Privacy Policy

1. Data Protection at a Glance

1.1. General Information

This section provides a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit our website. Personal data is any information that relates to an identified or identifiable person. Detailed information on the processing of personal data when visiting this website can be found in section 2 of this privacy policy.

1.2. Data Collection on Our Website

1.2.1. Who is responsible for data collection on this website?
Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. The operator’s contact details can be found in the imprint (legal notice) of this website or in section 2.2 of this privacy policy.

1.2.2. How do we collect your data?
Your data is collected in part by you providing it to us. This may include data that you enter into a contact form.

Other data is collected automatically by our IT systems when you visit the website. These are primarily technical data (e.g., internet browser, operating system, or the time of the page view). This data is collected automatically as soon as you access our website.

1.2.3. What do we use your data for?
Part of the data is collected to ensure the proper functioning of the website. Other data may be used to analyze your user behavior.

1.2.4. What rights do you have regarding your data?
You have the right to obtain information free of charge at any time about the origin, recipient, and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have the right to request the correction, blocking, or deletion of this data free of charge. For this purpose, and for further questions regarding data protection, you can contact us at any time at the address provided in the imprint or in section 2.2. Additionally, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

1.3. Analysis Tools and Tools from Third Parties

When visiting our website, your surfing behavior may be statistically evaluated. This is primarily done using cookies and so-called analysis programs. The analysis of your surfing behavior is usually anonymous and cannot be traced back to you. You can object to this analysis or prevent it by not using certain tools. Detailed information on this can be found in the following sections.

2. General Information and Your Rights

2.1. Data Protection

The operators of this website take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with the statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy.

When you use this website, various personal data is processed. According to Art. 4 No. 1 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), personal data includes all information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. This privacy policy explains which personal data we process and for what purposes.

2.2. Information About the Responsible Party

The data controller responsible for processing data on this website is:

Christopher Ehren
Hülsstr. 11
44625 Herne
Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 2325 / 9689974
Email: immo@immobilien-ehren.de

(Hereinafter referred to as “website operator,” “we,” or “us”)

The data controller is the natural or legal person who, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data according to Art. 4 No. 7 GDPR.

2.3. Objection to Unsolicited Advertising Emails

We hereby object to the use of the contact data published in accordance with Art. 13(1)(a) GDPR for sending unsolicited advertising and information materials. The operators of this website expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of the unsolicited sending of advertising information, such as spam emails.

2.4. Your Rights as a Data Subject

2.4.1. Right of Access
You have the right to obtain information about the personal data we process about you at any time in accordance with Art. 15 GDPR. You can request this information by mail or email using the contact details provided above.

2.4.2. Right to Rectification
You have the right to request the immediate correction of incorrect personal data concerning you. Please contact us using the details above.

2.4.3. Right to Erasure
You have the right to request the deletion of your personal data under the conditions described in Art. 17 GDPR. This right applies especially when the data is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, in cases of unlawful processing, when you object to the processing, or when there is a legal obligation to delete the data under Union or Member State law. For details on data retention, see section 13 of this privacy policy. To exercise your right, please contact us using the contact details above.

2.4.4. Right to Restriction of Processing
You have the right to request the restriction of processing under the conditions outlined in Art. 18 GDPR. This applies, for example, if the accuracy of the data is contested by you for a period allowing us to verify the accuracy; if processing is unlawful and you oppose the deletion; if the data is no longer required for the purposes but you need it to establish, exercise or defend legal claims; or if an objection is pending and it is not yet clear whether our legitimate grounds override yours. To exercise this right, please contact us.

2.4.5. Right to Data Portability
You have the right to receive the personal data concerning you that you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format in accordance with Art. 20 GDPR. To exercise this right, please contact us using the contact details above.

2.4.6. Right to Withdraw Consent
Where we process your data based on your consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR, you may withdraw this consent at any time with effect for the future. A simple email to the address listed in section 2.2 is sufficient. The legality of data processing carried out before the withdrawal remains unaffected.

