Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

SubSwap ("we", "us", or "our") is a student housing platform serving universities and colleges across Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, and Newfoundland & Labrador, and Newfoundland & Labrador). You can reach us at hello@subswap.ca.

2. What Information We Collect

When you use SubSwap we collect the following:

• Account information — your university email address, full name, date of birth, and password (stored encrypted)
• Profile information — your photo, bio, lifestyle preferences (sleep schedule, cleanliness, smoking, drinking), and housing intent
• Listing information — if you post a sublease: address, rent, room type, photos, and availability
• Usage data — swipes, matches, messages (text and voice), and in-app activity
• Device data — browser type, device type, and push notification tokens (if you opt in)
• Voice messages — if you send a voice message, we access your device microphone to record audio which is uploaded and stored on our servers
• Messaging metadata — read receipts (when a message was seen) and online/last-seen status (when you last had the app open)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Create and manage your account
• Show your profile and listings to other verified students
• Match you with compatible roommates or subleases
• Send push notifications about matches and messages (only if you opt in)
• Verify that you are a student at an Atlantic Canadian university or college
• Improve the app and fix bugs
• Respond to your support requests

4. What We Don't Do

• We do not sell your data to third parties
• We do not show ads or let advertisers target you
• We do not share your personal information with anyone outside of SubSwap without your consent
• We do not store your password in plain text

5. Who Can See Your Profile

Only verified students with a recognized Atlantic Canadian university or college email can create an account and see profiles. Your profile is visible to other verified SubSwap users while your account is active. You can delete your account at any time from Account Settings, which permanently removes all your data.

6. Photos

Photos you upload are stored securely and are only visible to other verified SubSwap users. All photos are screened for inappropriate content before being displayed. You can remove photos from your profile at any time.

7. Messages & Voice Messages

Text messages and voice messages sent through SubSwap are stored in our database and cloud storage to deliver them to recipients. Voice message audio files are stored securely in the same manner as photos. We do not read or listen to your messages except where required by law or to investigate serious safety concerns.

7a. Read Receipts & Online Status

SubSwap shows read receipts (indicating when your message was seen) and online/last-seen status to users you are matched with. This data is transmitted in real time and is not permanently stored on our servers. These features help you know when your messages have been read and whether the other person is currently active in the app.

8. Push Notifications

If you enable push notifications, we store a device token to send you alerts about new messages and matches. You can disable notifications at any time in your Account Settings or device settings.

9. Data Storage

Your data is stored securely using Supabase (a US-based cloud provider). We use industry-standard security practices including encrypted connections (HTTPS), row-level security, and encrypted passwords. Voice message audio files are stored in Supabase Storage with the same security protections as profile photos and listing images.

10. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate information
• Delete your account and all associated data
• Opt out of push notifications at any time

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@subswap.ca or use the Delete Account option in the app.

11. Cookies

SubSwap is a Progressive Web App and uses browser storage (not traditional cookies) to keep you logged in. We do not use tracking or advertising cookies.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We'll notify you of significant changes via email or an in-app notice. Continued use of SubSwap after changes means you accept the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, reach us at hello@subswap.ca.