Privacy

Learn more about Social Media Terms of Use here.

Privacy Policy

BC Housing’s privacy policy applies to the information we collect in the:

  • Operation of BC Housing’s website
  • Application and other supporting information for residential builder licensing and owner builder authorizations 
  • Online store and event registrar
  • Online Housing Application
  • eRecruit system
  • Email subscription service
  • Online BC HOME Partnership Application
  • Contact us feature

As a public body, BC Housing is subject to British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. This is legislation that, among other things, governs the collection, use, disclosure, storage and retention of personal information. The Act defines personal information as recorded information about an identifiable individual, excluding business contact information. 

The privacy, confidentiality and security of your personal information are of great importance to us. We are committed to maintaining your confidentiality and respecting your personal privacy in a manner that complies with the Act.

More information:

Use of Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics and Siteimprove Analytics on this website. These web analytics tools help us gain insights into how our website is used, with a view to improving the online experience for customers. Information about your visit will be collected, such as the pages you accessed on our site, the links you clicked on, and the date and time you visited the site. IP addresses are anonymized so that they cannot be used to identify individuals.

Please review how Google collects and uses this data for further information. Please review how Siteimprove collects and uses this data.

Under What Authority Do We Collect Personal Information?

We collect personal information that relates directly to and is necessary for the administration of our programs and activities as permitted in Section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. We also collect some information under the authority of the Homeowner Protection Act.

What Personal Information Do We Collect?

BC Housing collects information as described below.

1. Web user

When you visit www.bchousing.org, our web server automatically collects a limited amount of information essential for the operation and security of our website. Some of this information (for example, your browser type) does not identify who you are, while other information, such as your Internet domain name or IP address, may identify you. The extent of personal identification depends, in large part, on the naming standards followed by your Internet service provider.

Websites may distribute small pieces of information ("cookies") to web browsers to assist you when you return to specific areas on the site. If you subscribe to the email notifications on BC Housing’s website, your user information is stored in a database, and is retrieved as needed to distribute email notifications. A cookie is only being used to identify you as an email notification subscriber for future sessions. There are no other cookies on the BC Housing website.

If you have concerns about this, you can change your web browser to not accept this information or display warning messages.

2. Social media collection notice


The personal information you post to connect with BC Housing through social media sites may be collected by BC Housing for the purposes of engaging and consulting with you.

Please be aware that the information you post on these sites is not under BC Housing’s control, and it may be stored outside Canada on servers not belonging to BC Housing. Be sure to read the social media site’s privacy policy to determine its privacy practices.

To protect your own privacy and the privacy of others, please do not include any personal information, including phone numbers and email addresses, in the body of your comment, or share personal information about others, including pictures.

If you have any questions about BC Housing’s collection of your personal information through social media sites, you may contact [email protected].

3. Applications for residential builder licensing and owner builder authorizations

Under the authority of the Homeowner Protection Act, we collect and use information, some of which may be personal information, to:

  • License residential builders and other persons required to be licensed under the Act
  • Authorize owner builders
  • Carry out research and education with respect to residential construction in British Columbia

4. Online store and event registrar

To facilitate better service and management of services that require payment, BC Housing has contracted with gifttool.com, a service provider of secure web-based e-commerce solutions. GiftTool collects information about you exclusively for the purposes of the online store and event registrations.

  • Guest registrant
    As a registrant, you will provide us with information, some of which may be your personal information, so that we can register you in an event.
  • Customers
    Once you become a customer, the information collected is required to allow you to interact with our service, to process your online transactions, to provide you with reports on activity in your account, and to contact you with information regarding our service. We share the information that is necessary with the third parties involved in processing your transactions (for example, GiftTool or the financial institutions with which you have your bank accounts).
  • Credit card numbers
    When you use GiftTool-enabled services to make an online financial transaction, the credit card billing information, including the name on your card, billing address and expiration date, is used to process the transaction. All this information is encrypted using SSL/TLS strong encryption, which is industry standard secure technology. Please also refer to GiftTool’s Privacy Policy and Security Policy.

5. Lingel Learning

To facilitate e-learning services that require payment, BC Housing has contracted with Lingel Learning, an established e-learning provider and host. Lingel Learning collects information about you exclusively for the purposes of the online store and event registrations.

  • Guest registrant
    As a registrant, you will provide us as well as Lingel Learning with information, some of which may be your personal information, so that you can register in a course.
  • Customers
    Once you become a customer, the information collected is required to allow you to interact with our service, to process your online transactions, to provide you with reports on activity in your account, and to contact you with information regarding our service. We share the information that is necessary with the third parties involved in processing your transactions. In this case, with PayPal.
  • Credit card numbers
    When you use PayPal to make an online financial transaction, the credit card billing information, including the name on your card, billing address and expiration date, is used to process the transaction. Please also refer to PayPal’s privacy statement which can be found here. No payment information is stored with BC Housing.

6. Online Housing Application

Applicants searching for subsidized housing have the option of using the Online Housing Application to submit an application to The Housing Registry.

The Housing Registry is a centralized database for housing providers that contains applicant information. Housing providers use the information to identify potential tenants when units become available. Individuals searching for subsidized housing can submit one application form to be considered for any available housing units in developments managed by The Housing Registry members. This means the personal information you submit using the Online Housing Application will be made available to The Housing Registry members.

The personal information collected in the Online Housing Application is used to:

  • Determine eligibility for subsidized housing through The Housing Registry;
  • Assess housing need
  • Identify housing developments that suit your needs

7. Applicant Satisfaction Survey

When you apply using the Online Housing Application, you will be given the option to complete the Online Housing Applicant Satisfaction Survey. The survey questions gather your feedback about the online housing application process and how it may be improved. BC Housing uses FluidSurveys to gather survey responses. BC Housing collects no personally identifiable information in the Survey.

