Privacy Policy

iHousing (“iHousing”, “we”, “us”) operates ihousingnyc.com, a platform that helps international students find verified rooms and roommates in New York City. This policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.

1. Information we collect

We collect information you provide and information generated when you use the service:

• Account information — name, email address, and (if you sign in with Google) your Google profile basics.
• Profile & matching details — phone number, nationality, school, budget, move-in date, neighborhood and lifestyle preferences.
• Eligibility & identity documents — documents you upload to verify your student status and identity, such as an I-20 or passport.
• Application & housing activity — rooms you view, applications, contracts, and messages with roommates or our team.
• Payment information — handled by our payment processor; we do not store full card numbers.
• Technical data — IP address, device/browser information, and cookies needed to keep you signed in.

2. How we use your information

We use your information to create and secure your account, verify eligibility, match you with rooms and roommates, arrange in-person viewings, process payments, send service emails (such as confirmations and application updates), prevent fraud and abuse, and comply with legal obligations.

3. How we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only as needed to run the service, with providers acting on our behalf: Supabase (authentication, database, and document storage), Stripe (payments), Resend (transactional email), Google (sign-in), and our hosting provider. We may share limited details with landlords or our housing team to arrange a viewing, and we may disclose information when required by law.

4. Data retention

We keep your information for as long as your account is active and as needed to provide the service or meet legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. You may ask us to delete your account and associated data, subject to records we are required to retain.

5. Security

Identity documents are stored in private storage accessible only to you and authorized staff. We use encryption in transit, access controls, and other safeguards. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your rights

You may access, correct, or delete your personal information, and you may object to or restrict certain processing. To exercise these rights, contact us using the details below. You can also sign out and stop using the service at any time.

7. International users

iHousing is operated from the United States and your information is processed there. If you access the service from outside the U.S., you consent to the transfer and processing of your information in the U.S.

8. Children

The service is intended for users aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect information from children.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last updated” date above and, where appropriate, notify you.

10. Contact

Questions about this policy? Email us at [email protected].