Terms of Service

Welcome to Guestify, a comprehensive digital platform engineered to revolutionize the Paying Guest (PG) accommodation ecosystem. Our platform serves as a bridge connecting students, working professionals, and property owners, facilitating seamless discovery, verification, booking, and management of residential accommodations.

By accessing Guestify through any medium—including but not limited to our website, mobile applications, API interfaces, or third-party integrations—you enter into a legally binding agreement with Guestify and its affiliated entities. This agreement encompasses all services, features, content, and functionality provided through our platform.

By creating an account, browsing listings, making bookings, or utilizing any feature of the Guestify platform, you explicitly agree to be bound by these Terms of Service, our Privacy Policy, Community Guidelines, and all applicable laws and regulations.

1.1 Binding Agreement

These Terms constitute a legally enforceable contract between you (the "User") and Guestify (the "Company", "we", "us", or "our"). This agreement supersedes all prior discussions, negotiations, or agreements related to your use of our services.

1.2 Modifications and Updates

Guestify reserves the right to modify, amend, or update these Terms at any time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or business practices. We will notify users of material changes through email, platform notifications, or prominent website notices at least 15 days prior to implementation.

Your continued use of the platform following the effective date of revised Terms constitutes acceptance. If you do not agree with the modifications, you must discontinue use and may close your account.

1.3 Eligibility Requirements

• You must be at least 18 years of age to use Guestify
• You must have legal capacity to enter into binding contracts
• You must not be prohibited from using our services under applicable laws
• You must provide accurate and complete registration information

Guestify grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use our platform in accordance with these Terms. This license is conditional upon your compliance with all applicable rules, policies, and legal requirements.

2.1 Permitted Uses

You may use Guestify for the following lawful purposes:

• Searching for and booking PG accommodations as a tenant
• Listing and managing PG properties as a verified owner or authorized agent
• Communicating with other users through our secure messaging system
• Accessing customer support and platform resources
• Managing your account, bookings, and preferences

2.2 Prohibited Activities

You expressly agree NOT to engage in any of the following activities:

2.3 Consequences of Misuse

Violation of these usage terms may result in immediate account suspension, permanent termination, legal action, and reporting to relevant authorities. Guestify reserves the right to cooperate with law enforcement in investigating potential criminal activities.

3.1 Account Registration

To access certain features of Guestify, you must create an account by providing accurate, complete, and current information. You agree to maintain and promptly update your account information to ensure its accuracy throughout your use of the platform.

3.2 Account Security

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of your account credentials, including your username, password, and any two-factor authentication methods. You must:

• Use a strong, unique password not used for other services
• Enable two-factor authentication when available
• Never share your credentials with third parties
• Log out from shared or public devices
• Immediately notify Guestify of any unauthorized access or security breaches

3.3 Account Liability

You are fully responsible for all activities conducted through your account, whether authorized or unauthorized. Guestify shall not be liable for any losses, damages, or unauthorized access resulting from your failure to maintain account security. You agree to indemnify Guestify against any claims arising from unauthorized use of your account due to your negligence.

3.4 Account Termination

You may close your account at any time by following the account closure procedures in your settings. Upon termination, you remain liable for all outstanding obligations, and certain provisions of these Terms (including intellectual property, indemnification, and limitation of liability) shall survive.

4.1 Platform Role

Guestify operates strictly as an intermediary platform connecting property owners with potential tenants. We do not own, control, manage, or operate any listed properties. Guestify is not a real estate broker, property manager, landlord, or tenant representative.

4.2 Property Owner Responsibilities

If you list properties on Guestify, you represent and warrant that:

• You have legal authority to rent the property (as owner or authorized agent)
• All listing information, photos, amenities, and pricing are accurate and current
• The property complies with all applicable housing, safety, and zoning regulations
• You possess all necessary permits, licenses, and insurance
• The property is fit for habitation and free from hazardous conditions
• You will honor all confirmed bookings made through the platform

4.3 Tenant Responsibilities

If you book accommodations through Guestify, you agree to:

• Provide accurate personal and contact information
• Conduct due diligence by visiting properties before finalizing bookings
• Comply with property rules, house regulations, and local laws
• Report any discrepancies between listings and actual conditions
• Treat properties and other residents with respect

4.4 No Guarantees

4.5 Dispute Resolution

Disputes between property owners and tenants (including issues related to deposits, damages, cancellations, or property conditions) must be resolved directly between the parties. Guestify may provide mediation assistance but is not obligated to intervene and bears no liability for dispute outcomes.

5.1 Transaction Processing

All financial transactions conducted through Guestify must be legitimate, authorized, and comply with applicable payment regulations. We utilize secure third-party payment processors to handle transactions. By making payments through our platform, you agree to the terms and policies of these payment providers.

5.2 Service Fees and Commissions

Guestify may charge the following fees:

• Booking Fees: A percentage-based fee on confirmed reservations
• Listing Fees: Monthly or annual subscription fees for property owners
• Premium Features: Additional charges for enhanced visibility or features
• Transaction Fees: Processing fees for payment handling

All applicable fees will be clearly disclosed before transaction completion. Fee structures are subject to change with reasonable notice to users.

