Privacy Policy
Last updated: October 2026
Nyumba ("we," "us," "our") operates the Nyumba property listings marketplace at nyumbayanthu.com. This policy explains what personal data we collect, why, and what choices you have. Nyumba is operated by Cubic Analytica.
What we collect
What we collect depends on how you use Nyumba:
| If you... | We collect |
|---|---|
| Create an account | Name, email address, phone number, and a password (stored as an irreversible hash — we never store or can see your actual password) |
| List a property | The listing details you enter (title, price, location, description, amenities) and any photos you upload |
| Pay a listing fee | A record of the amount and payment status. We do not collect or store your card, mobile money number, or other payment details ourselves — those go directly to our payment processor, PayChangu |
| Contact a lister, or save a listing | Your message content, and which listings you've saved |
| Request to book a short-term stay | The dates you choose, the number of guests, your name, phone number and email, and any message you write to the host. The host sees these. If the host accepts, you can see the host's name, phone number and email |
| Message our support team | The messages you send us and our replies, linked to your account |
| Sign in with a phone number | A one-time verification code is sent to confirm the number is yours |
| Use the site generally | A login session token stored in your browser, so you stay signed in |
How we use it
- To operate the marketplace — showing listings, letting you save and inquire about them
- To review and approve new accounts and listings before they go live
- To process listing fee payments through PayChangu
- To send account-related emails: confirming your email address, approval notices, password resets, and messages from other users about your listings
- To keep the platform secure and prevent abuse
Who we share it with
We don't sell personal data. We share the minimum necessary with the services that make Nyumba work:
- PayChangu — processes listing fee payments (mobile money and card)
- Google Maps — powers the map view; loading it shares standard technical data with Google under their own privacy policy
- Our email and SMS providers — deliver account and notification messages on our behalf
- Hosts of short-term stays — when you request a stay, the host sees your name, contact details, dates and message so they can decide. Nyumba doesn't take payment for stays: if a host accepts, you arrange payment with them directly
- Our hosting provider — stores the data described above on servers we control
A lister's email address is never shown publicly on the site. When you contact a lister through Nyumba, we relay your message by email — the lister doesn't see your email address unless you choose to share it in your message, or reply to that email directly.
Your rights
Malawi's Data Protection Act, 2024 gives you rights over your personal data, including the right to access, correct, or request deletion of the data we hold about you. To exercise any of these, contact us using the details below. If you believe we haven't handled your data properly, you can also raise it with the Malawi Data Protection Authority (dpa.mw).
How long we keep data
We keep account and listing data for as long as your account is active. If you'd like your account and associated data deleted, contact us and we'll process that request, subject to any records we're required to keep for legal, tax, or fraud-prevention reasons (for example, payment records).
Security
Passwords are never stored in readable form. All traffic to Nyumba is encrypted (HTTPS). We limit access to personal data to what's needed to operate the platform. No system is perfectly secure, but we take reasonable, industry-standard steps to protect your information.
Children
Nyumba isn't directed at children, and we don't knowingly collect data from anyone under 18.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, we'll update the date at the top of this page. Significant changes will be communicated to registered users by email.
Contact us
Questions about this policy or your data? Email us at arthur@nyumbayanthu.com.
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