Who we are

Our website address is: https://acumen.co.bw.

Handling of Personal Information

Acumen Property Group is committed to observing its obligations under the Privacy Act.

What personal information do we collect?

Acumen Property Group collects personal information that is reasonably necessary to provide its services and to manage its relationships with clients and other parties.

The types of personal information collected will depend on the services being provided and the circumstances of collection. For example, for property transactions, we may collect personal information from the parties involved (including vendors, purchasers, landlords, tenants etc.) such as name, contact information (i.e. e‑mail address, home and office address, telephone and fax numbers), date of birth, gender, marital status, tax file number, driver’s licence number and expiry date, details of employment and/or occupation, and financial information (including bank account information, information about your assets, occupation and income, account balances and payment history). We also collect credit information, including from credit checks, to assess credit worthiness.

Acumen Property Group also collects personal information from members of the Group and other parties of the following kinds:

– Personal information of current, former and prospective corporate and consumer clients and suppliers, and individual contacts at current, former and prospective corporate and consumer clients and suppliers, including name, contact information, marketing communications subscribed to, wealth category, property requirements, property details (e.g. market value), strategy (e.g. opinions and decisions regarding exploitation of property assets), profile information, notes of previous meetings and viewings;

– in connection with the administration of supplier service matters, including communication with suppliers, evaluation of, and payment for, services, administration of internal systems, and, compliance with company policies and legal requirements, personal information including contact information, notes of previous meetings and telephone calls.

Acumen Property Group will sometimes need to collect personal information about individuals who are representatives of the organisations receiving APG’s services (such as business contact details). Acumen Property Group also collects personal information from job applicants seeking employment with Acumen Property Group.

If it is necessary to collect sensitive information from an individual, their consent will be obtained.

If you do not provide personal information when requested by Acumen Property Group, Acumen Property Group may be unable to provide you with its services.

How is personal information collected and held?

Acumen Property Group will collect personal information directly from the individual to whom it relates whenever practicable. This may be done verbally (e.g. in person or over the telephone), in writing (e.g. by letter, fax, email, application or other form) or through contact via our websites.

In circumstances where it is not practicable to collect the information directly from the individual, Acumen Property Group may collect the information via third parties. This may occur, for example:

(a) from the individual’s employer;

(b) from credit reference agencies or other credit reporting bodies and financial institutions or other credit providers;

(c) Acumen Property Group’s own records about you, from which Acumen Property Group may internally generate its own scores, assessments or deductions, particularly in relation to credit worthiness;

(d) from other agents and valuers who work with us;

(e) from property owners for whom we market properties or provide other services;

(f) from referees;

(g) from our contractors;

(h) from market research companies contracted by us to obtain information in relation to our services or from which we purchase mailing lists;

(i) from recruitment agencies;

(j) from publicly available information and databases; or

(k) from other members of the Group.

From time to time, Acumen Property Group may include links on its website to the websites of other organisations. Acumen Property Group is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of those other websites or organisations.

Personal information received by Acumen Property Group is held securely, either in electronic files on Acumen Property Group’s computer systems or in physical files held on Acumen Property Group’s premises.

Cookies (small files placed on a user’s computer when you access a website) are used on our website. Most web browsers allow you to control whether to accept Cookies. Unless you elect not to accept Cookies on your browser, the Acumen Property Group website will automatically place a Cookie on your computer to enable you to make full use of our website’s functionality.

How do we use personal information?

Acumen Property Group generally holds and uses personal information for the following purposes:

(a) to provide our services to clients;

(b) to manage third party relationships including with contractors and consultants;

(c) for security purposes (e.g. details collected at open inspections);

(d) to conduct marketing activities, including keeping individuals informed about our services and properties we are dealing with and direct marketing via social media;

(e) for the purposes of review and analysis of clients’ property requirements; communicating with clients regarding properties, opportunities and Acumen Property Group services they may find of value, communicating with clients to set up property viewings and meetings, providing ongoing advice to clients, including buying, selling, letting, management, development, investment and professional consultancy;

(f) for the purposes of the administration of supplier service matters, including communication with suppliers; evaluation of, and payment for, services; administration of internal systems, and compliance with company policies and legal requirements;

(g) to lawfully obtain credit information and to assess credit worthiness.

Disclosure of personal information to third parties

Acumen Property Group may disclose personal information to third parties – for example, to our contractors, customers/clients, franchisees, potential vendors, purchasers, landlords or tenants, media organisations, other agents and their customers/clients, owners’ corporations/bodies corporate, and to parties engaged to evaluate a property – for the purpose for which the information was collected or related purposes (such as to complete a transaction or provide a requested service).

Personal information may also be disclosed to advisers (including but not limited to solicitors), financial institutions and other credit providers, credit reporting bodies, government and statutory bodies, and to third party contractors engaged by Acumen Property Group (e.g. valuers, debt collection services, printing and mailing services, payroll and accounting services, auditors, information technology, marketing service providers).

Acumen Property Group may disclose personal information to other members of the Group (both within and outside Botswana) where necessary for our purposes.

Overseas disclosure

Personal information may be disclosed to overseas recipients, including but not limited to members of the Group. Overseas recipients are likely to be located in Africa.

Where we disclose personal information to another party, we will require the third party to use the personal information only for the specific purposes for which we supply the information.

Direct marketing, including via social media

Acumen Property Group may use and disclose your personal information in order to inform you of products and services that may be of interest to you, including via social media platforms. In the event you do not wish to receive such communications, you can opt-out by contacting Acumen Property Group’s Privacy Officer via the contact details set out  below or through any opt-out mechanism contained in a marketing communication to you.

Safeguarding your personal information

Acumen Property Group has technological and operational processes and procedures in place to protect personal information from misuse, interference and loss, unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.

How to request access or correct personal information

Under the Privacy Act, you have the right to seek access to and correction of personal information we hold about you, subject to some exceptions.

To request access or to correct your personal information, or to obtain more information about KAcumen Property Group’s privacy policy, you can contact Acumen Property Group’s Privacy Officer:

By telephone: +267 7230 2821

By letter to: First floor,Otse Building Botho Education Park, Gaborone Behind Game City, Gaborone, Botswana

By email: info@acumen.co.bw

Acumen Property Group will endeavour to respond to requests for access to or correction of personal information within a reasonable period of time.

Where we refuse access, we will where possible provide you with a written notice setting out our reasons for the refusal and the avenues for complaint about the refusal.

We may charge a fee for providing access to personal information. No fee is charged for the making of a request for access or correction.

How to opt out

If you do not wish to receive any further information from Acumen Property Group, including direct marketing materials as referred to above, you can contact the person named on the last communication you received from Acumen Property Group. Alternatively, if receiving emails from Acumen Property Group, you will have the option to unsubscribe from our mailing list by following the directions on our emails or you can opt-out by contacting Acumen Property Group directly via the contact details set out below.

How to get more information or make a complaint

Please direct any questions about this policy or complaints about a breach of privacy by Acumen Property Group to Acumen Property Group’s Privacy Officer who can be contacted:

By telephone: +267 7230 2821

By letter to: First floor,Otse Building Botho Education Park, Gaborone Behind Game City, Gaborone, Botswana

By email: info@acumen.co.bw

Any complaint should be made in writing. At all times, privacy complaints:

will be treated seriously;
will be dealt with promptly;
will be dealt with in a confidential manner; and
will not affect your existing obligations or affect the commercial arrangements between you and Acumen Property Group.
Acumen Property Group’s Privacy Officer will look into your complaint. You will be informed of the outcome of your complaint following completion of those inquiries.