Please read these Terms of Service (“Terms”) carefully as they contain important information about your legal rights, remedies and obligations. By accessing or using the HostU Platform, you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms.

Last Updated: June 4, 2024

Thank you for using HostU!

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement ("Agreement") between you and hostU (as defined below) governing your access to and use of the hostU website, including any subdomains thereof, and any other websites through which hostU makes its services available (collectively, "Site"), and any future mobile, tablet and other smart device applications, and application program interfaces (collectively, "Application") and all associated services (collectively, "hostU Services"). The Site, Application and hostU Services together are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “hostU Platform”. Our Nondiscrimination Policy, Privacy Policy, Sublet Agreement and other Policies applicable to your use of the hostU Platform are incorporated by reference into this Agreement. Our collection and use of personal information in connection with your access to and use of the hostU Platform is described in our Privacy Policy. When these Terms mention “hostU,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” it refers to hostU, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Hosts alone are responsible for identifying, understanding, and complying with their lease and all laws, rules and regulations that apply to their Listings. For example, some leases prohibit sublets without the consent or agreement of the landlord. Many cities have passed local laws that actually prohibit the enforcement of this provision in leases. Some local laws prohibit sublets for short term stays, which are typically defined as less than 30 days. Hosts are alone responsible for identifying and obtaining any required consents, licenses or permits. These Terms of Service and the Sublet Agreement that you enter into upon completing a booking, may or may not address the terms of your lease and local laws. It is a general booking agreement that outlines the days of the sublet and responsibilities that generally apply to Hosts and Guests who complete bookings on the hostU Platform. It should not be construed as legal advice for either the Host or Guest, and may need to be supplemented by a separate agreement between the Host or Guest in order to address your particular situation. If you have questions about how your lease, the Sublet Agreement and/or local laws apply to your Listing(s) and Host Service(s) on hostU, you should always seek your own legal guidance as hostU is solely a platform for Members to post content and does not provide any legal advice or guidance.

1. Scope of hostU Services

1.1 The hostU Platform is an online marketplace that enables registered users (“Members”) (Members who publish listings are referred to as “Hosts”) to publish such the Listings on the hostU Platform (“Listings”) and to communicate and transact directly with Members that are seeking to book the Listing (Members seeking or booking Listings are referred to herein as “Guests”).

1.2 As the provider of the hostU Platform, hostU does not own, create, sell, resell, provide, control, manage, offer, deliver, or supply any Listings. Hosts alone are responsible for their Listings. When Members make or accept a booking, they are entering into a contract directly with each other. hostU is not and does not become a party to or other participant in any contractual relationship between Members, nor is hostU a real estate broker or insurer. hostU is not acting as an agent in any capacity for any Member.

1.3 While we may help facilitate the resolution of disputes, hostU has no control over and does not guarantee (i) the existence, quality, safety, suitability, or legality of any Listings, (ii) the truth or accuracy of any Listing descriptions, Ratings, Reviews, or other Member Content (as defined below), or (iii) the performance or conduct of any Member or third party. hostU does not endorse any Member, Listing or Listing. Any references to a Member being "verified" as a University student, faculty or graduate (or similar language) only indicates that the Member has completed a relevant verification or identification process and nothing else. hostU verifies university affiliation through an email confirmation process tied to university emails. In the event that an individual is able to obtain access to a university email address, gain access to another Member’s hostU account, or otherwise bypasses the verification process through fraudulent or unscrupulous means, means that they may not have the university affiliation that they claimed in their onboarding process. Any “verification” description by hostU of a Host or Guest is not an endorsement, certification or guarantee by hostU about any Member, including of the Member's identity or background or whether the Member is trustworthy, safe or suitable. You should always exercise due diligence and care when deciding whether to stay in an Accommodation, accept a booking request from a Guest, or communicate and interact with other Members, whether online or in person. Verified Images (as defined below) are intended only to indicate a photographic representation of a Listing at the time the photograph was taken and are therefore not an endorsement by hostU of any Host or Listing.

1.4 If you choose to use the hostU Platform as a Host or Co-Host (as defined below), your relationship with hostU is limited to being an independent, third-party contractor, and not an employee, agent, joint venturer or partner of hostU for any reason, and you act exclusively on your own behalf and for your own benefit, and not on behalf, or for the benefit, of hostU. hostU does not, and shall not be deemed to, direct or control you generally or in your performance under these Terms specifically, including in connection with your sublet. You acknowledge and agree that you have complete discretion whether to publish a Listing, communicate with Guests and accept a booking.

