11. Cookies & Analytics

This notice is provided under section 18 of POPIA by FindHomes (Neighbourgood, 84 Harrington Street, Cape Town, South Africa). It describes everything our website stores on your device and every analytics data flow, and how to object.

Strictly necessary

• Sign-in cookies (names starting with sb-): keep you signed in. Deleted when your session ends or you sign out.
• Your cookie choice (fh_consent): remembers your Accept/Decline decision for 12 months from your last visit so we do not ask again.
• Payments: handled entirely on Paystack's own website; we load no payment scripts on ours.
• Search abuse prevention (fh_anon_id cookie and findHomes_anonUserId browser storage): a random identifier attached to search requests so we can rate-limit automated abuse and keep search available for everyone; also used to improve result quality. The cookie lasts up to two years and is renewed on each visit. It identifies a browser, not a person.

Functional

• Interface preferences and search history stored in your browser (sidebar_state, findHomes_searchHistory, fh_last_collection, calculator inputs, dismissed-prompt flags).
• Google sign-in: the Google Identity Services script offers one-tap sign-in on app pages.
• Maps: map tiles are delivered by Mapbox. The Mapbox library also sends aggregate usage telemetry to Mapbox (a US company) and stores a random identifier in your browser (mapbox.eventData); Mapbox states this data is not used for advertising or profiling. We currently cannot switch this off.

Optional analytics & advertising (your choice)

• PostHog product analytics (first-party; data processed by PostHog Inc., US Cloud, under a data processing agreement): page views, clicks, searches, error reports, and session recordings with all typed input and personal details masked. Uses a ph_ cookie and browser storage for up to one year.
• Meta (Facebook) pixel: if you accept optional cookies, we load the Meta pixel to measure the performance of our advertising by matching visits and enquiries to ads we run. It sets Meta cookies (_fbp, _fbc; kept for about 90 days) and Meta Platforms (a US company) receives this data. The pixel is never loaded on any other basis.

Providing this data is voluntary — if you decline, search and every other feature work exactly the same. If you decline (or ignore the banner), we set no optional cookies and keep only anonymous, aggregate visit counts that cannot be traced back to you (a daily-rotated, irreversible hash). Signed-in users: we process first-party product analytics on the basis of our legitimate interest in improving the service; the Meta pixel is not covered by that basis and requires your explicit acceptance. You can object at any time with the switch under Settings → Privacy, which applies to your whole account.

Your rights and how to object

You may access or correct your personal information, and you may object to analytics processing at any time: use the button below, the switch under Settings → Privacy (signed in), or contact our Information Officer (founders@findhomes.co.za, 079 908 3384) — we also accept objections on Form 1 of the POPIA Regulations. We honour the Global Privacy Control browser signal automatically. Complaints may be lodged with the Information Regulator (inforegulator.org.za, complaints.IR@inforegulator.org.za).