notice. Continued use of SubSwap after changes means you accept the updated policy.

16. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, reach us at hello@subswap.ca.