This Privacy Policy explains in general terms how Metro Strata protects the privacy of your personal information under Australian privacy laws, including the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) set out in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). It will apply to any personal information you provide to us:

• by notices or information issued to us pursuant to the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) (‘the Act’);
• via metro-strata.com, or other online sites operated by our company or our bankers; and
• under any other agreement or arrangement.

This Privacy Policy will also apply to any information about you that is provided to us by someone else, such as your solicitor or real estate agent.

What information do we collect?

The types of personal information we collect from or about you are largely set out in the Act. We collect details such as your name, address, billing address, telephone numbers, and email address. If you pay your levies by using a credit/debit card or bank transfer, we will also collect your payment details. We will assume that you have consented to the collection of all information which is provided to us for use in accordance with this Policy unless you tell us otherwise.

How we collect information

We may collect personal information about you when you deal with us over the telephone, send us correspondence (whether by letter or email), visit our website, make levy payments online, or when you have contact with us in person. In addition to collecting information directly from you, we also collect information about you from third parties.

For example:

• from your agent or solicitor transmitting notices pursuant to the Act;
• from your real estate agent, where an agent has been appointed to manage your strata property.

How we use your personal information

We collect your personal information for the following purposes:

• To ensure that your interest in strata properties managed by our company is recorded on the respective strata rolls.
• To ensure that all notices, minutes, levy advice, and other information about your strata property are directed to you in the most expedient manner.
• To ensure that any payments made by you are promptly and accurately accounted for.
• To accurately identify you as a person with an interest in a strata scheme that is managed by our company.
• To maintain communications with you and ensure that the most efficient communication methods are available to you.

Disclosure of personal information to third parties

We may disclose your personal information to third parties, for example, to contractors who are engaged to undertake work on behalf of your strata property and who may need to contact you to arrange access to your lot(s).

We may also disclose your personal information to various law enforcement agencies and government bodies throughout Australia when required by law.

The Act provides that, in certain circumstances, information recorded on the strata roll of strata schemes must be made available to an owner, mortgagee, or their authorised agent. We have no control over what use these persons may make of any such information they may obtain, and we may not be reasonably able to restrict their access to this information.

We will not disclose your personal information without your consent unless disclosure is either necessary to prevent a serious threat to safety, damage to property, authorised or required by law, reasonably necessary to enforce the law, or necessary to investigate a suspected unlawful activity.

Access to and correction of information we hold about you

We will, on request, provide you with access to the information we hold about you unless an exception applies under the APPs. We may recover from you any costs of supplying you with access to this information as provided in the Act. Your request will be dealt with within the time limits set down by the Act.

If we refuse to provide you with access, we will provide you with reasons for the refusal and inform you of any exceptions relied upon under the APPs.

Keeping your personal information up-to-date

We take reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date whenever we collect or use it. If the personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete, or out-of-date, please contact us, and we will take immediate steps to correct this information.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may amend this Privacy Policy as our business requirements or the law changes. Any changes to this Policy will be updated on our website and, where appropriate, an abbreviated statement may be provided in the minutes of your annual general meeting.

Website security

To protect the privacy of our clients, all information submitted on this website is through an encrypted connection.