1.5 To promote the hostU Platform and to increase the exposure of Listings to potential Guests, Listings and other Member Content may be displayed on other websites, in applications, within emails, and in online and offline advertisements. To assist Members who speak different languages, Listings and other Member Content may be translated, in whole or in part, into other languages. hostU cannot guarantee the accuracy or quality of such translations and Members are responsible for reviewing and verifying the accuracy of such translations. The hostU Platform may contain translations powered by Google or other translation providers. hostU disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties for merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.

1.6 The hostU Platform may contain links to third-party websites or resources (“Third-Party Services”). Such Third-Party Services may be subject to different terms and conditions and privacy practices. hostU is not responsible or liable for the availability or accuracy of such Third-Party Services, or the content, products, or services available from such Third-Party Services. Links to such Third-Party Services are not an endorsement by hostU of such Third-Party Services.

1.7 Due to the nature of the Internet, hostU cannot guarantee the continuous and uninterrupted availability and accessibility of the hostU Platform. hostU may restrict the availability of the hostU Platform or certain areas or features thereof, if this is necessary in view of capacity limits, the security or integrity of our servers, or to carry out maintenance measures that ensure the proper or improved functioning of the hostU Platform. hostU may improve, enhance and modify the hostU Platform and introduce new hostU Services from time to time.

2. Eligibility, Using the hostU Platform, Member Verification

2.1 In order to access and use the hostU Platform or register an hostU Account you must be an individual at least 18 years old or a duly organized, validly existing business, organization or other legal entity in good standing under the laws of the country you are established and able to enter into legally binding contracts.

2.2 hostU may make access to and use of the hostU Platform, or certain areas or features of the hostU Platform, subject to certain conditions or requirements, such as completing a verification process, meeting specific quality or eligibility criteria, meeting Ratings or Reviews thresholds, or a Member’s booking and cancellation history.

2.3 User verification is difficult, and we do not assume any responsibility for the confirmation of any Member’s identity including without limitation an individual’s affiliation with a University. Notwithstanding the above, for transparency and fraud prevention purposes, and as permitted by applicable laws, we may, but have no obligation to (i) ask Members to provide a form of University identification, government identification or other information or undertake additional checks designed to help verify the identities or backgrounds of Members, (ii) screen Members against third party databases or other sources and request reports from service providers, and (iii) where we have sufficient information to identify a Member, obtain reports from public records of criminal convictions or sex offender registrations or an equivalent version of background or registered sex offender checks in your local jurisdiction (if available).

2.4 The access to or use of certain areas and features of the hostU Platform may be subject to separate policies, standards or guidelines, or may require that you accept additional terms and conditions, before you can access the relevant areas or features of the hostU Platform. If there is a conflict between these Terms and terms and conditions applicable to a specific area or feature of the hostU Platform, the latter terms and conditions will take precedence with respect to your access to or use of that area or feature, unless specified otherwise in the latter terms and conditions.

3. Modification of these Terms

hostU reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time in accordance with this provision. If we make changes to these Terms, we will post the revised Terms on the hostU Platform and update the “Last Updated” date at the top of these Terms. If you disagree with the revised Terms, you may terminate this Agreement with immediate effect. If you do not terminate your Agreement before the date the revised Terms become effective, your continued access to or use of the hostU Platform will constitute acceptance of the revised Terms.

4. Account Registration

4.1 You must register an account ("hostU Account") to access and use certain features of the hostU Platform, such as publishing or booking a Listing. If you are registering a hostU Account for a business, organization or other legal entity, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to legally bind that entity and grant us all permissions and licenses provided in these Terms.

4.2 You can register a hostU Account using a university email address and creating a password.

4.3 You must provide accurate, current and complete information during the registration process and keep your hostU Account and public hostU Account profile page information up to date at all times.

4.4 You may not register more than one (1) hostU Account unless hostU authorizes you to do so. You may not assign or otherwise transfer your hostU Account to another party.

