Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Contamination Diagnostics collects, uses, and protects your personal data when you interact with our website and services. We are committed to transparency and compliance with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Germany.

1. Who We Are and What We Do

Contamination Diagnostics is a diagnostic-led cleanup service based in Berlin, Germany. We identify specific contamination patterns and hazards in post-construction environments before prescribing targeted remediation solutions for contractors and property managers. Our website at lhoteexpertise.com provides information about our services and allows potential clients to contact us for assessments and inquiries.

2. What Data We Collect

We collect personal data in the following ways:

2.1 Contact Form and Inquiry Data

When you submit a contact form or inquiry through our website, we collect:

• Your name
• Email address
• Phone number (if provided)
• Company name and role (if applicable)
• Details about your contamination or cleanup inquiry
• Any other information you voluntarily provide in your message

2.2 Website Usage and Analytics

We may use analytics tools to understand how visitors interact with our website. This may include:

• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• Referral sources and links clicked
• Device type, browser, and operating system
• General geographic location (city/region level)
• IP address (in anonymized or pseudonymized form where possible)

2.3 Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Track website performance and user behavior
• Deliver relevant content and improve user experience
• Measure the effectiveness of our website

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through settings. You can refuse or delete cookies, though some website features may not function optimally if cookies are disabled.

2.4 Communication Data

If you contact us by email or phone, we retain records of that communication, including:

• Your contact details
• The date and content of your message
• Our responses and any follow-up correspondence

3. Legal Basis for Processing

Under GDPR, we process your personal data on the following legal bases:

3.1 Consent

When you submit a contact form or inquiry, you consent to us processing your data to respond to your request and provide information about our contamination diagnostic and cleanup services.

3.2 Legitimate Interest

We process website usage data and analytics to improve our website, understand user needs, and enhance our services. This is in our legitimate interest as a service provider.

3.3 Contract Performance

If you engage us for a contamination assessment or cleanup project, we process your data as necessary to perform that contract.

4. How We Use Your Data

We use the personal data we collect for the following purposes:

• Responding to inquiries: To answer your questions about our diagnostic and remediation services
• Service delivery: To schedule assessments, provide quotes, and manage contamination diagnostic and cleanup projects
• Communication: To send you relevant updates, newsletters, or service information (only with your consent)
• Website improvement: To analyze user behavior and optimize our website's functionality and content
• Compliance: To meet legal and regulatory obligations in Germany and the EU
• Safety and security: To protect our website and services from fraud, abuse, or security threats

5. Data Sharing and Third Parties

We do not sell or rent your personal data to third parties. However, we may share your data in the following circumstances:

5.1 Data Processors

We may engage third-party service providers (data processors) to assist us with:

• Website hosting and maintenance
• Email communication and customer relationship management
• Analytics and website performance monitoring
• Payment processing (if applicable to your engagement)

All processors are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.

5.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your data if required by law, court order, or government authority in Germany or the EU.

5.3 Business Transfers

If Contamination Diagnostics is acquired or merged with another entity, your data may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy:

• Contact inquiries: Retained for up to 3 years to manage ongoing communications and service relationships
• Project data: Retained for the duration of the project plus 7 years for legal, tax, and compliance purposes
• Analytics data: Typically retained for up to 12 months in aggregated or anonymized form
• Email communications: Retained for up to 3 years unless you request deletion sooner

After the retention period expires, we delete or anonymize your data unless we are legally required to retain it longer.

7. Your Rights Under GDPR

As a data subject in Germany and the EU, you have the following rights:

7.1 Right of Access

You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

7.2 Right to Rectification

You can request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete data.

7.3 Right to Erasure

You can request deletion of your data, subject to legal obligations we may have to retain it.

7.4 Right to Restrict Processing

You can request that we limit how we use your data in certain circumstances.

7.5 Right to Data Portability

You can request your data in a structured, commonly used format and have it transferred to another service provider.

7.6 Right to Object

You can object to certain types of processing, including marketing communications and analytics.

7.7 Right to Withdraw Consent

If we process your data based on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 9 below.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure HTTPS encryption for website communications
• Restricted access to personal data within our organization
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Secure storage of data on protected servers
• Data protection agreements with all third-party processors

While we strive to protect your data, no security system is completely impenetrable. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we are committed to maintaining industry-standard protections.

9. How to Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your data rights, or need to report a data security concern, please contact us:

We will respond to data access requests and privacy inquiries within 30 days, as required by GDPR.

10. Complaints and Supervisory Authority

If you believe we have violated your data protection rights or this Privacy Policy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent data protection authority in Germany. The relevant authority is the Berliner Beauftragte für Datenschutz und Informationsfreiheit (Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information).

You may also contact us directly to resolve any concerns before escalating to a regulatory authority.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes, we will notify you by updating the date at the bottom of this page and, where appropriate, by email or prominent notice on our website.

Your continued use of our website and services after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your data.