Peaceful flatmates.
One shared room.

Effective Date: 21 April 2026

Symbio (“we”, “us”, or “our”) operates the Symbio mobile app and the website at symbioflat.com (together, the “Service”). We built Symbio to help flatmates live together better — fairly, collaboratively, and peacefully. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your information.

1. Information We Collect

Information you give us

• Account details: name, email address, password (or social login credentials), profile photo, and preferences.
• Flat data: when you create or join a flat you share rules, chores, expenses, receipts, calendar events, shopping lists, chat messages, announcements, and dispute/evidence submissions (photos, descriptions, etc.).
• Communications you send us (support messages).

Information we collect automatically

• Usage data: device type, operating system, IP address, app version, and interaction data (which features you use most).
• Cookies and similar technologies on the website (for analytics and basic functionality).

We do not collect precise geolocation unless you explicitly enable it for reminders.

2. How We Use Your Information

• To provide the Service (manage your flat, calculate expense splits, rotate chores, send reminders and push notifications).
• To power the AI Mediator — we process the evidence and rules you submit to generate neutral, fact-based suggestions. The AI does not store or learn from your data beyond the current dispute.
• To personalise your experience and improve Symbio (analytics).
• To communicate with you (important updates, support).
• To comply with legal obligations.

3. How We Share Your Information

Within your flat

All members of the same flat can see the shared content you post (rules, chores, expenses, receipts, chat, disputes). This is the core of Symbio and is by design.

Service providers

We use Supabase (our hosting and database provider) and other trusted processors who help us run the app. They are contractually required to protect your data.

Legal requirements

We may disclose information if required by law, to protect rights, or in the event of a business transfer.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

4. Data Security & Storage

We use industry-standard encryption and Supabase's security controls. Data is stored in secure cloud servers (primarily United States with possible EU/AU options via Supabase). While we work hard to protect your data, no system is 100% secure.

5. Data Retention

We keep your data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. You can delete your account at any time from Settings → this permanently deletes your personal data (flat-shared data remains visible to remaining flatmates until they also delete or leave).

6. Your Rights

Depending on where you live you may have rights to: access, correct, delete, or export your data, object to processing, or withdraw consent.

• New Zealand residents: Privacy Act 2020
• EU/UK residents: GDPR
• California residents: CCPA/CPRA

To exercise any of these rights, email privacy@symbioflat.com. We will respond within 30 days.

7. Children's Privacy

Symbio is not intended for anyone under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from children.

8. International Transfers

Your data may be transferred outside New Zealand. We use appropriate safeguards (Standard Contractual Clauses where required).

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy. We will notify you via the app or email and update the “Effective Date”.

10. Contact Us

Symbio Flat
hello@symbioflat.com

Effective Date: 21 April 2026

These Terms govern your use of the Symbio mobile app and website at symbioflat.com (“Service”). By creating an account or using Symbio you agree to these Terms.

1. Who We Are

Symbio is a service that helps flatmates share a house fairly and peacefully.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a binding contract. You may only belong to flats where you actually live or have permission to join.

3. Your Account & Flats

• You are responsible for keeping your login credentials secure.
• When you create or join a flat via invite code/link, you agree to share certain data with the other members of that flat (see Privacy Policy).
• You may leave a flat at any time. The flat creator or admins can remove members.

4. User Content & Responsibilities

You own the content you upload (rules, photos of receipts, dispute evidence, chat messages, etc.).

By posting content you grant Symbio a worldwide, non-exclusive licence to host, display, and process that content only as necessary to operate the Service and the AI Mediator.

You agree not to:

• Upload illegal, abusive, or infringing content
• Harass or discriminate against flatmates
• Attempt to scrape or reverse-engineer the app
• Use the AI Mediator for anything other than genuine flat disputes

5. The AI Mediator

The AI Mediator is a neutral tool that references your flat's agreed rules and the evidence you provide. Its suggestions are not legal advice. You and your flatmates remain fully responsible for resolving disputes.

6. Payments & Expenses

Symbio provides expense-splitting calculations as a convenience. We are not a bank, payment processor, or financial adviser. Any actual money transfers happen outside the app.

7. Intellectual Property

Symbio, the logo, and all underlying code and design are owned by Symbio Flat Limited. You may not copy or modify the app except as permitted by law.

8. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account for serious breaches. You may delete your account anytime.

9. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

The Service is provided “as is”. We do not guarantee that flat life will always be peaceful.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Symbio's total liability to you will not exceed $100.

10. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

11. Contact

support@symbioflat.com

Symbio is currently in private TestFlight beta on iOS — we're inviting flats one batch at a time to keep the experience polished.

Want in early? Email us and tell us a little about your flat (how many of you, what you'd love to fix), and we'll send you a TestFlight invite when the next batch opens.

Android version is still in development — see "Coming soon" on the Google Play button. We'll launch publicly on both stores once the beta wraps up.

Symbio is launching on iOS first — Android is in active development and will follow soon.

If you'd like a heads-up the moment it lands on Google Play, drop us a line at hello@symbioflat.com and we'll let you know.