Cookie Law
The law on cookies demands that you, as a website user, are given the opportunity to understand how cookies are used on our websites and consent to cookies being stored on your computer (laptop/mobile/tablet or any other browsing device).
What are cookies?
A cookie is a small text file, which is downloaded to your computer when you access websites. Typically, they consist of: a site name and unique user ID, the duration of the cookie's abilities and effects. Cookies cannot be used to reveal your identity or personally identifying information.
When you visit a website that uses cookies for the first time, a cookie is downloaded onto your computer. The next time you visit that website, your computer checks to see if it has a cookie that is relevant and sends the information contained in that cookie back to the website. The website then knows you have been there before, and in some cases, tailors your experience. They may record how long you spend on each page on a site, what links you click, even your preferences for layouts and colours.
Generally, using cookies is beneficial, making your interaction with sites smoother with no extra effort on your part. Without cookies, site could be less interactive and you may need to enter information on a more frequent basis.
Most common cookies
Session cookies
These cookies expire when you close your web browser, websites typically use session cookies to ensure that you are recognised when you move from page to page within one site and that any information you have entered is remembered. For example, if an e-commerce site did not use session cookies then items placed in a shopping basket would disappear by the time you reach the checkout. You can choose to accept session cookies by changing the settings in your browser.
Some session cookies may be essential for a website to store information on your computer, for example, to provide a service to you that you have requested.
Persistent cookies
These cookies are still stored on your computer after you have closed your web browser which allows your preferences on websites to be remembered. These cookies are used for a variety of purposes, for example, remembering your preferences on a website (your language choice or your user name on a particular website).
First and Third Party cookies
This refers to the website placing the cookie. First party cookies are cookies set by the website you are visiting. Third party cookies could be set by another website, for example, if the website you are visiting has advertising on the page then this other website will be able to set a cookie on your computer as a third party cookie. Typically all of the main web browsers allow third party cookies by default. Changing the settings on your browsers can prevent this.
Our use of cookies
We use session cookies which are essential for the use of our website, these cookies are deleted as soon as you close your web browser.
We also use cookies to understand your usage of our website which are provided by google analytics, these cookies do not identify you as an individual and do not contain any personal information about you.
Below is a breakdown of the cookies we may use whilst visiting this site:
| Cookie Name | Set By | Default Expiration | Description |
|---|
| ASP>NET_Sessionid |
This website |
on browser close |
Stores a unique reference so you are able to use the website, without this cookie you will be unable to use any of the sites interactive features such as the property search, logging in to your account, using the message boards etc. |
| __utmz |
Google Analytics |
6 months from set/update |
Stores the traffic source or campaign that explains how the user reached your site. The cookie is created when the javascript library executes and is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics. |
| __utma |
Google Analytics |
2 years from set/update |
Used to distinguish users and sessions. The cookie is created when the javascript library executes and no existing __utma cookies exists. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics. |
| _ga |
Google Analytics |
2 years |
Used to distinguish users. |
| datr |
Facebook |
1 year |
A Facebook cookie that monitors your Facebook account for suspicious behaviour such as failed log in attempts or attempts to create spam accounts |
| fr |
Facebook |
90 Days |
Allows control over the "Follow us on Facebook" and "Like" buttons. |
| sb |
Facebook |
2 years |
Allows control over the "Follow us on Facebook" and "Like" buttons, collect the language settings and allow you to share the page. |
For more detail on the cookies set by Google Analytics click here
You may refuse to accept cookies by activating the setting on your browser which allows you to disable the setting of cookies. However, if you select this setting you may be unable to access certain parts of our site. Unless you have adjusted your browser setting so that it will refuse cookies, our system will issue cookies when you log on to our site.
Further Information
Further information can be found on the ICO Cookies Guide and http://www.allaboutcookies.org/.