Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Rental Property Tools ("we," "our," or "us"). We operate the website rentalproptools.com, which provides free rental property investment calculators and tools for real estate investors.

This Privacy Policy explains how information is collected, used, and protected when you use our website. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about our practices.

By using our website, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our services.

2. Information Collection

What We Do NOT Collect

Rental Property Tools does not directly collect any personal information from users. Specifically, we do not:

• Require user registration or account creation
• Collect names, email addresses, or contact information
• Use contact forms or newsletter signups
• Store any user-submitted data or calculations
• Track individual users across sessions
• Collect financial information or payment details

What Third-Party Services Collect

While we don't collect data directly, we use third-party services that automatically collect anonymous, aggregated information:

Google Analytics:

• Page views and website traffic patterns
• Geographic location (city and country level only, not precise location)
• Device type (mobile, desktop, tablet) and operating system
• Browser type and version
• Session duration and pages visited
• Referral source (how you found our website)
• IP addresses (anonymized and not accessible to us)

Google AdSense:

• Ad viewing and interaction data
• Click behavior on advertisements
• General interests for ad targeting purposes
• Browser and device information

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, certain technical information is automatically collected by third-party services:

• Cookies: Small text files placed on your device by Google services
• Log Data: IP addresses, browser type, timestamps (collected by Google, not us)
• Usage Data: Which calculators you use and how you interact with them

3. How Information Is Used

Since we do not collect personal information directly, we use data only as collected and processed by third-party services:

Google Analytics Usage

We use Google Analytics to:

• Understand how visitors use our calculators and tools
• Identify which calculators are most popular
• Improve user experience and website functionality
• Detect and fix technical issues
• Analyze traffic patterns and trends
• Optimize website performance

Google AdSense Usage

We use Google AdSense to:

• Display relevant advertisements to visitors
• Generate revenue to support free calculator tools
• Provide ads based on general interests (not personal data)

What We Do NOT Do With Data

• No Personal Identification: We cannot and do not identify individual users
• No Data Selling: We do not sell any data to third parties
• No Email Marketing: We do not have email addresses and do not send marketing emails
• No Cross-Site Tracking: We do not track users across other websites (beyond Google's practices)
• No User Profiling: We do not create individual user profiles

4. Third-Party Services

Rental Property Tools uses the following third-party services. Each service has its own privacy policy and data collection practices:

Google Analytics

What It Does: Google Analytics is a web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic. It helps us understand how visitors interact with our website.

What It Collects: Page views, session duration, bounce rate, geographic location (city/country), device information, browser type, and referral sources.

Privacy Policy: Google Privacy Policy

How to Opt-Out: Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on

Google AdSense

What It Does: Google AdSense displays advertisements on our website. These ads may be personalized based on your interests and browsing behavior across the web.

What It Collects: Ad impressions, clicks, general browsing interests, device information, and cookies for ad personalization.

Privacy Policy: Google Ads Privacy Policy

How to Manage Ads:

• Adjust your ad preferences: Google Ads Settings
• Opt-out of personalized advertising: Digital Advertising Alliance Opt-Out
• Learn about interest-based ads: How Google Uses Cookies in Advertising

Third-Party Policies

By using our website, you also consent to the data collection practices of these third-party services as described in their respective privacy policies.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help websites remember information about your visit, such as your preferences and site settings.

How We Use Cookies

Rental Property Tools does not set cookies directly. However, our third-party services (Google Analytics and Google AdSense) use cookies to provide their services.

