Privacy Policy

Effective Date: April 28, 2026 | Sohum Realty, Illinois, USA

At Sohum Realty, your privacy matters. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, protect, and share your personal information when you use our rental and property management services in Illinois, USA. We are committed to transparency, data security, and full compliance with applicable federal and Illinois state privacy laws.

1. Introduction

Sohum Realty (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of our tenants, property owners, applicants, and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal information in connection with our rental and property management services in the State of Illinois, USA.

By using our services, visiting our website at sohumliving.us, or submitting a rental application, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of our services.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal information:

Personal Identification Information:

Full legal name, date of birth, and government-issued photo ID
Social Security Number (for credit and background checks only)
Current and previous addresses
Phone number and email address

Financial Information:

Income verification documents (pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements)
Credit report and credit score (obtained with your written consent)
Bank account details for ACH rent payments
Payment history and rent ledger

Rental & Property Information:

Rental application details and rental history
Landlord references and employment verification
Lease agreements and addenda
Maintenance requests and property condition reports

Website & Technical Information:

IP address, browser type, and device information
Pages visited and time spent on our website
Cookies and similar tracking technologies

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Processing rental applications, including credit and background screening
Preparing, executing, and managing lease agreements
Collecting rent and managing financial transactions
Coordinating property maintenance, repairs, and inspections
Communicating with tenants and property owners regarding their tenancy
Complying with Illinois state law, federal law, and fair housing regulations
Enforcing lease terms and resolving disputes
Sending important notices, updates, and renewal information
Improving our website, services, and customer experience
Preventing fraud and ensuring the security of our operations

We do not use your personal information for unsolicited marketing purposes without your explicit consent.

4. Credit & Background Checks

With your written consent provided on the rental application, we obtain credit reports and background checks through licensed third-party consumer reporting agencies in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Illinois law.

If your application is denied based in whole or in part on information obtained from a consumer report, you will receive an Adverse Action Notice as required by the FCRA, including the name and contact information of the reporting agency used. You have the right to request a free copy of your report and dispute any inaccurate information.

5. Sharing of Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

Property Owners: We share relevant tenant information with the property owner as required for the management relationship
Service Providers: Licensed contractors, maintenance vendors, and technology providers who assist in delivering our services, bound by confidentiality agreements
Credit & Background Agencies: To verify applicant eligibility with your written consent
Legal & Regulatory Compliance: When required by law, court order, subpoena, or government authority
Emergency Situations: To protect the health, safety, or property of any person
Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of our business assets, with prior notice to affected parties

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard physical, electronic, and administrative safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

Encrypted storage of sensitive documents and financial data
Secure, password-protected systems with role-based access controls
Regular security audits and staff training on data privacy
Secure disposal of physical documents containing personal information

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you as required by the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, or as required by law. Specifically:

Active Tenants & Clients: Throughout the duration of the tenancy or management relationship
Former Tenants: Up to 7 years after lease termination for legal and financial record-keeping purposes
Denied Applicants: Up to 3 years in accordance with FCRA requirements
Financial Records: As required by Illinois tax and accounting regulations

After the applicable retention period, personal information is securely destroyed or anonymized.

8. Cookies & Website Tracking

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze website traffic. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use:

Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function properly
Analytics Cookies: To understand how visitors use our site (e.g., Google Analytics)
Preference Cookies: To remember your settings and preferences

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality. We do not use cookies to collect sensitive personal or financial information.

9. Your Privacy Rights

As a resident of Illinois or a user of our services, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements
Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of non-essential communications or marketing at any time
Right to Know: Be informed of what personal information is collected and how it is used
FCRA Rights: Request and dispute information in your consumer report

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at sohumliving.us/contact-us. We will respond within 30 days of receiving your request.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, please contact us immediately and we will promptly delete such information.

Occupancy of minors within a rental unit is governed by the Lease Agreement and applicable fair housing laws. Information about minor occupants collected solely for occupancy purposes is handled with the same level of care and security as all other personal data.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, payment portals, or service providers. This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected by Sohum Realty. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites and encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

12. Illinois-Specific Compliance

We comply with all applicable Illinois privacy and tenant protection laws, including:

Illinois Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) — governing data breach notification
Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) — we do not collect biometric data
Illinois Human Rights Act — prohibiting discriminatory use of personal information
Illinois Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (RLTA) — governing tenant privacy and landlord entry
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) — governing use of consumer reports

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will notify active clients and tenants via email or written notice at least 30 days prior to the changes taking effect.

The updated Privacy Policy will be posted on our website with a revised effective date. Your continued use of our services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Sohum Realty
Property Rental & Management Services
Illinois, USA
sohumliving.us/contact-us

We are committed to resolving any privacy concerns promptly and transparently.

Questions about this Privacy Policy? Contact Us