8. eRecruit system

eRecruit is BC Housing’s online system to view and apply for jobs. If you are applying for employment through BC Housing’s eRecruit system, you will be required to provide personal information pertinent to your application for employment. The personal information you provide will be used by BC Housing hiring managers and human resources personnel to:

  • Review your application for employment
  • Assess your qualifications
  • Contact you for an interview if you are shortlisted

9. Email subscription

BC Housing uses an email notification system to send out email alerts on a variety of topics. People interested in receiving email alerts are able to subscribe by completing the subscription form.

Personal information is collected in accordance with section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) for the purpose of conducting email campaigns.  As well, BC Housing may use cloud based Third-Party vendors to support the service and your information may be stored or accessed outside of Canada. By continuing to access and/or use the Service, you consent to the access, disclosure and storage inside and outside of Canada of the information required to provide the Service, effective on the date you accept the Terms of Use.

If you have received an email alert from BC Housing that you didn’t register for or wish to no longer receive, please contact us at [email protected].

10. Online Public Engagement

To allow public engagement sessions to continue during the physical distancing required of all of us during the Covid-19 pandemic, this public engagement session will occur online.

The session is provided online by GoToWebinar, a software as a service product, offered by LogMeIn, for online meetings, collaborative gatherings and the like. When you participate in this session, your information is subject to LogMeIn’s Privacy Policy. LogMeIn is headquartered in the United States and maintains a global infrastructure. Information that LogMeIn collects and maintains may be transferred to, or controlled and processed in, the United States and/or other countries around the world. LogMeIn also collects and uses your information as described in the Privacy Policy.

The instructions for opting out of LogMeIn’s tracking or for cancelling your GoToWebinar account are available in LogMeIn’s Privacy Policy.

The session will be recorded and stored on LogMeIn’s infrastructure. It will also be posted publicly to the Let’s Talk Housing site hosted by Bang the Table on behalf of BC Housing. There the information will be subject to Bang the Table’s Privacy Policy.

By participating in this session, you acknowledge and consent to your information being held and processed by LogMein and Bang the Table as described in their respective privacy policies.

The personal information you provide is collected by BC Housing in accordance with section 26(c) and 26(g) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purposes of online public engagement information sessions. If you have questions about your privacy, please contact [email protected].

11. Event Registration

When you register for an event via Eventbrite, the information you provide will be stored in the United States and managed in accordance with Eventbrite’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Your registration on Eventbrite for an event hosted by BC Housing will be considered as your consent to the storage, access and disclosure outside Canada of your name, email address and the session you are registering for.

Your consent is effective on the date you register for an Eventbrite account. The personal information you provide is collected by and on behalf of BC Housing in accordance with section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. For questions about the collection of your personal information, you may contact BC Housing’s Privacy Officer at [email protected].

12. Online BC HOME Partnership Application

Eligible first-time homebuyers who are applying for down payment assistance loans use the Online BC HOME Partnership Application to submit an application to BC Housing.

The personal information collected in the Online BC HOME Partnership Application is used to identify and contact you and to determine your eligibility for the program.

13. Contact us

Various pages of our website provide email addresses at which you may contact us. Should you send us an email, any personal information you include is collected and may be stored by BC Housing. Email is not a secure method of communication. Therefore, if you intend to submit confidential, financial, medical, or other personal information, you may wish to either call the appropriate department or submit information and documents by mail or fax.

14. BC Housing Chat Bot

The BC Housing Chat Bot is a helpful tool used to guide customers browsing the Housing Registry website (https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/rental-housing/subsidized-housing). We ask that you do not enter personal information such as your name, contact information, or identity numbers.

All information provided to the BC Housing Chat Bot is stored in a Canadian cloud. 

Comments and questions sent to the BC Housing Chat Bot may be used to improve its responses in future conversations, but not all conversations are reviewed. Aggregate data on common questions asked may be used in data analytics.

To help us understand the value of this service for our clients, please provide feedback including any improvements you’d like to suggest. You can do so by clicking here: Accessibility | BC Housing
 

How Do We Protect Your Personal Information?

BC Housing has safeguards in place to protect your personal information against such risks as unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure or disposal.

Your information is protected using technical and administrative security measures to reduce the risks of loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure and alteration. Some of the safeguards used are firewalls, intrusion detection, physical access controls to our data centres, and information access authorization controls.

Personal information will be used by authorized staff only to fulfil the purpose for which it was originally collected or for a use consistent with that purpose. We do not disclose your personal information to other public bodies, third parties or individuals except as required or authorized by law or with your consent.

Email is not a secure method of communication. Therefore, if you intend to submit confidential, financial, medical, or other personal information, you may wish to either call the appropriate department or submit information and documents by mail or fax.

Requesting Access to Your Records

To obtain access to your records or to request a correction to a record you must make a written request. You may complete the Request for Access to Records Form or provide your request in a letter or email. Please be as specific as possible in describing the records you are requesting, so that we can ensure our response meets your needs. If BC Housing does not have custody or control of your records, we will provide you with the contact information of the organization that holds your records.

Requests can be sent to us:

  • In Person at BC Housing: Suite 101-4555 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 4V8
  • By Mail: Privacy Officer, 1701-4555 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC  V5H 4V8
  • Via Email:  [email protected].
     

Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns about BC Housing’s Privacy Policy, contact BC Housing’s Privacy Officer:

By mail: Privacy Officer, 1701-4555 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC  V5H 4V8
By phone: 604-439-4123 or toll-free 1-866-465-6873
By email: [email protected]