Types of Cookies Used

Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics):

• Track website usage and visitor statistics
• Measure website performance
• Understand how visitors navigate our site
• Duration: Up to 2 years

Advertising Cookies (Google AdSense):

• Display relevant advertisements
• Measure ad effectiveness
• Prevent the same ad from continuously reappearing
• Duration: Varies, typically up to 2 years

How to Control Cookies

You have several options to control or delete cookies:

Browser Settings: Most web browsers allow you to manage cookies through their settings. Here's how:

• Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
• Mozilla Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
• Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and data stored

Third-Party Opt-Out Tools:

• Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
• Google Ads Settings

Effect of Disabling Cookies

6. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We Do NOT Share Personal Data

Because we do not collect personal information directly, we have no personal data to share or sell. Our commitment to your privacy includes:

• No Data Sales: We do not sell any information to third parties
• No Data Brokers: We do not work with data brokers or marketing companies
• No Mailing Lists: We do not share contact information (we don't have any)
• No Tracking Networks: Beyond Google services, we do not participate in tracking networks

Third-Party Data Sharing

The only data sharing that occurs is through our third-party service providers:

Google Analytics and AdSense: These services may share anonymized, aggregated data according to their own privacy policies. This data is not controlled by us and does not include any information we collected directly (because we don't collect any).

Legal Compliance

We may disclose aggregated, non-personal information if required by law, such as:

• In response to a valid subpoena or court order
• To comply with legal processes
• To protect our rights, property, or safety
• To investigate fraud or security issues

7. Your Privacy Rights and Controls

Since Rental Property Tools does not collect personal data directly, you do not have data stored with us to access, modify, or delete. However, you have important rights and controls regarding data collected by third-party services.

Managing Google Analytics Data

Opt-Out Options:

• Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
• Disable cookies in your browser settings (see Section 5)
• Use privacy-focused browsers or browser extensions

Managing Google AdSense and Advertising

Control Your Ad Experience:

• Visit Google Ads Settings to manage ad personalization
• Opt-out of personalized advertising through Google's settings
• Review and manage your data: Google Privacy Controls
• Learn more: How Google Uses Information

Browser Cookie Controls

You can manage cookies and tracking directly through your browser:

• Clear existing cookies
• Block third-party cookies
• Set preferences for specific websites
• Use "private" or "incognito" browsing modes

GDPR Rights (EU Users)

If you are located in the European Union, you have specific rights under GDPR:

• Right to Access: Request information about data collected by third parties
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate data (through Google's tools)
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data (through Google's privacy controls)
• Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how data is used
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Right to Object: Opt-out of certain data processing

To exercise these rights regarding data collected by Google, please use:

• Google Account Settings
• Delete Your Google Activity

CCPA Rights (California Residents)

California residents have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to Know: Know what personal information is collected
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt-out of the sale of personal information
• Right to Non-Discrimination: Not be discriminated against for exercising your rights

Questions or Requests

If you have questions about your privacy rights or need assistance exercising them, please contact us at contact@rentalproptools.com. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe and help direct you to the appropriate resources.

8. Children's Privacy

Rental Property Tools is not directed at children under the age of 13. Our website provides financial calculators and real estate investment tools intended for adult use.

COPPA Compliance

We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). We do not knowingly collect any information from children under 13 years of age.

Key points:

• Our services are not marketed to children
• We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 13
• We do not allow children under 13 to submit information through our site (though we have no forms anyway)

Parental Notice

If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child under the age of 13 has used our website and that data may have been collected by our third-party services (Google Analytics or AdSense), please contact us immediately at contact@rentalproptools.com.

Upon notification, we will:

• Work with you to address the situation
• Provide guidance on removing any collected data through Google's privacy controls
• Take appropriate steps to prevent future data collection from the child

9. Data Security

Our Security Measures

We take the security of our website seriously, even though we do not collect or store personal data directly:

• No Data Storage: Since we don't collect personal information, there is no personal data stored on our servers that could be compromised
• HTTPS Encryption: Our website uses HTTPS encryption to protect the connection between your browser and our server
• Secure Hosting: Our website is hosted on secure, reputable infrastructure
• Regular Updates: We keep our website software and dependencies up to date

Third-Party Security

Data collected by Google Analytics and Google AdSense is protected by Google's security measures:

• Industry-standard encryption and security protocols
• Regular security audits and monitoring
• Compliance with international security standards
• Data centers with physical and digital security

Learn more about Google's security practices: Google Safety Center

Limitations of Internet Security

Your Responsibilities

You can help protect your privacy by:

• Using secure, up-to-date browsers
• Keeping your devices and software updated
• Using antivirus and anti-malware protection
• Being cautious about phishing attempts or suspicious links
• Managing your browser's privacy settings

10. International Users

Rental Property Tools is accessible to users worldwide. However, our website is operated from the United States, and data collected by third-party services may be processed in the United States or other countries.

