Client Terms of Use

1. About these terms

1.1 These terms apply when you use Homefree as a client, through our website at www.homefree.co.nz or our mobile app (together, Homefree). Homefree is run by Homefree Group Limited (NZBN 9429053457431), 4B Quail Close, Alexandra, New Zealand (we, us).

1.2 By creating an account or using Homefree, you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, please don't use Homefree.

1.3 You must be at least 18 to create an account.

1.4 Homefree is free for clients. Your advisor pays for their own subscription.

1.5 Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use and share your information, and forms part of these terms.

2. Homefree is a tool, not a financial advisor

2.1 Homefree helps you and your advisor keep track of your home loans, properties and finances in one place, and lets you explore “what if” scenarios, like how different repayment options might play out.

2.2 We don't give financial advice. Homefree is software. Nothing you see in Homefree, including calculations and projections you create yourself, is a recommendation from us about what you should do.

2.3 Talk to your advisor before you act. Calculations and projections are estimates based on the information entered and some general assumptions. They may not match what your lender actually offers, and they can't take your whole situation into account. Before making any decision about your loans or property, please discuss it with your financial advisor.

2.4 If you don't have an advisor linked. Some features that could be mistaken for advice are only available when you are linked to an advisor on Homefree. If you are not linked to an advisor, those features will be turned off.

3. Your account and household

3.1 Keep your login safe. Please use accurate details, keep your password to yourself, and tell us at support@homefree.co.nz straight away if you think someone else has accessed your account.

3.2 Households. If you are part of a household on Homefree, the other members of your household can see your basic profile and the financial information shared within the household. Only join a household with people you are happy to share that information with.

3.3 Keep your information up to date. Calculations are only as good as the information behind them. If something in your account is wrong, please correct it or let your advisor know.

4. Your advisor

4.1 It's your choice. You decide who acts as your advisor on Homefree. If you join without an invitation, we may assign you to an advisor, or you can nominate your own.

4.2 What your advisor can see and do. When you give an advisor authority (your Advisor Authority), they can view, add and update your profile and the financial information in your household. Your advisor may use that information, and reports or calculations from Homefree, in advising you. Once they take information out of Homefree, their own privacy policy applies to it.

4.3 Changing advisors. You can move to a new advisor at any time. To do this:

1. your new advisor must be a Homefree user; and
2. you need to send us a signed copy of your new advisor's Advisor Authority declaration, at support@homefree.co.nz.

4.4 What comes with you. When you move, you can ask us to carry your current position over to your new advisor. This covers your personal details, existing properties and current loans. It doesn't include calculations, proposals, loan history or the record of work done with your previous advisor.

4.5 What stays with your previous advisor. Your previous advisor keeps access to the information they held about you, so they can meet their own record-keeping and legal obligations. They are no longer linked to your account, and their own privacy policy governs how they use that information.

4.6 If your advisor isn't on Homefree. You can move to an account without an advisor linked, but some features will be limited or turned off (see section 2.4).

5. Your information and privacy

5.1 We look after your information in line with our Privacy Policy and the Privacy Act 2020.

5.2 You can ask to see or correct the information we hold about you, or ask us to delete your account, by contacting our Privacy Officer at gareth@homefree.co.nz.

5.3 We don't sell your information.

6. Using Homefree fairly

6.1 Please don't:

• use Homefree for anything unlawful;
• add information about someone else without their permission;
• try to access accounts or information that aren't yours;
• interfere with Homefree, test its security, or access it using bots or scrapers; or
• copy, resell or reverse engineer Homefree.

6.2 We own Homefree and its content. You can use it for your own personal purposes while you have an account.

7. Availability and changes to Homefree

7.1 We work hard to keep Homefree running smoothly, but we can't promise it will always be available or error-free. We may need to take it offline for maintenance from time to time.

7.2 We may change, add or remove features. Homefree also relies on services run by other companies, such as hosting and address search, which we don't control.

8. Our responsibility to you

8.1 Your consumer rights come first. Nothing in these terms limits any rights you have under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, the Fair Trading Act 1986 or any other law that can't be excluded.

8.2 Calculations and decisions. Subject to section 8.1, we are not responsible for any loss that comes from relying on a calculation or projection in Homefree, or from a decision you make, without talking it through with your advisor.

8.3 Your advisor's advice. Your advisor is responsible for the advice they give you. We are not responsible for their advice or services.

8.4 Other limits. Subject to section 8.1, we are not liable for any indirect loss, or for loss of profit or opportunity, arising from your use of Homefree.

9. Closing or suspending your account

9.1 You can leave any time. You can ask us to delete your account at any time. When we delete it, we delete your personal and financial data as described in our Privacy Policy. Some records, such as the audit trail and information your advisor holds, are kept as that policy explains.

9.2 When we may suspend or close an account. We may suspend or close your account if you seriously or repeatedly break these terms, or if we need to in order to protect other users, Homefree or to comply with the law. Where we can, we'll let you know first. If we stop offering Homefree altogether, we'll give you reasonable notice.

10. Changes to these terms, and general

10.1 Changes. We may update these terms from time to time. We'll tell you about important changes by email or in the app before they take effect. If you keep using Homefree after that, the updated terms apply. If you don't agree, you can close your account.

10.2 New Zealand law. These terms are governed by New Zealand law, and the New Zealand courts can hear any dispute.

10.3 Contact us. Questions about these terms: contact@homefree.co.nz. Help with your account: support@homefree.co.nz.