RenovMate Privacy Policy.

1. Data Controller

RenovMate is developed and published by:

Aydin Can Polatkan
Address: Available in the App Store listing under developer information
Email: [email protected]

For GDPR purposes, Aydin Can Polatkan is the data controller responsible for this application.

2. Introduction

RenovMate is committed to protecting your privacy by design. This privacy policy explains how RenovMate handles data, including our AI features and subscription services.

The Short Version: Your renovation data stays on your device. We don't collect, store, or sell your personal information. AI features process queries securely without storing your data.

3. Data Storage

RenovMate stores all your data locally on your device:

• UserDefaults – App settings and preferences
• Local File System – Photos, backups, and documents
• iOS Keychain – API keys (BYOK tier) stored securely

Your data never leaves your device unless you explicitly choose to export or share it.

4. What We DO NOT Collect

RenovMate does not collect, store, or transmit:

• Personal identification information (name, email, phone)
• Project data, tasks, or renovation plans
• Photos or documents
• Usage analytics or behavioral data
• Device identifiers or advertising IDs
• Location history (location is processed on-device only)

5. AI Features & Data Processing

5.1 Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

When you use AI features (Pro or BYOK tier), we process your queries based on:

• Performance of Contract (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR): Processing is necessary to provide the AI assistant service you subscribed to.
• Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR): By actively using AI features and accepting our Terms, you consent to transient processing of your queries.

5.2 Pro Tier (Managed AI)

When you use AI features with the Pro subscription:

• Your queries are sent to our secure backend hosted in the European Union
• Queries are processed in real-time and not stored
• No conversation history is retained on our servers
• AI responses are generated and returned immediately
• We do not use your queries to train AI models

5.3 BYOK Tier (Bring Your Own Key)

When you use AI features with your own API key:

• Your API key is stored securely in iOS Keychain on your device
• Queries are sent directly from your device to your chosen AI provider
• We never see or access your API key or queries
• You are subject to your AI provider's privacy policy

5.4 AI Context Data

When using AI features, the following context may be included in queries to provide relevant responses:

• Project details (name, type, budget, deadline)
• Task information (name, category, status) when asking about specific tasks
• Contractor offer details when requesting offer analysis
• Location at city-level only (e.g., "Berlin, Germany" – never your full street address)

This data is only sent when you actively use AI features, is not stored after processing, and is used solely to generate relevant responses.

5.5 Why Location is Shared with AI

Your city-level location is shared with AI providers to enable accurate, region-specific assistance:

• Cost Estimates: Labor rates and material prices vary significantly between regions
• Material Recommendations: Building materials and standards differ by country and climate
• Permit Guidance: Building codes and permit requirements are location-specific
• Contractor Insights: Market rates and availability depend on your local area

We only share your city/region – your exact street address is never transmitted to AI providers.

6. Data Retention

We do not store any personal data on our servers. Specifically:

• Local Data: All app data is retained only on your device and is deleted when you delete the app.
• AI Queries (Pro Tier): Queries are processed transiently and immediately discarded after generating a response. No logs are retained.
• Subscription Data: Apple manages subscription status. We only receive confirmation of active subscriptions, not personal details.

You control your data retention. Delete the app to remove all locally stored data.

7. Location Services

RenovMate uses location services for time tracking with geofencing:

7.1 How It Works

• You set a project location (address and geofence radius)
• The app monitors when you enter/exit the geofence area
• Time logs are recorded locally on your device
• All location processing happens on-device

7.2 Location Data

• Location data is never transmitted to external servers
• Time logs and visit history are stored locally only
• You can disable location tracking at any time
• Deleting the app removes all location data

7.3 Background Location

For geofencing to work, the app requires "Always" location permission. This allows the app to detect when you arrive at or leave your project site, even when the app is not actively open. Location data is only used for time tracking and never leaves your device.

8. Device Permissions

RenovMate requests the following permissions. All are optional:

Camera Access

Purpose: Capture before/after photos and document progress.
Data Usage: Photos are stored locally only and never transmitted.

Photo Library Access

Purpose: Save and retrieve renovation photos.
Data Usage: All operations are local to your device.

