Privacy policy
Effective: 1 September 2026
Showboards is built around the principles of South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). This page explains what we collect, why, and what you can do about it.
The short version
- You don't need an account to use Showboards, and we don't track you across other websites.
- We only ask for your contact details when you choose to give them: for the weekly list, the waitlist, or a viewing request.
- We never sell, rent or share your contact details with estate agents, advertisers or anyone else. The one exception is a viewing request, which goes to that one listing's agency because you asked us to send it.
- We don't collect the names or contact details of homeowners or sellers.
Who is responsible for your information
Finifunda (Pty) Ltd trading as Showboards, registration number 2017/381093/07, 10 Montpellier Close, Cape Town.
Information Officer: Conrad Nel, hello@showboards.co.za
What we collect, and why
When you browse
You don't sign up or log in. The first time you visit, your browser stores a random ID on your device. We record what happens on Showboards against that ID (which listings are viewed, saved, added to a route, shared, or tapped through to the agency's own listing) so we can count how the site is used, show agencies anonymous totals for their listings, and improve the product. The ID isn't linked to your name or contact details.
We don't use third-party analytics, advertising trackers or fingerprinting. Your filters are stored on your own device, not on our servers, and so is your route (see below).
Our hosting provider automatically records technical information such as IP addresses, browser type and request times. We use it to keep the site secure, fix errors and stop abuse (for example, limiting how often a form can be submitted). Logs are kept for 7 days.
Your location
Showboards only uses your location when you tap something that needs it, for example finding show houses near you or ordering your route from where you are, and your browser asks your permission first. Your location is used on your device for that purpose. We don't store your coordinates and we never track you in the background.
Your route, revealed addresses and show-day reports
- Your route is stored on your own device, in your browser. When you open it, your browser asks us for the latest show times so cancellations show up straight away; we never receive your route as a list.
- Some agents only show a house's address once a buyer adds it to their route. When you do that, we record that your browser's anonymous session revealed that address, so we can show it to you again and limit how many addresses are revealed in a day. We don't store your IP address for this.
- If you use "Start from my location", your location is used on your device to plan the drive and to notice when you've arrived at a stop. Your location is never sent to us; we only receive the fact that a stop was reached, without coordinates.
- If you tap "Not open?", we record the report with your browser's anonymous session, the house and the show day. We use reports to warn other visitors and to let the agent know. Reports never include your name or contact details.
- These records are kept in the same way as our other anonymous usage records.
The weekly list
If you sign up, we keep your email address, the area you signed up for, any suburb or price preferences you choose, and the date, time and wording of your consent. We use these only to send you the weekly list. Every email has a one-tap unsubscribe link.
The waitlist
If Showboards isn't live in your area yet and you join the waitlist, we keep your email address and the suburb you gave us, and use them only to tell you when Showboards goes live there. We delete waitlist entries 12 months after sign-up, or once we've told you we've launched in your area.
Viewing requests
Some agents keep a show house's address private until they know who's coming. If you request a viewing, we collect your name, phone number, email address and the times that suit you, and send them to that listing's agency only, so its agent can send you the address and propose a time. We don't add you to any mailing list unless you tick the separate box to get the weekly list. We delete viewing requests 60 days after the show date.
Once the agency has your details, it is responsible for how it uses them under its own privacy practices.
"Missing show house" reports
If you report a missing show house, we ask only for the property's address and agency. The report is linked to your anonymous browsing ID, not to you. ("Not open?" reports are covered above.)
Emailing your route
If you ask us to email your route, we use your email address to send it. We add you to the weekly list only if you separately choose to.
Information about estate agents
We show agents' names and business contact details as published by their agencies or on their listings, so buyers know who is running a show day and how to reach them. Agents who sign in to manage their listings give us a business email address for logging in. If you're an agent and want your details corrected or removed, email hello@showboards.co.za.
Who we share information with
We never sell or rent personal information. We share it only:
- with the agency you send a viewing request to, as described above;
- with service providers who run parts of Showboards for us, under their own data-protection terms: Railway (hosting and database, Netherlands), Resend (sending email, Ireland), Google (maps, address lookup and directions; when a map loads, your browser connects to Google, which receives your IP address and device information under the Google Privacy Policy), Titan (our email inbox, for messages you send us) and Cloudflare (domain name services);
- when the law requires it.
Information stored outside South Africa
Some of these providers store or process information outside South Africa, including in the United States and Europe. We use established providers that commit to protecting the information they handle on our behalf.
How long we keep it
| Information | How long |
|---|---|
| Weekly list subscription | Until you unsubscribe. After that we keep only your email address on a do-not-email list, so we never email you again by mistake. |
| Waitlist entry | Up to 12 months, or until we've told you we're live in your area |
| Viewing request | Deleted 60 days after the show date |
| Your route | Stored on your own device, in your browser; we don't hold a copy |
| Anonymous browsing activity | Kept in anonymous form to measure how show days perform over time |
| Revealed addresses | Kept in the same anonymous form as your other browsing activity; never linked to your IP address |
| "Not open?" reports | Kept in the same anonymous form as your other browsing activity; the warning on a listing lasts only for that show day |
| Server logs | 7 days |
Your rights
You can ask us to tell you what personal information we hold about you, correct it, or delete it. You can object to how we use it, and you can withdraw consent at any time. For the weekly list, just tap unsubscribe. Email hello@showboards.co.za and we'll respond within 30 days.
If you're unhappy with how we've handled your information, you can complain to the Information Regulator: inforeg.org.za.
Keeping information safe
All connections to Showboards are encrypted, access to our admin systems is restricted, and our database is backed up. No system is perfectly secure; if a breach affects your personal information, we'll tell you and the Information Regulator as POPIA requires.
Children
Showboards is meant for adults looking at property. We don't knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18.
Changes to this policy
When we change how we handle information, we'll update this page and the date at the top. If a change affects how we use your contact details, we'll tell weekly-list subscribers by email.
Contact
hello@showboards.co.za