5.3 Refund Policy

Service fees, subscription charges, and commissions paid to Guestify are generally non-refundable except in the following circumstances:

• Platform technical errors resulting in duplicate charges
• Fraudulent listings verified by Guestify investigation
• Services not delivered due to platform failure
• As required by applicable consumer protection laws

Refund requests must be submitted within 30 days of the transaction and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

5.4 Payment Security

While Guestify implements industry-standard security measures, you acknowledge that no electronic transmission is completely secure. You are responsible for ensuring the security of your payment methods and must report any fraudulent activity immediately.

5.5 Taxation

You are responsible for determining and paying all applicable taxes (including income tax, GST, or other levies) related to your use of Guestify. Property owners must ensure tax compliance for rental income, and Guestify may report transaction information to tax authorities as required by law.

6.1 Platform Ownership

All content, features, and functionality of the Guestify platform—including but not limited to software code, algorithms, user interfaces, visual designs, logos, trademarks, graphics, text, databases, and documentation—are owned by Guestify or our licensors and are protected by international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws.

6.2 User License

Subject to your compliance with these Terms, Guestify grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, revocable license to access and use the platform for personal, non-commercial purposes. This license does not include any right to:

• Reproduce, duplicate, copy, or modify platform content
• Sell, resell, or commercially exploit our services
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble our software
• Create derivative works or competing services
• Remove copyright notices or proprietary markings

6.3 User-Generated Content

When you upload content to Guestify (including property photos, descriptions, reviews, or messages), you retain ownership of your content but grant Guestify a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, and distribute such content for platform operation, marketing, and improvement purposes.

You represent and warrant that you own or have obtained all necessary rights to any content you submit and that such content does not infringe upon any third-party intellectual property rights.

6.4 Trademark Policy

The Guestify name, logo, and all related product and service names are trademarks of Guestify. You may not use these marks without prior written permission. Unauthorized use may constitute trademark infringement and violation of applicable laws.

6.5 Copyright Infringement Claims

If you believe your copyrighted work has been infringed upon on our platform, please submit a notice to our designated copyright agent with the required information under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) or equivalent local laws.

7.1 Termination by User

You may terminate your account at any time by accessing account settings and following the closure procedure. Upon termination, your access to paid features will cease immediately, though you remain responsible for any outstanding obligations.

7.2 Termination by Guestify

Guestify reserves the right to suspend, disable, or permanently terminate your account and access to our services, with or without notice, for any of the following reasons:

• Violation of these Terms of Service or our policies
• Fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
• Threats to platform security or integrity
• Non-payment of fees or chargebacks
• Impersonation or identity fraud
• Repeated complaints or policy violations
• Inactivity for extended periods
• Court orders or legal requirements

7.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, all licenses and rights granted to you will immediately cease. Guestify may delete your account data subject to legal retention requirements. Provisions regarding intellectual property, limitation of liability, indemnification, and dispute resolution shall survive termination.

7.4 No Liability

Guestify shall not be liable to you or any third party for termination of your account or access to services. No refunds will be provided for unused subscription periods or services upon termination for cause.

8.1 Disclaimer of Warranties

8.2 Limitation of Damages

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Guestify and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, and licensors shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive, or exemplary damages arising from or related to:

• Your use or inability to use the platform
• Property conditions, safety issues, or habitability concerns
• Disputes between users (tenants and property owners)
• Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
• Personal injury, property damage, or emotional distress
• Fraudulent listings, misrepresentations, or user misconduct
• Platform downtime, errors, or data breaches
• Third-party actions or content

8.3 Liability Cap

In no event shall Guestify's total aggregate liability exceed the amount you paid to Guestify in the twelve months preceding the claim, or one hundred US dollars (USD $100), whichever is greater.

8.4 User Assumption of Risk

You acknowledge and agree that all interactions, transactions, and engagements with other users occur entirely at your own risk. Guestify cannot and does not verify the accuracy of user-provided information, conduct background checks, or guarantee user safety. You are solely responsible for exercising caution, conducting due diligence, and taking appropriate safety precautions.

8.5 Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Guestify and its affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from your violation of these Terms, misuse of the platform, or infringement of third-party rights.

Your privacy is important to us. The collection, use, storage, and sharing of your personal information are governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

9.1 Data Collection

By using Guestify, you consent to our collection of:

• Personal information (name, email, phone number, address)
• Usage data (IP address, browser type, device information)
• Cookies and tracking technologies
• Communications and interactions on the platform

9.2 Data Usage

We use your data to provide, maintain, and improve our services, communicate with you, personalize your experience, and ensure platform security.

9.3 Data Sharing

We may share your information with third-party service providers, legal authorities, and as required by law. We do not sell your personal data to advertisers.

9.4 User Rights

You have rights regarding your personal data, including access, correction, deletion, and objection to processing. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for detailed information.