Location Access (Always)

Purpose: Automatic time tracking with geofencing.
Data Usage: Location data is processed on-device only and never transmitted.

9. Third-Party Services & Data Processors

RenovMate does not integrate with analytics, advertising, or tracking services. The only external services used are:

9.1 AI Processing Backend (Pro Tier)

• Service: Secure serverless functions for AI query processing
• Location: European Union
• Data Processed: AI queries (transient, not stored)
• Purpose: Route queries to AI providers and return responses

9.2 AI Providers (BYOK Tier)

• Anthropic (Claude) – Privacy Policy
• Google (Gemini) – Privacy Policy
• OpenAI (GPT) – Privacy Policy

When using BYOK, queries go directly from your device to your chosen provider. Review their privacy policies.

9.3 Apple App Store

For app distribution and subscription management. Subject to Apple's Privacy Policy.

10. Subscription & Payments

Subscriptions are handled entirely by Apple's App Store:

• We do not collect or store payment information
• Apple processes all payments and manages subscriptions
• We only receive confirmation of subscription status (not payment details)
• Subscription management is through your Apple ID settings

11. Data Export & Backup

RenovMate allows you to export and backup your data:

• Backups are stored locally on your device
• Export files (.renovmate) contain your projects, tasks, and photos
• You control where exported files are stored or shared
• We have no access to your backups or exports

12. No Account Required

RenovMate does not require account creation or sign-in. During onboarding:

• Name and email fields are completely optional
• Any information entered is stored locally only
• Skip these fields and a default name is assigned
• We never transmit onboarding information

13. Data Security

Your data security depends on your device's security:

• Device Lock: Use a strong passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID
• iOS Security: RenovMate relies on iOS's built-in security
• App Sandbox: Your data is protected by iOS app sandboxing
• Encryption: If device encryption is enabled, your data is encrypted at rest
• Keychain: API keys are stored in iOS Keychain with hardware-level security

Security Incidents

In the unlikely event of a security incident affecting our backend infrastructure (Pro tier), no personal data would be compromised since we store no user data. However, we will notify users in compliance with GDPR Article 34 requirements if any incident could affect users.

14. Your Rights Under GDPR

As a user in the European Union, you have the following rights:

14.1 Right of Access (Art. 15)

You can request information about what data we process. Since we don't store personal data, all your data is locally on your device.

14.2 Right to Rectification (Art. 16)

Edit any data directly within the app on your device.

14.3 Right to Erasure (Art. 17)

Delete the app to remove all data, or delete individual items within the app.

14.4 Right to Data Portability (Art. 20)

Export your data anytime using the backup feature.

14.5 Right to Object (Art. 21)

You can stop using AI features at any time. No processing occurs without your active use.

14.6 Right to Lodge a Complaint

You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. In Germany:

Die Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit (BfDI)
Graurheindorfer Str. 153
53117 Bonn, Germany
Website: www.bfdi.bund.de

15. Children's Privacy

RenovMate is not intended for children under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect information from children. Since we don't collect data, the app can technically be used by anyone. However, renovation projects involve safety considerations and should be supervised by adults.

If you believe a child has provided personal information through the app, please contact us.

16. Website Cookies & Analytics

The RenovMate website (vanmoofer.com/renovmate):

• Does NOT use cookies for tracking or analytics
• Does NOT use Google Analytics or similar services
• Does NOT collect any visitor data
• Does NOT use advertising or retargeting pixels

The website is purely informational and does not require cookie consent.

17. International Users

RenovMate is available worldwide and operates identically regardless of location. Since all data is stored locally, there are no cross-border data transfer concerns for app data.

For Pro tier AI processing, data is processed within the European Union.

European Union Users (GDPR)

RenovMate complies with GDPR through privacy-by-design:

• Data Minimization: We collect zero personal data
• Purpose Limitation: All data stays on your device for your use
• Storage Limitation: You control data retention
• Right to Erasure: Delete the app to remove all data
• Data Portability: Export your data anytime

18. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), without regard to conflict of law provisions.

19. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Significant changes may be communicated through the app or website.

Continued use of RenovMate after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.

20. Contact the Data Controller

Questions about this Privacy Policy or your data rights?

Email: [email protected]
Response Time: Usually within 7–14 days