Privacy notice
Last updated: 4 November 2026
This notice explains what we do with your details when you join our kit list, contact us or, once ordering opens, buy a kit. We only ask for what we need, and we don't sell your details.
Who we are
Manchester Balcony Solar, trading as Manchester Balcony Solar, is responsible for your personal details (the "controller").
- Address: Newcastle upon Tyne
- Email: through our contact form
What we collect
When you join the kit list
- your first name and email address
- your postcode, if you add it
- the kit or page you signed up from
- when you signed up, and the wording you agreed to
When you contact us Your name, email, postcode if you give it, and whatever you tell us.
When you use the balcony check, the fit check or the letter maker Nothing. They work in your browser. Your answers, measurements and anything you type into a letter aren't sent to us or saved. If you allow analytics cookies, we record that a check was used, its result and whether you rent or own. Never anything you type.
When ordering opens and you buy a kit Your name, email, mobile number, delivery address, the kit you order and the price, any delivery notes, and that you accepted our terms. Card details are handled by Square on its own secure page. We never see or store them.
When you browse Only if you allow analytics cookies: how you use the site, through Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity. See our cookie policy.
We don't need any sensitive information about you, such as health details. Please don't send it.
How we use it, and why we're allowed to
| What we do | Our legal reason |
|---|---|
| Send kit list emails | Your consent |
| Answer your questions | Our legitimate interest in replying to you, or steps you ask us to take before you buy |
| Take payment, deliver your kit and send order updates (once ordering opens) | To carry out our contract with you |
| Deal with cancellations, returns, refunds and faults | To carry out our contract, and to meet our legal duties |
| Check that only one kit goes to each household | Our legitimate interest in following the grid connection rules for plug-in solar |
| Contact you about a safety notice or recall | Our legal duties on product safety, and our legitimate interest in keeping customers safe |
| Keep sales and VAT records | Our legal duties (tax law) |
| Prevent fraud and misuse of the site | Our legitimate interest in protecting our business and customers |
| Analytics | Your consent (through the cookie banner) |
The kit list
The kit list is our email list for news about balcony kits: when they go on sale and the price, kit sizes and weights, and rule changes that affect flats.
We only add you if you tick the box to join. The box is never ticked for you.
Every email has an unsubscribe link, or you can use our contact form to leave. Once you leave, we stop straight away and keep only your email address on a "do not email" list, so we don't add you back by mistake.
Who we share it with
We use trusted services to run the site. They only use your details to do their job for us.
| Who | What for | What they see |
|---|---|---|
| Zoho (Zoho CRM, Zoho Flow and Zoho Mail) | Our customer records, the kit list and email | Kit list sign-ups, your messages, and order details once ordering opens |
| Cloudflare | Hosting this website, security, and a backup copy of enquiries and orders | Website traffic; enquiry and order details |
| Square (once ordering opens) | Taking payments and refunds | Payment details, name, email, order total |
| Our delivery courier, or the kit's maker if it sends the kit to you (once ordering opens) | Delivering your kit | Name, delivery address, phone number, delivery notes |
| Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity | Site analytics, only if you allow cookies | How the site is used, not your contact details |
| Our accountant | Our accounts and VAT | Sales records |
We'd only share your details with anyone else if the law requires it, for example with HMRC or the police.
Where your details are held
Most of our services store data in the UK or the EU. Some, such as Cloudflare, Google and Microsoft, may process data in the USA or elsewhere. Where that happens, the transfer is covered by UK adequacy rules or by approved contract terms. Zoho stores our customer records and email in its EU data centre.
Manchester Balcony Solar sometimes works from Spain, so your details may be viewed from there. The UK recognises the EU and EEA as giving your data adequate protection.
How long we keep it
- Kit list: until you unsubscribe, or after 24 months without opening any of our emails.
- Proof of your kit list consent: for as long as we email you, and for 6 years after you leave.
- Messages that don't lead to an order: 12 months.
- Orders, payments and refunds: 6 years, for tax and accounting records.
After that, we delete your details or make them anonymous.
Your rights
You can ask us to give you a copy of your details, correct anything that's wrong, delete your details, stop or limit how we use them, or move them to another organisation where that applies. You can object to us using your details for our legitimate interests, and withdraw consent at any time, for example by unsubscribing.
Some rights have limits. For example, we must keep sales records for tax. We'll explain if a limit applies.
To use any of these rights, use our contact form. We'll reply within one month, free of charge.
Complaints
If you're unhappy with how we've handled your details, please tell us first through our contact form so we can try to put it right.
You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): ico.org.uk, or 0303 123 1113.
Other things to know
- We don't make decisions about you using fully automated systems.
- Our site is for adults. We don't knowingly collect details from anyone under 18.
- Joining the kit list is optional.
We'll update this page if anything changes and show the date at the top.