Privacy
Privacy policy
This policy explains what ShelterFind does with personal information when you use shelterfind.co.uk.
Last reviewed: 14 September 2026
What this covers
ShelterFind is an independent UK directory of sheltered housing, retirement living and care options. This notice covers the public website, including searches, listing pages and housing guides. It does not cover a provider's own website, phone service or privacy practices after you leave ShelterFind.
The current public site does not offer visitor accounts, public comments, uploads, newsletter sign-up, payments or an online enquiry form. We will update this notice before adding a feature that changes how visitor information is used.
Who is responsible for your information
ShelterFind is responsible for the website processing described in this notice. For privacy matters, email privacy@shelterfind.co.uk or write to ShelterFind, Ferry Road, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS2, United Kingdom.
Information processed when you visit
- Search and filter choices
- Search terms and filters are sent to Sanity, our content platform, to return relevant directory results. We do not use them to build a visitor search history, for advertising or for profiling. Do not enter sensitive personal information into site search.
- Technical request data
- Like other websites, our hosting and security services may process IP address, browser and device information, request time and pages requested to deliver and protect the site.
- Guide checklist choices
- Optional checklist progress is stored only on your device using browser local storage. It is not sent to ShelterFind.
- Directory information
- Listing information comes from publicly available directory information and providers. See Data and sources for how that information is handled.
Why we use it
We use technical and search information to make the directory work, keep it secure, investigate faults and prevent misuse. Our usual lawful basis for this is our legitimate interest in running a secure, useful public directory.
We do not sell visitor personal data, run behavioural advertising or make solely automated decisions that have legal or similarly significant effects on visitors.
If you contact a provider from a listing, you deal with that provider directly. Their privacy notice, not this one, explains how they use the information you give them.
Sharing, storage and security
We use Vercel for hosting, Sanity for content delivery, and Cloudflare where enabled for DNS and security services. Those providers process technical data as needed to provide their services and protect the site. Sanity also receives submitted search terms and filters only to return matching directory content. We may disclose information where the law requires it or to protect the security of the service.
We keep technical records only for as long as needed for service operation, security, troubleshooting and legal obligations. Checklist choices remain on your own device until you clear them.
We use access controls and managed platform security features to protect the systems that run ShelterFind. No internet service can guarantee absolute security. If a personal-data breach creates a risk to people's rights, we will assess it promptly and make any notifications required by law.
Your privacy rights
Depending on the circumstances, UK data-protection law gives you the right to:
- ask for a copy of personal data held about you
- ask for inaccurate data to be corrected
- ask for data to be erased or its use restricted where the law allows
- object to processing based on legitimate interests
- ask for portable data where that right applies
To make a privacy request, email privacy@shelterfind.co.uk with “Privacy request” in the subject line. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office if you are unhappy with how personal data has been handled.
Common questions
Does ShelterFind use advertising or tracking cookies?
No. We do not currently use advertising, behavioural profiling or third-party analytics cookies on the public site. If that changes, we will update this policy before the new processing starts.
Does searching create an account or send an enquiry?
No. The public directory has no visitor accounts, public comments, file uploads, newsletter sign-up, payments or online enquiry form. A listing's phone number or website takes you to the provider; ShelterFind does not receive that conversation.
What happens to my guide checklist?
Checklist selections are saved only in your browser's local storage so they can remain checked when you return to that guide. They are not sent to ShelterFind. You can remove them with the Clear checklist button or by clearing this site's data in your browser.
Are listings or search results decisions about me?
No. Search and filtering help you browse directory information. ShelterFind does not use visitor data to make automated decisions with legal or similarly significant effects on you.