Who we are
Waterlodge UK Ltd trading as Waterlife is the controller of the personal information we use to provide our boat brokerage and related services. This notice covers the Waterlife website and enquiries made to Waterlife Lymington.
Contact Ian Watkins at ian@mywaterlife.com or write to Waterlife, South Barn, Efford Park, Milford Road, Lymington, SO41 0JD.
Information we use and where it comes from
We use information you provide when you enquire, request a viewing, ask us to find or sell a boat, or enter into a transaction. This can include your name, contact details, requirements, correspondence, boat particulars, ownership and transaction documents. Where necessary for a transaction or a legal requirement, we may request identity, payment or other supporting information.
We may also receive relevant information from a seller, buyer, your representative or a listing platform through which you contact us. Enquiries received through Apollo Duck may be imported from our Waterlife email account into the private enquiry manager, including your contact details, message, original enquiry reference and related follow-up notes. These records are not published on the website. Our hosting and security providers process technical information such as IP addresses, browser details, request times and diagnostic logs to operate and protect the website.
Why we use it and our lawful bases
- Enquiries, viewings and services: to respond, arrange appointments, understand requirements and take steps at your request before a contract, or perform our contract with you.
- Brokerage administration: to manage listings, communicate with buyers and sellers, keep appropriate records and resolve queries, relying on our legitimate interests in running a responsible brokerage where these are not overridden by your rights.
- Legal and security obligations: to meet applicable legal requirements, protect our services and handle claims. We rely on legal obligations where applicable, and legitimate interests for proportionate security and claims handling.
- Marketing: where we have your consent or another permission allowed by applicable law. You can ask us to stop at any time. An enquiry does not automatically subscribe you to a newsletter.
Website forms and boat matching
Our enquiry and valuation forms securely submit your details to Waterlife’s private enquiry inbox. Valuation photographs are kept private and used to assess your boat and respond to you. We store the contact details, message, boat reference and attachments you submit, together with the time and handling status. We use short-lived, hashed request identifiers to limit spam. The stock matcher sends your search criteria and written brief to our website to compare them with published listings. The current matcher uses filters and keyword ranking; it does not send your brief to an external AI model or make legally significant automated decisions about you. The search function does not save your brief as a buyer record. Technical security logs may be processed by our hosting provider.
If you submit a buyer requirements form with your contact details, we save your requirements in our private buyer CRM to help with your search. Valuation requests also create a linked prospective-listing record with your boat details and private photographs. Merely trying the boat search does not create a CRM record. Please avoid including sensitive personal information in the search box.
Who receives information
We share relevant information only where needed for the purpose: with a buyer or seller and their authorised representatives during a transaction; surveyors, marinas or other service providers where you request their involvement; and providers supporting our hosting, email, storage, security, accounting and professional advice. We may disclose information where required by law or reasonably necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal claims. We do not sell your personal information.
When you instruct us to market a boat, agreed listing information and photographs may be published on our website and selected advertising platforms. Private broker notes are excluded from public listings and stock feeds. Please tell us before publication if photographs or documents contain personal information you do not want disclosed.
External services, including WhatsApp
Choosing a WhatsApp link opens WhatsApp, operated by Meta, with a prepared enquiry. Your use of WhatsApp is subject to its own privacy terms. We receive your message and the profile or contact information WhatsApp makes available when you send it. External websites, social networks and your email provider have their own privacy practices.
International processing and security
Some technology providers may process information outside the UK. Where this involves a restricted transfer of personal information, we use the safeguards required by applicable data protection law, such as an adequacy decision or appropriate contractual safeguards. Contact us for information about safeguards relevant to your data. We use access controls and proportionate technical and organisational measures to protect information. No system can guarantee absolute security.
How long we keep information
We keep information only for as long as needed for its purpose. Enquiries that do not lead to an ongoing relationship are normally reviewed for deletion after 24 months from the last meaningful contact. Transaction and accounting records are normally kept for six years after completion or the end of the relevant accounting period, and longer where a legal obligation, dispute or claim requires it. We may retain a minimal suppression record to respect a marketing opt-out. Hosting and security logs follow provider retention arrangements and operational needs.
Your rights
Depending on the circumstances, you can ask to access or correct your information, request deletion or restriction, object to processing based on legitimate interests, and receive certain information in a portable format. You can withdraw consent at any time without affecting earlier lawful processing. You have an absolute right to object to direct marketing. Some rights are subject to legal exceptions.
Email ian@mywaterlife.com to exercise your rights. We may need proportionate evidence of identity. We normally respond within one month, subject to permitted extensions. You can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Cookies and changes
See our Cookie Policy for information about browser storage and third-party links. We review this notice when our services change and update the date on this page. Where required, we will bring material changes to your attention.