2.4.7. Right to Object
You have the right, for reasons arising from your particular situation, to object at any time to the processing of your personal data that is carried out based on Art. 6(1)(e) or (f) GDPR, in accordance with Art. 21 GDPR. We will stop processing your personal data unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds that override your interests, rights and freedoms or the processing is for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims.

2.4.8. Right to Lodge a Complaint
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority if you believe your data protection rights have been violated.

2.5. SSL or TLS Encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content—such as orders or inquiries that you send to us—this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. All forms embedded on our website use this encryption via iFrames. If you open the iFrame in a separate browser tab, you can recognize the encrypted connection by the lock symbol in your browser’s address bar and the URL switching from “http://” to “https://”.

When SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

3. Data Collection on Our Website

3.1. Cookies

Our websites use so-called cookies. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device by your browser. They serve to make our website more user-friendly, effective, and secure.

Most of the cookies we use are so-called “session cookies.” They are automatically deleted after your visit. Other cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them. These cookies enable us to recognize your browser upon your next visit.

You can configure your browser to inform you when cookies are set and allow cookies only in individual cases, exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general, and activate the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. Disabling cookies may limit the functionality of this website.

Cookies necessary for the electronic communication process or for providing certain functions you use (e.g. shopping cart) are stored on the basis of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the storage of cookies for the technically error-free and optimized provision of services.

Insofar as other cookies (e.g. cookies for analyzing your browsing behavior) are stored, these are treated separately in this privacy policy.

3.2. Server Log Files

The website provider automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files, which your browser automatically transmits to us. These are:

  • Browser type and browser version
  • Operating system used
  • Referrer URL
  • Host name of the accessing computer
  • Time of the server request
  • IP address

These data are not combined with other data sources.

The basis for data processing is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR, which permits the processing of data for the performance of a contract or pre-contractual measures.

3.3. Registration on This Website

You can register on our website to use additional features. The data entered for this purpose will be used only for the purpose of utilizing the respective offer or service for which you registered. The mandatory information requested during registration must be provided in full. Otherwise, registration will be rejected.

In the event of important changes, such as to the scope of the offer or technically necessary modifications, we will use the e-mail address provided during registration to inform you.

The processing of the data entered during registration is based on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). You may revoke your consent at any time. A simple e-mail to us is sufficient. The legality of the data processing already carried out remains unaffected by the revocation.

The data collected during registration will be stored by us as long as you are registered on our website and will be deleted if you delete your user account. Legal retention periods remain unaffected.

3.4. Comment Function on This Website

If you use the comment function on this site, the time the comment was created, your email address, and, if not posted anonymously, your chosen username will be stored alongside your comment.

3.4.1. Storage of IP Address
Our comment function stores the IP addresses of users who post comments. As we do not review comments before they go live, we require this data to be able to take action against the author in the case of legal violations, such as insults or hate speech.

3.4.2. Subscribing to Comments
As a user, you can subscribe to comments after registering. You will receive a confirmation email to verify that you are the owner of the provided email address. You can unsubscribe from this function at any time via a link in the info emails. The data entered for comment subscriptions will be deleted if you unsubscribe. If the same data were submitted to us for other purposes (e.g. newsletter), they will be retained for those purposes.

3.4.3. Retention Period for Comments
Comments and the associated data will be stored and remain on our website until the commented content has been completely deleted or the comments must be removed for legal reasons (e.g. offensive comments).

3.4.4. Legal Basis
The storage of comments is based on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). You may revoke your consent at any time with future effect. A simple e-mail to us is sufficient. The legality of data processing already carried out remains unaffected by the revocation.

4. Analytics Tools and Advertising

4.1. Google Analytics

This website uses features of the web analytics service Google Analytics. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

Google Analytics also uses cookies, which are small text files stored on your device that enable an analysis of how you use the website. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is generally transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. Google will use this information to evaluate your use of our website, to compile reports on website activity for the website operator, and to provide other services related to website and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties if required by law or if third parties process this data on behalf of Google.

