Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

MLS.PH ("Company," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy and personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use the MLS.PH website, mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the "Platform").

This Privacy Policy is designed to comply with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, as well as other applicable data protection laws and regulations in the Philippines.

By accessing or using our Platform, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Platform.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide to Us

We collect information you voluntarily provide when you:

• Register for an account: Email address, password, first name, last name, mobile phone number, and social media profile links
• Create property listings: Property details (type, size, features, price, location, address), photographs and media, contact preferences
• Apply for verification: Government-issued IDs, professional licenses, PRC documentation for brokers and salespersons
• Contact us: Name, email address, phone number, and the content of your communications
• Participate in surveys or promotions: Responses and contact information

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use our Platform, we automatically collect certain information, including:

• Device Information: IP address, device type, operating system, browser type and version, unique device identifiers
• Usage Information: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, search queries, referring URLs
• Location Information: General geographic location based on IP address, and precise location if you grant permission
• Log Data: Access times, error logs, and other diagnostic data

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third parties, including:

• Social media platforms when you link your account or log in using social credentials
• Identity verification services to confirm your identity
• Professional licensing databases to verify broker/salesperson credentials
• Other users who provide your contact information for inquiries

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

3.1 Provide and Improve Our Services

• Create and manage your account
• Display your property listings to potential buyers, sellers, and renters
• Facilitate communication between users
• Process verification requests and display verification badges
• Personalize your experience and provide relevant property recommendations
• Analyze usage patterns and improve Platform functionality

3.2 Communications

• Send transactional emails (account verification, password reset, listing notifications)
• Send marketing communications (with your consent)
• Respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
• Notify you of changes to our services or policies

3.3 Security and Legal Compliance

• Verify user identity and prevent fraud
• Detect and prevent security threats and abuse
• Enforce our Terms of Use and other policies
• Comply with legal obligations and respond to legal requests

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, we process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: When you provide explicit consent for specific processing activities
• Contractual Necessity: When processing is necessary to fulfill our agreement with you
• Legitimate Interests: When processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, provided these do not override your rights
• Legal Obligation: When processing is required to comply with applicable laws

5. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

5.1 With Other Users

• Public Listings: Property listings and associated seller/agent information are publicly visible on the Platform
• Inquiries: When you inquire about a listing, your contact information is shared with the listing owner
• Public Profiles: Profile information you choose to make public is visible to other users

5.2 With Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating the Platform, including:

• Cloud hosting and infrastructure providers
• Email service providers
• Analytics and performance monitoring services
• Payment processors (for future premium features)
• Identity verification services

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

5.3 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose your information when required or permitted by law, including:

• To comply with legal process, court orders, or government requests
• To enforce our Terms of Use or protect our rights
• To protect the safety of users or the public
• To investigate potential violations of law or our policies

5.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will notify you of any such change and any choices you may have regarding your information.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect and track information about your use of the Platform. These technologies help us:

• Essential Cookies: Enable core functionality such as authentication and security
• Performance Cookies: Analyze how you use the Platform to improve performance
• Functionality Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Analytics Cookies: Understand user behavior and measure marketing effectiveness

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Platform.

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS protocols
• Encryption of sensitive data at rest
• Secure password hashing
• Regular security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Access controls and authentication mechanisms
• Employee training on data protection practices
• Incident response procedures

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and you use the Platform at your own risk.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Specifically:

• Active Accounts: We retain your information while your account is active
• Deleted Accounts: Upon account deletion, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within 30 days, except where retention is required by law
• Legal Requirements: We may retain certain information as required for legal compliance, dispute resolution, or fraud prevention
• Backup Systems: Information in backup systems may be retained for a limited period consistent with our backup retention policies

9. Your Rights

Under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right to Be Informed: You have the right to know how your personal data is being collected, processed, and used
• Right to Access: You may request a copy of your personal data that we hold
• Right to Rectification: You may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data
• Right to Erasure: You may request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal requirements
• Right to Object: You may object to the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances
• Right to Data Portability: You may request to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used format
• Right to File a Complaint: You may file a complaint with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) if you believe your data privacy rights have been violated

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@mls.ph. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe, and no later than 30 days from receipt of your request.

10. Your Choices

You have the following choices regarding your information:

• Account Information: You can update your account information through your profile settings
• Marketing Communications: You can opt out of marketing emails by clicking the "unsubscribe" link or adjusting your notification preferences
• Cookies: You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings
• Location Data: You can control location sharing through your device settings
• Account Deletion: You can request deletion of your account by contacting us

11. Children's Privacy

The Platform is not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at privacy@mls.ph.

12. International Data Transfers

MLS.PH is based in the Philippines and primarily serves users in the Philippines. If you access the Platform from outside the Philippines, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the Philippines.

By using the Platform, you consent to the transfer of your information to the Philippines, where data protection laws may differ from those in your country of residence.

13. Third-Party Links

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, services, or applications. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party services, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you access.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated Privacy Policy on the Platform with a new effective date
• Sending you an email notification (for significant changes)
• Displaying a prominent notice on the Platform

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of the revised Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

16. Data Protection Officer

For matters related to data privacy compliance under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, you may contact our Data Protection Officer at:

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) if you believe your data privacy rights have been violated. The NPC can be reached at: