Harper Sperring takes everybody’s privacy extremely seriously and we’re committed to protecting that wherever under our control. We endeavour to request only that personal information considered relevant to deliver the services you have appointed us to provide and to meet our legal responsibilities.
How do we collect information?
We make notes during our initial (telephone) conversation, meeting and/or when you use our website, e.g. when you contact us enquiring of our services, to enable us to formally provide a proposal for services and fees, based on an agreed project description, so you may engage us to deliver a service(s).
What type of personal information do we collect?
Firstly, we define personal information primarily as names, property addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and IP addresses.
These may depend on what information you are prepared/willing to provide, as it may include home or work details, e.g. addresses, telephone numbers, etc.
Further information is project dependant; it may include your budget aspirations, property ownership information (e.g. freehold, leasehold, etc), project or property history, etc.
How is your information used?
We use the information provided (both personal and otherwise) for the purpose for which it has been collected and to provide the personalised service you appoint us to deliver. This is likely to include:
- Contacting you by telephone, post or e-mail.
- Verifying your requirements and needs and how they can best be met.
- Maintain and update our records throughout the project, in accordance with any applicable legal and regulatory obligations.
How long do we keep your information?
We are required by legislation, other regulatory requirements and our insurers to retain your data where we have ceased to act for you. The period of retention is 15 years, as recommended by our insurers. However, should our involvement with you not progress beyond an initial conversation or meeting (i.e. no written interaction), your information is retained for no more than 3 months, before being destroyed.
Do we share this information?
We do not sell or distribute your personal information to third parties. However, if appointed to act on your behalf, we may disclose your details to those organisation/companies from whom services are required in order to fulfil our duties, or to assist us and you in progressing your project. This will never occur without your prior consent.
Our Staff who have access to your information, have a duty of confidentiality under the ethical standards and codes of conduct we are obliged to follow.
How can you access and manage your information?
As an individual, you have the right to access your personal information we hold about you and make corrections if necessary. You also have the right to place restrictions on it’s use, withdraw consent you have previously given and request complete removal.
Where requested, we will provide you with a written copy of your personal information (subject to verification of your identity where necessary) and will endeavour to honour any requests for amendments, or removal, where this doesn’t contravene any other need for us to store/record your details (e.g. where we need to retain archived information for legal reasons).
Our contact information
Should you have any questions or wish to discuss any aspect of your data, please contact the Principal at the practice.
Complaints Information
We would prefer to resolve any complaints you may have about how we handle your personal information, with you directly. However, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioners Office at:-
Information Commissioners Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
What our Clients Say
“We have found Harper Sperring Chartered Architects to be efficient and prompt in the service they are providing to us. Harper Sperring’s attention to technical and legal detail has been invaluable enabling two successful planning applications. Harper Sperring monitor developments through our build project to a successful completion. We highly recommend Harper Sperring if you looking for a Chartered Architect work with you from planning to completion.”
Paul Rees, Harper Sperring not only prides himself on working to extremely high standards, the GAI have worked with him for a number of years in both a supplier and client capacity, and, his attention to detail really is faultless. Paul puts a lot of thought and expertise into design and any issues or queries will offer various solutions of making the project work correctly from start up to completion. His knowledge gives us confidence and his service and delivery is exceptional, and, always within budget. We are proud to be associated with Harper Sperring.