4.5 You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of your hostU Account credentials and may not disclose your credentials to any third party. You must immediately notify hostU if you know or have any reason to suspect that your credentials have been lost, stolen, misappropriated, or otherwise compromised or in case of any actual or suspected unauthorized use of your hostU Account. You are liable for any and all activities conducted through your hostU Account, unless such activities are not authorized by you, and you are not otherwise negligent (such as failing to report the unauthorized use or loss of your credentials).

4.6 hostU may enable features that allow you to authorize other Members or certain third parties to take certain actions that affect your hostU Account. For example, we may enable Members to link their hostU Accounts to businesses and take actions for those businesses, we may enable eligible Members or certain third parties to book Listings on behalf of other Members, or we may enable Hosts to add other Members as Co-Hosts (as defined below) to help manage their Listings. These features do not require that you share your credentials with any other person. No third party is authorized by hostU to ask for your credentials, and you shall not request the credentials of another Member.

5. Content

5.1 hostU may, at its sole discretion, enable Members to (i) communicate with each other, create, upload, post, send, receive and store content, such as text, photos, audio, video, or other materials and information on or through the hostU Platform ("Member Content"); and (ii) access and view Member Content and any content that hostU itself makes available on or through the hostU Platform, including proprietary hostU content and any content licensed or authorized for use by or through hostU from a third party ("hostU Content" and together with Member Content, "Collective Content").

5.2 The hostU Platform, hostU Content, and Member Content may in its entirety or in part be protected by copyright, trademark, and/or other laws of the United States and other countries. You acknowledge and agree that the hostU Platform and hostU Content, including all associated intellectual property rights, are the exclusive property of hostU and/or its licensors or authorizing third parties. You will not remove, alter or obscure any copyright, trademark, service mark or other proprietary rights notices incorporated in or accompanying the hostU Platform, hostU Content or Member Content. All trademarks, service marks, logos, trade names, and any other source identifiers of hostU used on or in connection with the hostU Platform and hostU Content are trademarks or registered trademarks of hostU in the United States and abroad. Trademarks, service marks, logos, trade names and any other proprietary designations of third parties used on or in connection with the hostU Platform, hostU Content, and/or Collective Content are used for identification purposes only and may be the property of their respective owners.

5.3 You will not use, copy, adapt, modify, prepare derivative works of, distribute, license, sell, transfer, publicly display, publicly perform, transmit, broadcast or otherwise exploit the hostU Platform or Collective Content, except to the extent you are the legal owner of certain Member Content or as expressly permitted in these Terms. No licenses or rights are granted to you by implication or otherwise under any intellectual property rights owned or controlled by hostU or its licensors, except for the licenses and rights expressly granted in these Terms.

5.4 Subject to your compliance with these Terms, hostU grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, revocable, non-transferable license to (i) download and use the Application on your personal device(s); and (ii) access and view any Collective Content made available on or through the hostU Platform and accessible to you, solely for your personal and non-commercial use.

5.5 By creating, uploading, posting, sending, receiving, storing, or otherwise making available any Member Content on or through the hostU Platform, you grant to hostU a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual (or for the term of the protection), sub-licensable and transferable license to such Member Content to access, use, store, copy, modify, prepare derivative works of, distribute, publish, transmit, stream, broadcast, and otherwise exploit in any manner such Member Content to provide and/or promote the hostU Platform, in any media or platform. Insofar as Member Content (including Verified Images) includes personal information, such Member Content will only be used for these purposes if such use complies with applicable data protection laws in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Unless you provide specific consent, hostU does not claim any ownership rights in any Member Content and nothing in these Terms will be deemed to restrict any rights that you may have to use or exploit your Member Content.

5.6 hostU may offer Hosts the option of having professional photographers take photographs of their Listing, which are made available by the photographer to Hosts to include in their Listings with or without a watermark or tag bearing the words "hostU.com Verified Photo" or similar wording ("Verified Images"). You are responsible for ensuring that your Host Service is accurately represented in the Verified Images and you will stop using the Verified Images on or through the hostU Platform if they no longer accurately represent your Listing, if you stop hosting the Host Service featured, or if your hostU Account is terminated or suspended for any reason. You acknowledge and agree that hostU shall have the right to use any Verified Images in accordance with Section 5.5 for advertising, marketing and/or any other business purposes in any media or platform, whether in relation to your Listing or otherwise, without further notice or compensation to you. Where hostU is not the exclusive owner of Verified Images, by using such Verified Images on or through the hostU Platform, you grant to hostU an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual (or for the term of the protection), sub-licensable and transferable license to use such Verified Images for advertising, marketing and/or any other business purposes in any media or platform, whether in relation to your Listing or otherwise, without further notice or compensation to you. hostU in turn grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, revocable, non-transferable license to use Verified Images outside of the hostU Platform solely for your personal and non-commercial use.

