Privacy Policy
Last updated: April 6, 2026
Overview
HousingAssist ("we", "us", the "data controller") collects minimal data necessary to provide our services. We do not sell personal data to third parties. We do not use cookies on our website.
Website Analytics
We use Umami, a privacy-focused, cookieless analytics tool hosted on our own infrastructure (analytics.jivx.com). Umami collects:
- Page views (which pages are visited)
- Referrer (how you arrived)
- Browser type and screen size
- Country (from IP, not stored)
- Custom events (button clicks, tool usage)
Umami does not use cookies, does not track across sites, and does not collect personally identifiable information. IP addresses are not stored. All data is aggregated and anonymous.
Telegram Bot (Tanu)
When you use the Tanu Telegram bot, we collect:
- Telegram user ID — a numeric identifier, used to maintain conversation history and saved listings
- First name — displayed in greetings, as provided by Telegram
- Language code — your Telegram language setting, used to tailor responses
- Messages — your conversations with Tanu are stored to provide context in follow-up messages
- Saved listings — listings you bookmark are stored in your account
- Preferences — budget, preferred wards, and layout preferences you share
- Alert settings — if you set up listing alerts, your ward/layout/budget criteria are stored to match new listings
We do not collect your phone number, email, or Telegram username (unless you provide it).
Email Subscription
If you subscribe to our email series via the blog, we collect your email address. This data is stored in our self-hosted Listmonk instance and is not shared with third parties. Emails are sent via Amazon SES.
- Double opt-in — you must confirm your email before receiving any messages
- Content — a fixed series of emails about renting in Japan, sent over approximately 14 days
- Unsubscribe — every email includes an unsubscribe link. One click, immediate removal
- No tracking pixels — we do not use open-tracking or click-tracking in drip emails
Payment Data
Tanuki Plus subscriptions are processed through Telegram's built-in payment system. We do not store credit card numbers or payment details. Telegram and its payment provider handle all payment processing.
AI Processing
Your messages to Tanu are sent to Anthropic's Claude API for processing. Messages are sent with your Telegram user ID for context but not your name or other personal details. Anthropic's privacy policy governs how they handle API inputs. Per their commercial terms, API inputs are not used to train their models.
Listing URL Checks
When you paste a listing URL for analysis, we fetch the listing page via a third-party service (Zyte API) to extract listing details. The URL and extracted data may be cached for up to 24 hours. Parsed listing data is stored anonymously in our analytics database without any link to your user identity.
Data Retention
- Conversation history — retained to provide context. You can request deletion.
- Saved listings — retained until you delete them or request account deletion.
- Analytics data — aggregated, anonymous, retained indefinitely.
- Listing observations — anonymized market data, no personal information.
- Email subscriptions — retained until you unsubscribe. Email address is deleted upon unsubscription.
Your Rights
You can:
- Request a copy of your stored data
- Request deletion of your conversation history and saved listings
- Stop using the bot at any time (no data is collected after you stop)
To exercise these rights, send /feedback delete my data in the Tanu bot or contact us via Telegram.
Third-Party Services
| Service | Purpose | Data shared |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropic (Claude API) | AI responses | Message text, user ID |
| Telegram | Bot platform | Per Telegram's privacy policy |
| Zyte API | Listing page fetching | Listing URLs only |
| Umami (self-hosted) | Website analytics | Anonymous page views |
| Listmonk (self-hosted) | Email subscriptions | Email address |
| Amazon SES | Email delivery | Email address, message content |
Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)
If you are in the EU/EEA, we process your data under the following legal bases:
- Contract performance — processing your messages and preferences to provide the Tanu bot service you requested
- Legitimate interest — anonymous analytics to improve our website and services
- Consent — you initiate contact with the bot and provide information voluntarily
International Data Transfers
Your data may be processed outside Japan and the EEA by our third-party service providers:
- Anthropic (Claude API) — processed in the United States
- Telegram — servers distributed globally per Telegram's infrastructure
- Zyte (listing URL fetching) — EU-based
These providers maintain data protection standards consistent with their published privacy policies.
Children
Our services are not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect data from children.
Changes
We may update this policy. We will notify active bot users of material changes via Telegram message. Continued use after notification constitutes acceptance.
Contact
Privacy questions: Telegram or email hello@housingassist.com.
If you are in the EU, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.