Datenschutzerklärung
Privacy policy
This policy explains which personal data I collect when you use this website or my services, why, and what rights you have. It is based on the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP / revDSG). Where the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies, for example because you live in the EU, the section on GDPR at the end applies as well.
1. Controller
Andreas Hollenstein, Stauffacherstrasse 11, 9000 St. Gallen, SwitzerlandEmail: hello@housingstgallen.ch
2. Data I process
- Visiting the website: the hosting provider automatically records technical data such as IP address, date and time, page requested and browser. I don't use analytics or advertising cookies.
- Request form: the data you enter, for example name, email, phone, nationality, school or programme, budget, move-in date and preferences.
- Contact by WhatsApp or email: your messages and contact details.
- Clients: the documents and information needed for a rental application, for example ID or passport copy, admission letter or employment contract, proof of income, guarantor details, debt collection register extract, and the signed power of attorney.
- Sublets: details about your room, photos you provide, your lease details and contact data.
- Payments: invoice and payment data.
3. Why I process it
I use your data to answer your request, to search for and assess flats, to arrange and attend viewings, to prepare and hand in your application, to match sublets, to send invoices and to meet legal obligations. I don't sell your data and don't use it for advertising.
4. Who receives your data
- Landlords and property managers: only with your consent and only the data needed for a specific viewing or application.
- Netlify, Inc. (USA): hosting of this website.
- Tally BV (Belgium): provider of the request forms. Your form entries are stored by Tally.
- Google Fonts (Google LLC, USA): fonts on this website are loaded from Google servers, which receive your IP address.
- WhatsApp (Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd.): if you contact me via WhatsApp.
- Google Workspace (Google LLC, USA): email and calendar for arranging viewings.
- Anthropic PBC (USA): I use an AI assistant (Claude) to analyse listings and to draft messages and application documents.
Some of these providers are located outside Switzerland, in particular in the USA. For the USA, transfers rely on the Swiss-US Data Privacy Framework where the provider is certified, or otherwise on standard contractual clauses recognised by the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC).
5. How long I keep it
- Personal documents for an application (ID, income, references) are deleted after you move in, or when you end our cooperation.
- Form requests that don't lead to a booking are deleted after 6 months.
- Invoices and accounting records are kept for 10 years as required by Swiss law (Art. 958f CO).
6. Security
I take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your data, such as access-protected accounts and storing client documents only in the client's file.
7. Your rights
You can ask at any time what data I hold about you (right of access), and have it corrected or deleted, unless I am legally required to keep it. You can withdraw consent at any time with effect for the future. Write to hello@housingstgallen.ch. If you think I process your data unlawfully, you can complain to the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC, edoeb.admin.ch).
8. Additional information under the GDPR
If the GDPR applies, I process your data to perform a contract or pre-contractual steps (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR), to meet legal obligations (Art. 6(1)(c)), on the basis of my legitimate interest in running this website securely (Art. 6(1)(f)), or with your consent (Art. 6(1)(a)). In addition to the rights above, you have the right to data portability, to object to processing, and to complain to the data protection authority in your country.
9. Changes
I may update this policy when my services or the law change. The current version is always on this page.
Last updated: October 2026