5.7 You are solely responsible for all Member Content that you make available on or through the hostU Platform. Accordingly, you represent and warrant that: (i) you either are the sole and exclusive owner of all Member Content that you make available on or through the hostU Platform or you have all rights, licenses, consents and releases that are necessary to grant to hostU the rights in and to such Member Content, as contemplated under these Terms; and (ii) neither the Member Content nor your posting, uploading, publication, submission or transmittal of the Member Content or hostU's use of the Member Content (or any portion thereof) as contemplated under these Terms will infringe, misappropriate or violate a third party's patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, moral rights or other proprietary or intellectual property rights, or rights of publicity or privacy, or result in the violation of any applicable law or regulation.

5.8 You will not post, upload, publish, submit or transmit any Member Content that: (i) is fraudulent, false, misleading (directly or by omission or failure to update information) or deceptive; (ii) is defamatory, libelous, obscene, pornographic, vulgar or offensive; (iii) promotes discrimination, bigotry, racism, hatred, harassment or harm against any individual or group; (iv) is violent or threatening or promotes violence or actions that are threatening to any other person or animal; (v) promotes illegal or harmful activities or substances; or (vi) violates hostU’s Content Policy or any other hostU policy. hostU may, without prior notice, remove or disable access to any Member Content that hostU finds to be in violation of applicable law, these Terms or hostU’s then-current Policies or Standards, or otherwise may be harmful or objectionable to hostU, its Members, third parties, or property.

5.9 hostU respects copyright law and expects its Members to do the same. If you believe that any content on the hostU Platform infringes copyrights you own, please notify us in accordance with our Copyright Policy.

6. Service Fees

6.1 hostU charges a 10% transaction fee for any transaction that was originated on the hostU Platform, whether the transaction was completed on the hostU Platform or not (the “hostU Fee”) and may charge additional fees to Hosts ("Host Fees") and/or Guests ("Guest Fees") (collectively, "Service Fees") in consideration for the use of the hostU Platform. A transaction will be deemed to be originated on the hostU Platform and the hostU Fee due and payable if (i) a booking is completed on the hostU Platform, (ii) a Guest finds a Listing on the hostU Platform and completes a booking of the Listing off the hostU Platform, or (iii) Members are introduced to each other on the hostU Platform and subsequently transact over one or more Listings. The hostU Fee is due and payable regardless of whether the Guest makes full or partial payments under the terms of the Sublet Agreement or otherwise.

6.2 hostU reserves the right to change the Service Fees at any time and will provide Members adequate notice of any fee changes before they become effective. Such fee changes will not affect any bookings made prior to the effective date of the fee change, but will affect any Listings that have not yet completed bookings. In the event of any change in Service Fees, a Host can remove a booking at any time.

6.3 You are responsible for paying any Service Fees that you owe to hostU. The applicable Service Fees (including any applicable Taxes) are collected by hostU. hostU will deduct any Service Fees before remitting the payout to the Host. Any Guest Fees are included in the Total Fees collected by hostU. Except as otherwise provided on the hostU Platform, Service Fees are non-refundable.

7. Terms specific for Hosts

7.1 Terms applicable to all Listings

7.1.1 When creating a Listing through the hostU Platform you must (i) provide complete and accurate information about your Listing (such as University affiliation, listing description, location, and calendar availability), (ii) disclose any deficiencies, restrictions (such as house rules) and requirements that apply and (iii) provide any other pertinent information requested by hostU. You are responsible for keeping your Listing information (including calendar availability) up to date at all times.

7.1.2 You are solely responsible for setting a price (including any Taxes if applicable, or charges such as cleaning fees) for your Listing (“Listing Fee”). Once a Guest requests a booking of your Listing, you may not request that the Guest pays a higher price than in the booking request.

7.1.3 Any terms and conditions included in your Listing, in particular in relation to cancellations, must not conflict with these Terms or the relevant cancellation policy for your Listing.

