Privacy Policy
How flatmate.com collects, uses, and protects your personal information — and the choices you have.
Last updated
21 April 2026
flatmate.com (SuburbChooser.com Pty Ltd) is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. By using this site you consent to its terms.
On this page
Who we are
This site is owned and operated by SuburbChooser.com Pty Ltd, trading as flatmate.com ("we", "us", "our"). For data-protection purposes we are the data controller and, unless otherwise noted, also the data processor.
flatmate.com may be accessed from Australia and overseas. By using the site you agree to the terms of this policy and consent to our use and disclosure of your personal information as set out below.
Information we collect
What you give us
When you register, post a listing, message other members, or use paid features, we may collect:
- Your username, password, first and last name, email address, phone number and date of birth
- Profile information you choose to add — photos, a bio, preferences, occupation, move-in dates
- Listing details — address (suburb-level by default), rent, photos, house rules
- Messages you send to other members through our messaging system
- Payment and billing information if you upgrade to a paid plan (processed by our payment provider — we don't store full card numbers)
- ID verification data you submit to our verification partner Didit (see below)
We do not ask for sensitive information such as racial or ethnic origin, political affiliations, religious beliefs, sexual preferences, criminal convictions, or health information.
You can always choose not to give us personal information, but some features may not be available to you as a result.
Information collected automatically
When you visit the site we automatically collect technical information including:
- Your IP address, browser type and language, device type and operating system
- The page that referred you to us and pages you view on our site
- Links you click, searches you run, and other actions taken in connection with the site
- Access times and approximate location (city-level) derived from your IP
We may combine this information with the personal information you provide.
Cookies and similar technologies
We use cookies to keep you signed in, remember your preferences, personalise your experience, and analyse how the site is used. Cookies are small text files placed on your device that can later be read by us or third parties we work with.
Most browsers automatically accept cookies but you can usually change your settings to decline them. If you decline cookies some features of the site (including signing in) may not work.
We may also use single-pixel gifs (web beacons) in emails and newsletters so we can tell how many people opened a message. These do not collect personal information.
Video calls within messages
New feature
You can start a video call directly from any message thread with another member. These calls use WebRTC peer-to-peer technology — meaning the audio and video stream directly between your device and the other person's device, and never pass through any flatmate.com server.
We do not record, store, or have access to the content of your video calls. Your device uses its own built-in camera and microphone, which you grant permission to the first time you start a call.
To connect the two people on a call, our system uses a small amount of signalling data (effectively, a "how to reach me" handshake) brokered by a third-party service (PeerJS). If your network blocks a direct connection, the signalling falls back to a TURN relay operated by Metered (openrelay.metered.ca), which passes the encrypted stream on to the other party but cannot read its contents.
When a call ends, an entry in the conversation thread records that a call took place (who started it and when) so both parties have a record. No call content is ever retained.
ID Verification — powered by Didit
Optional
If you choose to verify your identity, we use a third-party partner, Didit, to process your ID. You will be redirected into Didit's secure flow where you upload a government-issued ID (passport, driver licence, etc.) and a selfie.
Didit processes your documents, runs identity and liveness checks, and returns to us only a verification status (verified / not verified) and basic confirmed details (name, date of birth). We do not receive or store the images of your ID document or selfie.
Didit operates under its own privacy policy, which governs how your ID data is processed, stored, and retained. Please review it before starting verification:
Verification is optional. You can still use flatmate.com without verifying your ID — however, a verified badge on your profile helps build trust with other members.
Property Hub — shared household data
If you create or join a Property Hub (a private space for your household), the information you add there — such as chores, bills, rent tracking, a shared calendar, house rules, and the rental agreement — is visible to all members of that Hub.
We keep an audit log of activity within a Hub (for example, who marked a chore done or logged a bill payment) so your housemates can see what's happened. Hub data is only accessible to invited members and to our staff for support and moderation purposes.
You can subscribe to an ICS calendar feed for your Hub (chores, bills, rent reminders). Each feed URL contains a signed token so only you can access it. Your calendar app (Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, etc.) will fetch the feed according to its own schedule.
If you leave a Hub, your historical contributions (chores completed, bills paid, messages posted) remain in the Hub record for your former housemates, but your personal profile is delinked.
How we use your information
We use personal information for purposes consistent with why you gave it to us, or for a directly related purpose, including to:
- Operate the site and provide the services you've signed up for
- Let you communicate with other members through messages and video calls
- Moderate first-contact messages between members to reduce spam and abuse
- Verify your identity (if you opt in) and display a verified badge on your profile
- Process payments for paid plans
- Send you transactional emails (e.g. password resets, new messages)
- Send you marketing communications, which you can opt out of at any time
- Improve the site through analytics, bug reports, and user research
- Protect the rights, property, and safety of our members, staff, and the public
We may also use or disclose personal information where you have consented, either expressly or by implication.
Marketing
We may send you surveys or marketing emails about new features and other information we think might interest you.
You can opt out at any time — use the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of any marketing email, update your preferences in the Dashboard, or email [email protected].
If you opt out of marketing you'll still receive transactional messages (password resets, new message alerts, invoices, etc.) because those are required to run your account.
Your rights & choices
Access and correction
You have the right (subject to certain legal exceptions) to access and correct your personal information. Sign in and visit the Dashboard to review or change most details, or email [email protected]. We provide a copy of current-records data free of charge; a fee may apply if we need to retrieve archived data.
Data portability
If you have an account you can request an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including anything you've provided to us.
Deleting your account
You can delete your account from the Dashboard. Your personal information (name, email, profile) is removed from our active systems. We may retain some data offsite for administrative, legal, or security reasons, and content you've posted in shared spaces (messages, Property Hub history, reviews) may remain visible to other members for record-keeping.
How long we keep data
Listings, messages, and other content are retained indefinitely unless you delete them, so that follow-up messages can be matched to the original thread. Registered users can see, edit, or delete their profile information at any time.
Security & where your data is stored
We follow accepted industry standards to protect your personal information. Connections to our site are encrypted with SSL/TLS; passwords are hashed; session tokens use signed JWTs; sensitive operations require re-authentication.
No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, so while we strive to protect your personal information we cannot guarantee absolute security. It is your responsibility to keep your password confidential and change it if you think it's been compromised.
Personal information may be stored and processed in Australia and/or overseas. Some jurisdictions have different privacy laws than Australia — by using the site you consent to that transfer, processing, and storage.
Forums & interactive areas
The site includes messaging, listing comments, and other interactive features. Information you post or provide in public or semi-public areas may be visible to others, and we're not responsible for how others use information you choose to share.
Postings may be retained indefinitely. To request removal of a specific post, email [email protected]. Note that removal from a visible area does not guarantee deletion from backup systems.
Children & external links
flatmate.com is not intended for anyone under 18. If you are under 18, please do not use the site or enter any information.
Our site may link to third-party sites (including social-media features such as Facebook "Like" buttons). These sites have their own privacy policies; we are not responsible for their practices and encourage you to review their policies before interacting with them.
Changes & contact
Changes to this policy. We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be posted here with a new "last updated" date. Please review the policy whenever you visit.
Complaints. We take complaints about breaches of the Australian Privacy Principles seriously. Please contact us and we will investigate and respond within a reasonable time.
Contact us. Questions, concerns, or requests? Email us at:
© SuburbChooser.com Pty Ltd · flatmate.com · Australia