Privacy Policy

01 Who we are

In this policy, "THE HomeShare", "we", "us" and "our" refers to THE HomeShare and its associated services operating in Ireland.

THE HomeShare provides Homeshare services which support older people and adults living with disabilities or additional support needs to remain living independently in their own homes through carefully matched live-in companionship arrangements.

We are committed to protecting the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of all individuals who engage with our services. For the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 ("GDPR") and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018, THE HomeShare acts as a Data Controller in relation to the personal data we collect and process.

02 Personal data we collect

We collect personal data necessary to deliver our Homeshare service safely and effectively. The categories of data we may collect include:

Identity & contact data

• Full name, date of birth, gender
• Home address, email address, telephone number
• Photographic identification (passport or driving licence)

Application & suitability data

• Employment status, occupation and working hours
• Accommodation needs and preferences
• Lifestyle information (hobbies, routines, household rules)
• References from employers, landlords or character referees

Sensitive (special category) data

• Health and disability information — shared voluntarily to enable appropriate matching and support planning
• Safeguarding history — where relevant to the safety of participants
• Criminal record information — obtained via Garda Vetting / An Garda Síochána for all active participants

Financial data

• Bank account details for payment processing (sharers)
• Rent contribution records

03 Legal basis for processing

Under GDPR, we must have a lawful basis for each processing activity. We rely on the following:

• Contract performance — processing necessary to assess your application, arrange a match, and deliver the Homeshare service.
• Legitimate interests — safeguarding participants, monitoring the quality of matches, and maintaining service records. We balance these interests against your right to privacy.
• Legal obligation — complying with Garda Vetting requirements, tax and financial reporting obligations, and any direction from a statutory authority.
• Vital interests — in emergency situations where processing is needed to protect life.
• Explicit consent — for optional communications (e.g. newsletter) and for processing certain sensitive personal data where no other basis applies. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.

04 How we use your data

We use personal data to:

• Assess and process applications from householders and sharers
• Conduct safeguarding assessments and home visits
• Arrange and manage Garda Vetting / DBS checks
• Make safe, compatible matches between householders and sharers
• Prepare and administer Homeshare agreements and related documents
• Provide ongoing coordinator support throughout the arrangement
• Process rent contributions and maintain financial records
• Monitor the wellbeing of participants and respond to any concerns
• Meet our legal and regulatory reporting obligations
• Send service-related communications (updates, review reminders)
• Send optional newsletters or programme updates — only where you have consented

05 Who we share your data with

We do not sell or rent your personal data. We share it only where necessary, with:

• Matched participants — we share relevant profile information (name, location, lifestyle preferences) with the householder or sharer you are being introduced to.
• An Garda Síochána — vetting applications are submitted to the National Vetting Bureau as required by law.
• IT and hosting providers — our software and cloud storage providers act as data processors under written agreements that bind them to GDPR standards.
• Professional advisers — solicitors, accountants or insurers, where strictly necessary and bound by confidentiality.
• Statutory authorities — where required by law, court order, or to protect the vital interests of a participant.

Where we transfer data outside the European Economic Area (EEA), we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place (Standard Contractual Clauses or equivalent).

06 How long we keep your data

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purpose it was collected and to meet our legal obligations. Our key retention periods are:

When data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymised. We review our retention schedules annually.

07 Your rights

Under GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data. We will respond to any request within one month (extendable to three months for complex cases).

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@thehomeshare.ie. We may need to verify your identity before processing the request.

08 Data security

We take the security of your personal data seriously and implement appropriate technical and organisational measures, including:

• Encrypted storage and transmission (TLS/SSL) for all digital records
• Role-based access controls — only staff who need data to do their job can access it
• Regular staff training on data protection and information security
• Secure disposal of physical documents containing personal data
• Regular review of our data processing practices and third-party supplier agreements

In the event of a personal data breach that is likely to result in a risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify the Data Protection Commission within 72 hours and, where required, inform affected individuals without undue delay.

09 Complaints & contact

If you have any questions or concerns about how we handle your personal data, please contact us in the first instance:

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission (DPC):

10 Cookies & analytics

Our website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and understand how visitors use our site.

Strictly necessary cookies

These are required for the website to function correctly (e.g. session security, form submissions). They cannot be switched off.

Analytics cookies

We use Google Analytics to collect anonymised data about how visitors interact with our site (pages visited, time on site, referral source). This data does not identify you personally. You can opt out via your browser settings or the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.

No advertising cookies

We do not use advertising or tracking cookies, and we do not share your browsing data with advertising networks.

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. Note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of some parts of our website.

★ Short privacy notice for application forms

Some information may include sensitive personal information such as health, disability, safeguarding or vetting-related information. THE HomeShare will only collect, use and share information where necessary, proportionate and lawful.

Please read our full GDPR, Privacy & Data Protection Policy above before submitting your application.