Privacy Policy

Equilaw Limited is committed to protecting your privacy when you use our services. In this policy we explain how and why we collect your personal data and what we do with it.

This policy reflects our obligations under both the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data Protection Regulations (2018) as adopted by the UK Government.

Please contact us if you have any questions regarding our Privacy Policy.

Confidentiality and Security

Equilaw Limited places great importance on the security of all information associated with our clients. We have security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of client data under our control. Our security and privacy policies are periodically reviewed and enhanced as necessary, and only authorised personnel have access to our clients’ personal data. In addition, personnel who have access to your personal data are trained with regards to ensuring the security of this data. While we cannot guarantee that loss, misuse or alteration of data will not occur, we use our best efforts to prevent this and we back up our computerised records on a daily basis so that we can restore any data that is lost or altered as a result of any human error or system malfunction.

To prevent unauthorised access, maintain data accuracy and ensure the appropriate use of personal data, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic and managerial procedures designed to safeguard and secure the personal data we collect and process.

Where is the personal data stored?

Equilaw Limited maintains a remotely managed server array in a secure UK based Tier 1 data centre. We also have arrangements in place to back up and if necessary restore all our data securely.  All systems are controlled, run and maintained from a secure location.

What personal data do we collect about you?

Equilaw Limited collects and processes personal data about you in order to:

  1. identify you each time you contact us;

  2. improve our services to you;

  3. undertake the work you have instructed us to carry out;

  4. comply with any legal obligations associated with your instructions to us.

We collect personally identifiable Information. This may include your name and contact details, gender, date of birth, occupation, and any other required information for the purpose of the work you have instructed us to carry out.

You are under no obligation to provide this information, but if you do not than we may not be able to provide you with the services requested.

How will we use the personal data collected about you?

We use the personal data you provide to support your Equity Release application or other instructions to us.  This may include liaising with your IFA and lender in order to progress your application, updating your property title with the Land Registry, or submitting a Stamp Duty Land Tax return to HMRC, for example.  We will also use it to contact you when necessary.  We will not share your personal data with third parties without your explicit consent except when it is necessary in order to undertake the work you have instructed us to carry out, or to comply with our legal and regulatory obligations. Where it is necessary for us to formally establish your identity in order to comply with anti-money laundering or other government regulations we will pass your data to one or more specialist search providers who may in turn check these details against any database to which they have access.

The third parties we may share personal data with include:

  • Your lender

  • Your IFA

  • The Land Registry

  • Companies House

  • HMRC

  • Creditsafe

  • Experian

Please note this is not a comprehensive list; for further information please contact us using any published telephone number, postal address or email address and ask to be directed to our Compliance Manager.

We never use or share the Personally Identifiable Information provided to us in ways or for reasons unrelated to the ones described above. If we wish to use your personal data for a new purpose, we will not do so without first obtaining your consent.

Data Retention

The normal retention period for client data is six years. We will retain your data only in accordance with this standard unless you have asked us to keep your file for a longer period of time. All client data is either deleted or destroyed or (for financial record keeping and other regulatory purposes) anonymised after that time.

Access to the Personal Data we may hold about you

You have the right to request a copy of the personal data that we hold about you. To obtain a copy of this personal data, please contact us using any published telephone number, postal address or email address and ask to be directed to our Compliance Manager. Please note it will not be possible to provide this information once the relevant retention period has expired.

We want to make sure the personal data we may hold about you is current and accurate. You may ask us to correct or remove any personal data you believe is inaccurate.

To protect your privacy and the privacy of others, we are obliged to seek evidence of your identity before we give you access to the personal data we may hold about you or make any changes to it.

If you have any questions about your right to access any personal data we hold, or if you feel your data has not been handled according to the principles of the relevant data protection regulations, you should contact the Information Commissioner’s Office for guidance on their published helpline number: 0303 123 1113.  Our ICO registration number is Z213184X.

The Services and Links from our Web Site

Our Web Site contains links to other Web Sites to which this Privacy Policy does not apply. When you visit other Web Sites through any link please ensure you read their Privacy Policies.

You can access our Web Site without disclosing your personal data.

Automatic Collection of non-personal Information (Cookies, Log files and IP Addresses)

“Cookies” are text files placed on your computer to collect standard internet log information and visitor behaviour information. This information is used to track visitor use of the website and to compile statistical reports on website activity. The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) is an industry body which provides in-depth information about cookies. For further information, you may wish to visit www.aboutcookies.org. You can set your browser not to accept cookies and the IAB website provides instructions on how to do so.

When you visit our Web Site, we automatically log your IP address (the unique address which identifies your computer on the internet) which is automatically recognised by our web server. We use IP addresses to help us administer our Web Site and to collect broad demographic information for statistical use. We do not link IP addresses to personally identifiable information. We may automatically collect non-personal information about you such as the type of internet browsers you use or the site from which you linked to our Web Site. You cannot be identified from this information and it is only used to assist us in providing an effective service on our Web Site. Session based information about your visit may also be stored automatically within your own browsing history using html-5 local storage.

Cookie Policy

Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our website. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer’s hard drive.

We use the following cookies:

  • Strictly necessary cookies. These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website, use a shopping cart or make use of e-billing services.

  • Analytical/performance cookies. They allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.

  • Functionality cookies. These are used to recognise you when you return to our website. This enables us to personalise our content for you, greet you by name and remember your preferences (for example, your region).

  • Targeting cookies. These cookies record your visit to our website, the pages you have visited and the links you have followed. We will use this information to make our website and the advertising displayed on it more relevant to your interests. We may also share this information with third parties for this purpose.

You can find more information about the individual cookies we use and the purposes for which we use them in the table below:

CookieProviderTypePurposeExpiresData Sent Tocb-enabledequilaw.uk.comNecessaryThis cookie is used to determine if the visitor has accepted the cookie consent box.1 yearUK_gaequilaw.uk.comStatisticsRegisters a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website.2 yearsUS_gatequilaw.uk.comStatisticsUsed by Google Analytics to throttle request rate1 dayUS_gidequilaw.uk.comStatisticsRegisters a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website.1 dayUS

Changes to our Privacy Policy

We regularly review our Privacy Policy and will clearly mark any updates here. This Policy was last reviewed on November 15th 2019.