For more information about how Google handles your data, please refer to Google’s privacy policy:
https://www.google.com/policies/privacy

Data processing is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior in order to optimize both the website offering and advertising.

4.1.1. IP Anonymization
We have activated the IP anonymization feature on this website. This means that your IP address will be truncated by Google within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states to the Agreement on the European Economic Area before being transmitted to the USA. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be sent to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, compile reports on website activity, and provide other services related to website and internet usage to the website operator. The IP address transmitted by your browser in the context of Google Analytics will not be merged with other data from Google.

4.1.2. Preventing Data Processing via Browser Settings and Browser Plugins
You can prevent the storage of cookies by adjusting your browser software settings; however, please note that in this case, you may not be able to fully use all the features of this website. You can also prevent the collection of data generated by the cookie related to your use of the website (including your IP address) and its processing by Google by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link:
https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en

4.1.3. Objection to Data Collection
You can prevent the collection of your data by Google Analytics by clicking on the following link. An opt-out cookie will be set, which prevents the collection of your data on future visits to this website:
Deactivate Google Analytics

You can also opt out of the use of certain advertising cookies via the following sites:

4.1.4. Demographic Features in Google Analytics
This website uses the “demographics” feature of Google Analytics. This allows reports to be created that contain information about the age, gender, and interests of site visitors. This data comes from interest-based advertising by Google and from third-party visitor data. This data cannot be attributed to a specific person. You can disable this feature at any time through the ad settings in your Google account or generally prohibit the collection of your data by Google Analytics as described under “Objection to Data Collection.”

5. Plugins and Tools

5.1. Google Web Fonts

This website uses so-called Web Fonts provided by Google for a uniform presentation of fonts. When you visit a page, your browser loads the required Web Fonts into its browser cache to correctly display texts and fonts.

For this purpose, the browser you use must establish a connection to Google’s servers. This enables Google to learn that our website was accessed via your IP address. The use of Google Web Fonts is done in the interest of a consistent and appealing presentation of our online services. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.

If your browser does not support Web Fonts, a standard font on your computer will be used.

Further information about Google Web Fonts can be found at https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq and in Google’s privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

6. Data Sharing

In principle, your personal data will only be shared without your explicit prior consent in the following cases:

  • If it is necessary to clarify unlawful use of our services or for legal prosecution, personal data will be forwarded to law enforcement authorities and, if applicable, to third parties who have been harmed. This only happens if there are concrete indications of illegal or abusive behavior. Data may also be shared if it serves the enforcement of terms of use or other agreements. We are also legally obliged to provide information to certain public authorities upon request. These include law enforcement authorities, authorities pursuing administrative offenses punishable by fines, and tax authorities. The disclosure of this data is based on our legitimate interest in combating abuse, prosecuting crimes, securing, asserting, and enforcing claims, and insofar as your rights and interests in protecting your personal data do not outweigh these interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).
  • We rely on contractually linked third-party companies and external service providers (“processors”) to provide our services. In such cases, personal data is shared with these processors to enable them to continue processing. These processors are carefully selected and regularly monitored by us to ensure that your privacy is protected. Processors may only use the data for the purposes we specify and are contractually obligated by us to treat your data exclusively in accordance with this privacy policy and German data protection laws. The transfer of data to processors is based on Art. 28(1) GDPR or, alternatively, on our legitimate interest in the economic and technical benefits associated with using specialized processors, provided that your rights and interests in protecting your personal data do not outweigh these interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).
  • Where we use services from Google, Google also acts as a processor. In this context, data may be transferred to countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Google is certified under the EU-US Privacy Shield. On July 12, 2016, the European Commission decided that an adequate level of data protection exists under the EU-US Privacy Shield regulations (adequacy decision, Art. 45 GDPR).