Privacy Policy for SKAN PG & Homes
This Privacy Policy explains how SKAN PG & Homes ("we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, protects, and discloses your information when you use our mobile application (Package ID: com.skanpg.app) and related web services.
1. Introduction
SKAN PG & Homes is a zero-brokerage paying guest (PG), coliving, and rental discovery platform. We connect tenants directly with verified PG owners and property managers. We are committed to transparency and respecting your personal privacy in accordance with applicable laws, including the Information Technology Act (India), the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), and the Google Play Developer Programme Policies.
By downloading, installing, or using the SKAN PG & Homes mobile application, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
2. Information We Collect
We collect information to provide, maintain, and improve our services to you:
A. Information You Provide Directly
- Account Information: Name, mobile phone number, email address, and profile photo when you sign up or log in via OTP/Firebase Authentication.
- Tenant KYC & Verification Details: Government-issued ID proof (e.g., Aadhaar card, PAN, or Passport number/photo), workplace/college name, and emergency contact details required by property owners and local municipal tenant-verification regulations.
- Booking & Stay Details: Preferred move-in date, room sharing type (single, double, triple), food preferences, and duration of stay.
- Communications: Messages, customer service inquiries, maintenance tickets, or feedback submitted through the app.
B. Information Collected Automatically
- Device & Hardware Data: Device model, operating system version, unique device identifiers, IP address, and mobile network information.
- App Usage & Analytics: Screen views, search queries, interaction with property listings, crash reports, and performance telemetry to detect bugs.
C. Financial Information
When you pay booking deposits or monthly rent, transactions are processed via secure, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) authorized payment gateways (such as Razorpay). We never store your complete credit/debit card numbers, CVV, or net banking passwords on our servers. We only store transaction references, payment timestamps, and receipt statuses.
3. Android Device Permissions Requested
The application requests specific runtime permissions solely to enable vital functional features:
| Permission | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION & ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION |
Location | To display PG and coliving properties near your current GPS location and calculate accurate commute distances to nearby tech parks, metro stations, and colleges. |
CAMERA |
Hardware | To allow you to upload KYC documents, take photos of maintenance issues in your room, and scan digital QR gate passes during check-in/check-out. |
INTERNET & ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE |
Network | To sync real-time property availability, receive push notifications, and process zero-brokerage reservations. |
POST_NOTIFICATIONS |
Notifications | To deliver critical notifications such as curfew countdown reminders, rent due alerts, gate pass verifications, and owner response messages. |
Note on Background Location: If location permissions are granted, location data is only accessed when actively searching for properties or confirming check-in geofences. We do not sell or track your background whereabouts.
4. How We Use Your Data
We process your data for the following explicit purposes:
- Direct Property Booking: Facilitating zero-brokerage contact between you and property owners.
- Digital Resident Pass: Generating dynamic QR passes, room assignments, and resident identity badges.
- Security & Safety: Preventing fraudulent listings, verifying authentic tenants, and ensuring safety in shared accommodation facilities.
- Billing & Receipts: Providing digital rent receipts, deposit escrow confirmation, and maintenance billing records.
- Customer Support: Resolving maintenance tickets and user grievances promptly.
5. Third-Party Services & Sub-Processors
We partner with industry-leading cloud and infrastructure providers to run our services safely. These partners adhere to strict confidentiality and security standards:
- Google Play Services & Firebase (Google LLC): Cloud hosting, authentication, crash diagnostics, and push notifications. (Google Privacy Policy)
- Payment Gateways (Razorpay): Tokenized, PCI-DSS compliant processing for UPI, cards, and netbanking.
- SMS & Communication Gateways: Delivering OTPs and instant WhatsApp notifications for room booking confirmations.
- Google Maps Platform: Rendering interactive property maps and locality wayfinding.
We do NOT sell, rent, or trade your personal data to any data brokers, telemarketers, or unauthorized third parties.
6. Data Security
We employ robust administrative, technical, and physical security measures to safeguard your personal data:
- All network communications between the app and our servers are encrypted using Transport Layer Security (TLS 1.3 / HTTPS).
- Sensitive verification records are stored with AES-256 encryption at rest.
- Access to tenant records is restricted strictly to authorized personnel and the verified owner of the specific PG booked by the resident.
7. Data Retention and Account Deletion
We retain your personal data only as long as your account remains active or as needed to provide you with accommodation services, comply with tax/financial reporting obligations, and fulfill legal requirements.
Your Right to Delete: In compliance with Google Play's Data Safety and Account Deletion policies, you can request the permanent deletion of your account and associated personal data at any time directly through the app settings or via our dedicated web portal:
Upon receiving a verified deletion request:
- Your personal profile, phone number, email, and identification documents will be permanently purged within 30 business days.
- Past invoices and payment transaction logs may be retained solely to comply with statutory accounting and tax audit requirements under Indian law.
8. Children's Privacy
Our services are directed to adults seeking rental housing (college students 18+, working professionals, and property owners). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 18. If we discover that a minor under 18 has provided us with personal information without parental or legal guardian consent, we will promptly delete such data.
9. Grievance Officer & Contact Details
If you have any questions, concerns, feedback, or grievance regarding this Privacy Policy or our data handling practices, please contact our designated Grievance Officer:
Grievance Officer: Data Protection & Legal Cell
Entity: SKAN PG & Homes
Email: support@skanpg.app / grievance@skanpg.app
Response Timeline: All grievances are acknowledged within 48 hours and resolved within 30 days.