1. Who We Are (Data Controller)

Akaal Construction is the Data Controller responsible for your personal data collected through our website (https://akaalconstruction.uk/) and during our general contracting and construction services.

2. Personal Data We Collect

We may collect, use, store, and transfer different kinds of personal data depending on your interaction with our site and services:

• Identity & Contact Data: Full name, email address, telephone number, physical site/property address, and postal code provided when requesting quotes or booking site surveys.
• Project Data: Architectural plans, site photos, building notes, and survey details required to assess structural feasibility and quote accuracy.
• Technical & Usage Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, pages visited, time spent on site, and referring URLs collected via cookies or web analytics.
• Communication Records: Records of correspondence, emails, phone calls, or contact form submissions.

3. How We Collect & Process Your Data (Legal Basis)

Under the UK GDPR, we rely on specific legal grounds to process your personal information:

4. Data Sharing & Third Parties

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information only with trusted third parties strictly necessary for our business operations:

• Sub-Contractors & Structural Engineers: Qualified trade specialists and engineers bound by confidentiality to execute your project.
• Statutory Authorities: Local Council Building Control, Planning Departments, and Thames Water (for build-over agreements or legal certificates).
• IT & Hosting Service Providers: Website hosting, database management, and email infrastructure providers.
• Legal & Financial Advisors: Accountants, insurers, and legal counsel as required for compliance and safety management.

5. Data Security & Retention

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, used, accessed, altered, or disclosed without authorization. Access is restricted to employees and contractors who have a business need-to-know.

Data Retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected:

• Inquiries & Non-Contracted Quotes: Retained for up to 12 months, then securely deleted.
• Active Build Contracts & Guarantees: Project files, structural calculations, and completion certificates are retained for 6–12 years in line with UK construction structural guarantee periods and limitation periods.
• Financial & Tax Records: Invoices and accounting records are retained for a minimum of 6 years to satisfy HMRC statutory requirements.

6. Your Rights Under UK GDPR

As a data subject in the UK, you possess specific legal rights regarding your personal information:

• Right of Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): Request deletion of your personal data where there is no legal requirement for us to retain it.
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request the restriction of processing your personal data under certain conditions.
• Right to Data Portability: Request the transfer of your data to you or another provider.
• Right to Object: Object to the processing of your data based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.

To exercise any of these rights, please email us at info@akaalconstruction.uk. We respond to all valid requests within one calendar month.

7. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website uses small text files called cookies placed on your device to improve functionality and analyze traffic:

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for core website navigation, security, and contact form processing.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand visitor interactions (e.g., Google Analytics) to improve user experience.

You can choose to disable or block non-essential cookies via your web browser settings. Disabling essential cookies may impact certain website functions.

8. Complaints & Regulatory Authority

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal data, we encourage you to contact us directly so we can resolve the issue.

You also have the right to lodge a formal complaint at any time with the UK data protection supervisory authority: