Last updated: 26 September 2026
This privacy policy explains how Harpenden Life (harpendenlife.com, “we”, “us”) collects and uses personal information when you visit our website, contact us, subscribe to our newsletter, or add or review a listing. We are the data controller for this information under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
How to contact us
If you have any questions about this policy or how we use your information, please contact us using the form on our Contact Us page.
Information we collect
Information you give us
- Contact and enquiry forms: your name, email address and message. Business enquiry forms may also ask for your business name, business type, telephone number and website.
- Newsletter sign-up: your name and email address.
- Listings and events you submit: the details you provide about your business or event, and your contact details so we can manage the listing.
- Reviews: your name, email address, optional website, your rating and review text. Your name and review are shown publicly; your email address is not.
- Listing claims: the details you provide to show that you are entitled to manage a listing.
Information collected automatically
- Analytics: we use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the site, for example which pages are popular. Google Analytics uses cookies and collects information such as pages visited, approximate location, device and browser type.
- Technical information: like most websites, our hosting provider records technical information such as IP addresses in server logs to keep the site secure and working properly. When you leave a review, your IP address is stored with it to help prevent spam.
How we use your information
- To reply to your messages and enquiries (legitimate interests, or steps taken at your request before entering into an agreement).
- To send you our newsletter, if you have signed up (consent). You can unsubscribe at any time.
- To publish and manage business listings, events and reviews (legitimate interests in running a local directory, or performing our agreement with you where you add a listing).
- To understand and improve how the website is used (consent, where we use analytics cookies).
- To keep the website secure and prevent spam and abuse (legitimate interests).
We do not sell your personal information.
Who we share information with
We use trusted service providers to run the website, who process information on our behalf:
- Hostinger, our website hosting provider.
- Google, for Google Analytics and for the maps shown on listing pages. When a map loads, Google receives your IP address and technical information about your device.
We may also share information where required by law. Some of these providers may process data outside the UK. Where they do, they rely on appropriate safeguards such as the UK International Data Transfer Addendum or adequacy regulations.
Cookies
Cookies are small files stored on your device. We use cookies that are needed for the website to work, and analytics cookies (Google Analytics) to measure how the site is used. Analytics cookies are only set if you accept them in the cookie banner shown on your first visit. You can change your cookie settings at any time, and you can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Rejecting analytics cookies will not affect your ability to use the site.
How long we keep your information
- Messages and enquiries: for as long as needed to deal with your enquiry, and generally no longer than two years.
- Newsletter subscriptions: until you unsubscribe.
- Listings and reviews: for as long as they are published on the site, and for a reasonable period afterwards.
- Analytics data: according to the retention settings in Google Analytics.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law you have the right to:
- ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you;
- ask us to correct information that is inaccurate or incomplete;
- ask us to delete your information;
- object to, or ask us to restrict, how we use your information;
- ask us to transfer your information to another organisation; and
- withdraw your consent at any time, where we rely on consent.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk, although we would appreciate the chance to resolve any concern first.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be available on this page, with the date it was last updated.