Privacy & Cookie Policy
Last updated: 17 June 2026
Who we are
This website, The Smarter Home (thesmarterhome.co.uk), is a personal blog about building a smart home using Home Assistant. It is operated by an individual based in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
If you have any questions about this policy, you can contact us via our Facebook page.
What data we collect
We collect minimal data. Specifically:
- Analytics data — if you consent, we use Google Analytics to collect anonymised information about how visitors use the site, including pages visited, time on site, browser type, and general geographic location (country/region level). We do not collect your name, email address, or any information that directly identifies you.
- Cookie consent preference — we store your cookie consent choice in your browser's local storage so we don't ask you again on repeat visits.
We do not run any contact forms, user accounts, or e-commerce on this site.
Cookies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We only use cookies if you give your consent. If you decline, no tracking cookies are set.
If you accept cookies, Google Analytics sets the following:
| Cookie | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Distinguishes unique users | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Maintains session state | 2 years |
Google Analytics data is processed by Google LLC. For more information, see Google's Privacy Policy. You can opt out of Google Analytics across all websites using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Your rights
Under UK GDPR you have the right to:
- Know what personal data we hold about you
- Request deletion of your data
- Withdraw consent at any time
- Lodge a complaint with the ICO at ico.org.uk
Because we only collect anonymised analytics data and do not store any personally identifiable information ourselves, we are unable to identify or retrieve data relating to a specific individual. You can delete Google Analytics cookies at any time by clearing your browser cookies.
Withdrawing consent
You can change your cookie preference at any time by clicking the button below. This will clear your saved choice and show the consent banner again on your next page load.
Third-party links
This site contains links to external sites including Home Assistant documentation, product pages, and our Facebook page. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page will reflect any changes. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.