Data Transfer

When you use our website from outside the United States:

• Your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States
• Data collected by Google may be processed in countries where Google operates data centers
• Different countries may have different data protection laws than your country

By using our website, you consent to the transfer and processing of data in the United States and other countries where our third-party services operate.

GDPR Compliance (European Union)

For users in the European Union, we and our third-party services comply with GDPR requirements:

• Legal Basis: Data processing is based on your consent and our legitimate interests in operating the website
• Data Minimization: We minimize data collection (we collect nothing directly)
• User Rights: EU users have rights described in Section 7
• Google's GDPR Compliance: Google provides GDPR-compliant data processing

Learn more: Google's GDPR Compliance

International Privacy Laws

We strive to comply with applicable privacy laws in all jurisdictions where our users are located. If you have specific questions about how your local privacy laws apply to our services, please contact us at contact@rentalproptools.com.

11. Do Not Track Signals

What is Do Not Track?

Do Not Track (DNT) is a privacy preference that you can set in your web browser. When enabled, it sends a signal to websites you visit requesting that they not track your browsing activity.

Our Response to DNT Signals

Currently, there is no industry-wide standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals. As a result:

• Our website does not specifically respond to DNT browser signals
• Third-party services (Google Analytics and AdSense) handle DNT signals according to their own policies
• We respect your choice to enable DNT, but its effectiveness depends on third-party compliance

Alternative Privacy Controls

For more effective privacy controls, we recommend:

• Using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
• Managing your Google Ads Settings
• Blocking third-party cookies in your browser settings
• Using privacy-focused browser extensions
• Enabling your browser's enhanced privacy or tracking protection features

How to Enable Do Not Track

If you wish to enable DNT in your browser:

• Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Send a "Do Not Track" request
• Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Send websites a "Do Not Track" signal
• Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Website tracking (Ask websites not to track me)
• Edge: Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Send "Do Not Track" requests

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons.

How We Notify You of Changes

When we update this policy:

• We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• The revised policy will be posted on this page
• For material changes, we may display a notice on our homepage
• The updated policy takes effect immediately upon posting

Your Acceptance of Changes

By continuing to use our website after changes are posted, you accept the updated Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the changes, please discontinue using our website.

Reviewing This Policy

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your privacy. You can always find the most current version at rentalproptools.com/privacy-policy.html.

Material Changes

If we make material changes to how we handle data (such as adding new third-party services or changing our data practices), we will provide prominent notice and may require your consent to continue using our services under the new policy.

13. Contact Information

We value your privacy and welcome any questions, concerns, or feedback you may have about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices.

How to Reach Us

For privacy-related inquiries, please contact us at:

What to Include in Your Message

When contacting us about privacy matters, please include:

• A clear description of your question or concern
• Relevant details (which section of the policy, which calculator used, etc.)
• Any specific assistance you need exercising your privacy rights

Response Time

We strive to respond to all privacy inquiries within 30 days. For urgent matters, please indicate this in your subject line.

Feedback and Suggestions

We appreciate feedback on how we can improve our privacy practices. If you have suggestions for making our Privacy Policy clearer or our practices more privacy-friendly, please let us know.

Additional Resources

For more information about online privacy and your rights:

• FTC Privacy and Security
• Electronic Frontier Foundation - Privacy
• California Attorney General - CCPA
• GDPR Information Portal

Thank you for trusting Rental Property Tools with your real estate investment calculations. We are committed to protecting your privacy and providing transparent, honest information about our practices.