Privacy Policy
Last updated: 9 October 2026
AreaWise (“we”, “us”, “our”) explains places — schools, housing, safety and lifestyle — so families can decide where to live with confidence. We take your privacy seriously. This policy explains what personal data we collect, why, and the choices you have.
1. Who we are
AreaWise is operated by [Company legal name], registered in England and Wales (company number [Company number]), registered office at [Registered office address]. AreaWise is the data controller responsible for the personal data described below. Contact: [email protected].
2. The data we collect
Account data (when you sign in)
You can sign in with your Google account. Google provides us with your name, email address and profile picture. We never see your Google password.
Your saved places
If you sign in, you can save places, schools and other items to your account. We store these so you can find them again on any device.
Usage data
We may collect limited technical data about how the site is used — such as pages visited, browser type and approximate region — through our analytics tools (see our Cookie Policy). This is aggregated and is not used to identify you.
What we do not collect
We do not collect data about your finances, your household, or your children. The area information we show you comes from official and community data sources, not from you.
3. How we use your data
- To run the service — signing you in, keeping your saved places, and personalising your experience.
- To improve AreaWise — understanding how the site is used so we can make it clearer and faster.
- To keep the service safe — protecting against abuse and misuse.
We do not sell your personal data, and we do not use it to advertise to you. AreaWise is free and has no ads.
4. Our legal bases
- Consent — when you choose to sign in and create an account.
- Legitimate interests — operating, securing and improving the service, where your rights do not override those interests.
- Legal obligation — where the law requires us to keep records.
5. Data sources
The area information AreaWise displays is drawn from official UK sources (including the Department for Education, Ofsted, HM Land Registry, the Office for National Statistics, Police UK and the NHS) and community-mapped data (OpenStreetMap). We do not collect this information from you; each source is named on the relevant page.
6. Cookies
We use a small number of cookies: strictly necessary cookies to keep you signed in, and analytics cookies to understand aggregate usage. We use no advertising or third-party ad cookies. See our Cookie Policy for details.
7. How long we keep data
We keep your account and saved places for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we delete your personal data, subject to any legal obligation to retain records. Usage analytics is aggregated and anonymised.
8. Who we share data with
We share personal data only with trusted service providers who help us run AreaWise (for example, our hosting and analytics providers), under contract and only to the extent necessary. We do not sell or rent your data to anyone.
9. Your rights
Under UK data protection law you have the right to access, correct, delete or transfer your personal data, to object to or restrict certain processing, and to withdraw consent at any time. To exercise any of these rights, email [email protected]. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.
10. Children
AreaWise is intended for adults choosing where to live. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13.
11. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will post the revised policy on this page and update the “Last updated” date.
12. Contact
Questions about this policy: [email protected].