Privacy Policy - Louise Thompson & Co

Who I am: Louise Thompson & Co Pty Ltd (ABN 82 605 956 349), a short-term rental accommodation provider based in Western Australia. My website is louisethompson.biz and my contact email is louise@louisethompson.biz.

I handle personal information in accordance with Australia’s Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) administered by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

This policy explains what I collect, why I collect it (including identity verification for compliance and guest safety), how I use and disclose it, and your rights.

1) Scope

This policy applies to personal information I handle in Australia in connection with my website, booking channels, digital check-in, guest communications and on-site operations. It covers online and offline collection related to my accommodation services. I may update this policy from time to time; the latest version will appear on my website.

2) The information I collect

I only collect personal information that is reasonably necessary for my functions and activities (APP 3). This may include:

• Identity and contact: full name, date of birth, residential address, email, phone.

• Government ID details (for verification): driver licence or passport number, issuing country, expiry, and scanned images where you supply them via online check-in.

• Booking and stay details: reservation identifiers, property, dates, number of guests, special requests, communications with me.

• Payment and transaction information: booking amounts, status and method. Card processing is handled by my payment provider; I do not store full card numbers.

• Compliance and safety: records needed to satisfy legal and insurance obligations, incident logs, and where relevant, consents or restrictions relating to your stay.

• Technical data: IP address, device and browser type, pages visited, and basic analytics and cookie data (see Cookies below).

Where practicable, you may interact with me anonymously or use a pseudonym (APP 2), but I will usually need your identity to accept a booking or host your stay.

3) How and why I collect your information

I collect information directly from you when you make an enquiry or booking, complete online check-in, communicate with me, or use my website. I may also receive limited information via booking platforms or authorised agents you use.

I collect and use personal information to:

• Provide and manage accommodation: process bookings, check-in and check-out, housekeeping, maintenance, support.

• Verify identity and prevent fraud: confirm that the person staying is the person booked, reduce chargebacks, protect guests, neighbours and the properties, and meet record-keeping requirements under the Western Australian short-term rental framework.

• Communicate: booking confirmations, arrival instructions, urgent notices and service updates.

• Meet legal obligations: respond to lawful requests and comply with applicable laws and reporting duties, including the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme where required.

• Improve my services and website: analytics, quality assurance and product development.

Photo ID and government identifiers (APP 9)

I collect a copy of your government-issued photo identification (driver licence or passport) during online check-in to verify identity, prevent fraud, meet compliance obligations and help ensure the person staying matches the booking. I may also collect the associated government-related identifiers, such as a licence or passport number. I do not adopt any government identifier as my own, and I only use or disclose the ID image and related identifiers as permitted by the Australian Privacy Principles — for the purposes above, where required or authorised by law, or with your consent. I restrict access, apply reasonable security controls, and retain the ID copy only for as long as necessary for these purposes or as required by law, after which I securely delete or de-identify it.

4) Legal basis and consent

Under the APPs I collect personal information when it is reasonably necessary for my functions and activities (APP 3). I will seek your consent where required — for example, for certain marketing or when collecting sensitive information — and will otherwise rely on the APPs’ permitted uses and disclosures (APP 6).

5) Disclosure of your information

I may disclose personal information to:

• Service providers I use to run the business, including property management and reservation software, payment processing, digital guest guides, smart lock systems, email and SMS services, cloud hosting and IT support.

• Booking platforms if you book through an online travel agency or channel manager.

• Contractors engaged for cleaning, maintenance and property care, limited to what they need to attend a property.

• Regulators and law enforcement when legally required.

• Professional advisers and insurers for risk and claims management.

Some providers are located overseas. Where I disclose personal information outside Australia, I take reasonable steps to ensure recipients comply with the APPs or comparable safeguards (APP 8).

6) Cookies, analytics and third-party tools

I use cookies and similar technologies for essential site functionality and basic analytics — remembering preferences and measuring site usage. You can manage cookies through your browser settings. Australian privacy requirements focus on transparency and APP compliance; if tracking reasonably identifies you, I treat it as personal information and handle it under this policy.

7) Storage, security and retention

I take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure (APP 11), including encryption in transit where appropriate, access controls, and vendor due diligence aligned with OAIC guidance on securing personal information. I retain information only as long as needed for the purposes above or as required by law, and then de-identify or securely destroy it.

8) Access and correction

You may request access to the personal information I hold about you (APP 12) and request corrections if it is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading (APP 13). I will respond within a reasonable time. To make a request, email louise@louisethompson.biz.

9) Direct marketing

I may send you service messages and, with consent where required, limited marketing about my properties and offers. You can opt out at any time using the unsubscribe link or by contacting me (APP 7).

10) Children

My accommodation is intended for adults and supervised minors. I do not knowingly collect personal information from children without consent from a parent or legal guardian.

11) Data breaches

If a data breach is likely to result in serious harm, I will assess it promptly and, where it is an eligible data breach, notify affected individuals and the OAIC in accordance with the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.

12) Your choices

• Declining to provide certain information may mean I cannot accept or fulfil a booking.

• Managing cookies via your browser or device settings may affect site functionality.

• You can opt out of marketing at any time.

13) How to contact me or make a privacy complaint

Email: louise@louisethompson.biz

If you are not satisfied with my response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. See the OAIC website for current contact options and guidance.

14) Western Australian short-term rental context

Louise Thompson & Co operates within Western Australia’s short-term rental framework, including the Short-Term Rental Accommodation Act 2024 (WA) and associated regulations and planning reforms. These frameworks concern registration and planning and may require me to maintain certain records relevant to your stay. Nothing in this policy limits your rights under the Privacy Act and the APPs.

________________________________________

Last updated: 24 August 2026