Privacy-Policy

Data protection information for visiting the website and the Property Search App 

This data protection information applies to the use of the website www.engelvoelkers.com/en (hereinafter referred to as "website" and the Property Search App, a mobile application for property searches (hereinafter referred to as “property app“ and is valid from 28 May 2020.

The following information applies to both the website and the property app, unless expressly stated otherwise. 

Engel & Völkers AG in its function of responsible authority (hereinafter also referred to as "Engel & Völkers" informs its users that 

by using the website, personal data about them will be processed, in particular:

- personal data (e.g. e-mail address, first name, surname, title, address, telephone number – in the following “data” or “personal data”) provided by users at the time of registration on the website (e.g. in connection with contact requests);

- personal data transferred from the user’s internet browser each time the user accesses the website and stored within log files, also known as server logs. This data comprises: IP address (Internet protocol address) of the accessing computer; name of the accessed site; date and time of access; related URL from which the user accesses the site; number of transferred data items; status report of successful access; session ID number; 

by using the property app, personal data about them will be processed, in particular:

- e-mail address, first name, surname, title, address, telephone number provided by users at the time of sending an enquiry;

- Whenever the app is accessed, the usage data of the respective app user is saved. This data comprises: operating system used and, if applicable, the browser type, current language setting of the smartphone, information about the Internet service provider of the user, name of the retrieved page and, if applicable, the origin page, date and time of retrieval, amount of data transmitted, status report on whether the retrieval was successful, session identification number. 

Purpose of processing

Engel & Völkers, as a responsible authority, 

processes the personal data of website and property app users for the following purposes:

- Fulfilment of user’s requests (legal basis is contract performance and the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers in transferring contact requests within the Engel & Völkers Group to the appropriate company. The above “Engel & Völkers Group” comprises Engel & Völkers AG and its domestic and foreign associated companies in terms of the German Companies Act Sec. 15 et seq., and the (master) licensees affiliated with this group of companies. A current listing of these licensees can be obtained here: https://www.engelvoelkers.com/de/unternehmen/standorte/); 

- The forwarding of e-mail newsletters (website only) on the company’s own offers and advertising by the company or third parties to the legally permissible extent or based on consent. (Legal basis is either the consent or the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers in direct marketing, providing this is in accordance with the data protection and competition rules);

- For the functionality and optimisation of the Engel & Völkers website and property app. (Legal basis is the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers in continuously improving the quality of the website and property app and ensuring its ease of use); 

- Analysis of the website and property app for determining user behaviour and for interest-based advertising. (Legal basis is the consent.); 

- Identification and possible blocking of users who have installed a so-called adblocker and who thereby block advertising. (Legal basis is the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers of providing users who do not block advertising with wholly or partially web-financed offers);

- In order to prevent fraudulent activities or misuse on the website or in connection with the website or property app and to observe the legal stipulations for secure websites. (Legal basis is the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers in eliminating faults, ensuring system security and identifying unauthorised access attempts or accesses.)

The legal basis for the processing of personal data is GDPR Article 6(1)(a), if the processing is based on consent, Article 6(1)(b) if the basis for processing is a contractual relationship and Article 6(1)(f) if the basis is the legitimate interests of Engel & Völkers. 

If the legal basis is your consent, you are entitled to revoke your consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of the processing carried out on the basis of the consent until revocation. If the legal basis is a legitimate interest, you are also entitled in principle to object to the processing of your personal data at any time for reasons arising from your particular situation. Article 21 GDPR applies in this respect. 

Nature of supply of personal data and consequences of objection

The provision of personal data by users is voluntary. They may freely decide whether to make personal data available to Engel & Völkers and may subsequently revoke their consent to the processing of personal data which have already been made available. Revocation may mean that the Engel & Völkers website is no longer usable.

Access to data

The personal data is processed by Engel & Völkers and (in respect of individual items) particularly by

Employees (permanent employees such as job-holders and independent property consultants) and consultants authorised to administer the website and property app and provide the associated services;

Third-party supplier companies (e.g. IT service providers, hosting providers, etc.) to which Engel & Völkers has outsourced processing services as part of a job processing agreement.