Last updated: 1 September 2026
Who is responsible for your information?
Darren Wilks, trading as The Basement Consultant, is responsible for personal information collected through this website and related enquiries.
You can contact Darren by email at darren@thebasementconsultant.co.uk or by telephone on 0784 135 2195.
Information we may collect
We may collect the following information when you use the website or contact Darren:
- Your name, email address and optional telephone number.
- The project location, project stage and type of consultancy service requested.
- Your message and any drawings, reports or other documents you later choose to provide.
- Records of emails, telephone calls and other project communications.
- Technical information in server logs, such as an IP address, browser type, requested page and date or time.
- Technical and interaction information processed by Google reCAPTCHA when the Contact page is used, including device, browser and application data used to assess spam and automated abuse.
- Website-use information collected by Google Analytics 4 if you accept analytics cookies.
Please do not send financial details, identity documents or sensitive personal information through the enquiry form.
Uploaded files sent through the contact form
If you choose to upload a file through our contact form, we may collect and process the uploaded file, the original filename, file size, file type and the date and time of upload.
Uploaded files may include photographs, drawings, survey notes, contractor proposals or other documents that you decide to provide in connection with your enquiry.
We use uploaded files only to review, assess and respond to your enquiry. We do not publish uploaded files on the website and we do not add them to public website pages, galleries, downloads or sitemaps.
Uploaded files are stored using a generated file reference rather than the original filename. Access is provided only through a controlled download link used for handling the enquiry. The download link must not reveal the server storage path.
You should not upload documents containing sensitive personal information unless that information is necessary for your enquiry.
We keep enquiry information and any uploaded files only for as long as reasonably necessary to respond to the enquiry, manage the potential client relationship, keep appropriate business records, and deal with any follow-up questions, legal obligations or disputes.
Where an uploaded file is no longer required, it may be deleted as part of normal enquiry administration or file maintenance.
Why we use personal information
| Purpose | Usual lawful basis |
|---|---|
| To read and respond to an enquiry, decide whether Darren can help and discuss possible work. | Steps requested before entering a contract and legitimate interests in responding to genuine enquiries. |
| To provide agreed consultancy services, communicate about the project and maintain business records. | Performance of a contract, legal obligations and legitimate business interests. |
| To protect the website, prevent misuse and investigate technical or security problems. | Legitimate interests in operating a secure and reliable website. |
| To protect the contact form from spam, fraud and automated abuse using Google reCAPTCHA. | Legitimate interests in operating a secure and reliable enquiry service. |
| To understand website use and measure enquiries or contact-link clicks through Google Analytics 4. | Your consent to analytics cookies. |
We do not use website enquiries for unrelated marketing unless you have separately asked to receive it.
Who may receive your information?
Information is shared only where it is needed for the purposes described above. Recipients may include:
- Our email delivery provider, which sends contact-form enquiries to us.
- Website hosting, maintenance, security and email providers.
- Google, as the provider of reCAPTCHA, when technical and interaction information is processed to protect the contact form from spam and automated abuse.
- Google Analytics, but only when analytics cookies have been accepted.
- Professional advisers, insurers, regulators or public authorities where necessary or required by law.
- Project professionals where you ask Darren to communicate with them.
External links to WhatsApp, LinkedIn and other websites are governed by those providers' own privacy information.
Contact-form security
The Contact page uses Google reCAPTCHA v3 to assess whether a form submission is likely to be genuine or automated. Google may process device, browser, application and interaction information for security, fraud and abuse prevention. This processing is separate from Google Analytics and takes place even when analytics cookies are rejected because it protects the enquiry function.
Google processes this information on our behalf as the reCAPTCHA provider. It is not used by The Basement Consultant for advertising or to decide whether to offer consultancy services.
International data transfers
Some service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. Where required, we use providers that rely on an adequacy regulation or recognised contractual safeguards.
You may contact Darren if you would like more information about the safeguard used for a particular service.
How long information is kept
Information is kept only for as long as it is reasonably needed. The period depends on the type of enquiry, whether work is commissioned and any legal, tax, insurance or dispute requirements.
Technical logs are kept for security and maintenance needs. Analytics information is retained according to the settings applied to the Google Analytics property.
Your data protection rights
Depending on the circumstances, you may have rights to access, correct, erase or restrict the use of your personal information. You may also have rights to object or to receive information in a portable format.
These rights are not absolute in every case. To make a request, email darren@thebasementconsultant.co.uk. We may need to confirm your identity before acting.
You may complain to the Information Commissioner's Office if you are unhappy with how your information is handled.
Automated decisions and policy changes
We do not use solely automated decision-making or profiling to decide whether to offer consultancy services. Google reCAPTCHA automatically assesses whether a form submission appears genuine or automated for security purposes.
This policy may change when the website, services or legal requirements change. The date at the top shows when it was last updated.