Privacy Policy
Higgins + Co Property Solutions
Last Updated: 7 July 2026
1. Introduction
Higgins + Co Property Solutions (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly, transparently and securely.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, hold, use, disclose and protect your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and, where applicable, our obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth) (AML/CTF Act).
This Privacy Policy applies to our real estate sales, property management, leasing and related services, as well as your use of our website.
The current version of this Privacy Policy is available on our website.
2. What Personal Information We Collect
Depending on the services we provide, we may collect personal information including:
- Full name
- Date and place of birth
- Residential, postal or business address
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Property ownership and transaction details
- Financial information relevant to a transaction
- Government-issued identification details (such as a driver’s licence, passport or Medicare card)
- Information required to verify your identity
- Biometric information (such as a facial image or short video) where electronic identity verification is used
- Tenancy application information, including rental history, employment details and references
- Information contained in agency agreements, contracts and related legal documents
- Any other information you choose to provide.
We only collect personal information that is reasonably necessary for our business activities or required by law.
3. How We Collect Personal Information
We may collect personal information:
Directly from you
Including when you:
- enquire about a property
- attend inspections or open homes
- engage us to sell, purchase, lease or manage a property
- complete forms, applications, agency agreements or contracts
- communicate with us by phone, email, SMS or in person.
Through our website
Including through:
- enquiry forms
- appraisal requests
- property alerts
- newsletter subscriptions
- cookies and website analytics.
From third parties
Where permitted by law, including:
- solicitors and conveyancers
- financial institutions
- mortgage brokers
- real estate portals
- employers and referees
- previous landlords or managing agents
- credit reporting bodies (for tenancy applications)
- government agencies
- publicly available records.
Automatically
We may also collect information through cookies, website analytics and similar technologies that help us improve our website and services.
We collect personal information only by lawful and fair means.
4. Why We Collect Your Personal Information
We collect, hold, use and disclose personal information to:
- provide our real estate and property management services
- facilitate property sales, purchases and leasing transactions
- manage tenancy applications and rental properties
- verify your identity
- comply with our legal obligations, including under the AML/CTF Act
- undertake customer due diligence and risk assessments where required
- detect and prevent fraud and other unlawful activity
- communicate with you
- prepare contracts and legal documentation
- maintain accurate business records
- improve our services
- send marketing communications where permitted by law.
5. Legal Basis for Collection
We collect personal information:
- where it is necessary to provide our services or perform our contractual obligations;
- where we are required or authorised to do so by law, including under the AML/CTF Act;
- where you have provided your consent (where required by law, such as for biometric identity verification); or
- where otherwise permitted under the Privacy Act.
6. Identity Verification and AML/CTF Compliance
To comply with our legal obligations, including the AML/CTF Act, we may be required to verify your identity and undertake customer due diligence before providing certain services.
This may include collecting information to:
- verify your identity;
- identify beneficial owners or persons acting on behalf of others;
- understand the nature and purpose of a transaction;
- assess money laundering or terrorism financing risk;
- conduct ongoing customer due diligence where required; and
- comply with applicable record-keeping obligations.
Where required by law or our AML/CTF Program, we may also request information relating to the source of funds or source of wealth associated with a transaction.
If you do not provide information reasonably required to verify your identity or satisfy our legal obligations, we may be unable to provide our services.
7. Electronic Identity Verification
Where appropriate, we may electronically verify your identity using accredited identity verification providers, including APLYiD Pty Ltd.
This may involve using the Australian Government’s Document Verification Service (DVS).
Your name, date of birth and identity document details may be securely checked against records held by authorised Commonwealth or State agencies, including passport, driver licence and birth registration authorities.
These agencies only return a verification result confirming whether your details match their records. We do not receive copies of government records.
8. Biometric Information
Where electronic identity verification is used, we may collect biometric information, including a facial image, selfie or short video.
Biometric information is collected only for identity verification, fraud prevention and compliance purposes.
As biometric information is sensitive information under the Privacy Act, we will obtain your consent before collecting and using it.
9. Disclosure of Personal Information
We may disclose your personal information where reasonably necessary to:
- our employees and authorised representatives;
- solicitors and conveyancers;
- financial institutions and mortgage brokers;
- valuers, contractors, photographers and property service providers;
- technology providers and identity verification providers;
- Commonwealth and State authorities through the Document Verification Service;
- AUSTRAC and other government regulators where required or authorised by law;
- prospective purchasers, vendors, landlords or tenants where appropriate;
- accountants, auditors and professional advisers;
- courts, law enforcement agencies or other authorities where required or authorised by law.
We do not sell your personal information.
10. Overseas Disclosure
Some of our trusted technology providers may store or process personal information outside Australia.
Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure your personal information is protected through contractual safeguards or other measures designed to ensure it is handled in a manner consistent with the Australian Privacy Principles.
11. Data Security and Record Retention
We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.
Our security measures include secure electronic systems, password protection, restricted staff access and encryption where appropriate.
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. Certain customer identification and AML/CTF records must be retained for the periods prescribed by applicable legislation before being securely destroyed or permanently de-identified.
12. Cookies and Website Usage
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve website functionality, analyse visitor activity and enhance your experience.
You may disable cookies through your browser settings; however, doing so may affect the functionality of some parts of our website.
13. Links to Other Websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites and encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.
14. Direct Marketing
We may use your contact details (excluding sensitive information unless you have consented) to provide information about our services, properties, newsletters, events and market updates.
You may opt out of receiving marketing communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in our communications or by contacting us directly.
15. Access, Correction and Anonymity
You may request access to the personal information we hold about you and request that it be corrected if it is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date.
Where lawful and practical, you may choose to deal with us anonymously or by using a pseudonym. However, this may not be possible where we are required to verify your identity, enter into contracts, manage a tenancy, comply with AML/CTF obligations or otherwise provide our services.
16. Data Breaches
If we become aware of an eligible data breach involving your personal information that is likely to result in serious harm, we will comply with our obligations under the Notifiable Data Breaches Scheme, including notifying affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner where required.
17. Privacy Complaints
If you have a complaint about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us using the details below.
We will acknowledge your complaint, investigate the matter and respond within a reasonable time.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
18. Contact Us
Higgins + Co Property Solutions
Privacy Officer: Darrel Higgins
Email: darrel@higginsco.com.au
Phone: (02) 4773 2024
Address: Shop 22, 2316–2320 Silverdale Road, Silverdale NSW 2752
19. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, technology or our business practices.
The latest version will always be available on our website.
By using our website or engaging our services, you acknowledge that your personal information will be handled in accordance with this Privacy Policy.