7.1.4 Pictures, animations or videos (collectively, "Images") used in your Listings must accurately reflect the quality and condition of your Listing. hostU reserves the right to require that Listings have a minimum number of Images of a certain format, size and resolution.

7.1.5 The placement and ranking of Listings in search results on the hostU Platform may vary and depend on a variety of factors, such as Guest search parameters and preferences, Host requirements, price and calendar availability, number and quality of Images, customer service and cancellation history, Reviews and Ratings, type of Host Service, and/or ease of booking. More information about the factors that determine how your Listing appears in search results can be found on our help center.

7.1.7 When you accept or have pre-approved a booking request by a Guest, you are entering into a legally binding agreement with the Guest and are required to provide access and use of the accommodation as described in your Listing when the booking request is made upon the terms set forth in the Sublet Agreement and these Terms of Service. You also agree to pay the applicable hostU Fee and any applicable Taxes.

7.1.8 hostU recommends that Hosts obtain appropriate insurance for their Listing. Please review any respective insurance policy carefully, and in particular make sure that you are familiar with and understand any exclusions to, and any deductibles that may apply for, such insurance policy, including, but not limited to, whether or not your insurance policy will cover the actions or inactions of Guests (and the individuals the Guest has booked for, if applicable) while staying at your Accommodation or participating in your Experience, Event or other Host Service.

7.2 Listing Accommodations

7.2.1 Unless expressly allowed by hostU, you may not list more than one Accommodation per Listing.

7.2.2 You represent and warrant that any Listing you post and the booking of, or a Guest's stay at, an Accommodation will (i) not breach any agreements you have entered into with any third parties, such as your rental agreement, homeowners association, condominium, or other agreements, and (ii) comply with all applicable laws (such as zoning laws), Tax requirements, and other rules and regulations (including having all required permits, licenses and registrations). As a Host, you are responsible for your own acts and omissions and are also responsible for the acts and omissions of any individuals who reside at or are otherwise present at the Accommodation at your request or invitation, excluding the Guest and any individuals the Guest invites to the Accommodation.

8. Terms specific for Guests

8.1 Terms applicable to all bookings

8.1.1 Subject to meeting any requirements (such as completing any verification processes) set by hostU and/or the Host, you can book a Listing available on the hostU Platform by following the respective booking process. All applicable fees, including the hostU Fee, Security Deposit (if applicable), and any applicable Taxes (collectively, “Total Fees”) will be presented to you prior to booking a Listing. You agree to pay the Total Fees for any booking requested in connection with your hostU Account.

8.1.2 Upon receipt of a booking confirmation from hostU, a legally binding agreement is formed between you and your Host that incorporate these Terms of Service and the Sublet Agreement, subject to any additional terms and conditions of the Host that apply, including any rules and restrictions specified in the Listing. For certain bookings, Guests may be required to pay or have the option to pay in multiple installments.

8.1.3 If you are booking for an additional guest who is a minor, you represent and warrant that you are legally authorized to act on behalf of the minor. Minors may only stay in a booking if agreed upon by Host and accompanied by an adult who is responsible for them.

8.2 Booking Accommodations

8.2.1 You understand that a confirmed booking of an Accommodation (“Accommodation Booking”) is a limited license granted to you by the Host and the Sublease Agreement to enter, occupy and use the Accommodation for the duration of your stay.

8.2.2 You agree to leave the Accommodation no later than the checkout time that the Host specifies in the Listing, or such other time as mutually agreed upon between you and the Host. If you stay past the agreed upon checkout time without the Host's consent (“Overstay”), you no longer have a right to stay in the Accommodation and the Host is entitled to make you leave in a manner consistent with applicable law. In addition, you agree to pay, if requested by the Host, for each twenty-four (24) hour period (or any portion thereof) that you Overstay, an additional nightly fee of up to two (2) times the average nightly Listing Fee originally paid by you to cover the inconvenience suffered by the Host, plus all applicable hostU, Taxes, and any legal expenses incurred by the Host to make you leave (collectively, "Overstay Fees"). If you Overstay at an Accommodation, you authorize hostU to charge you to collect Overstay Fees. A Security Deposit, if required by a Host, may be applied to any Overstay Fees due for a Guest’s Overstay.

9. Booking Modifications

9.1 Hosts and Guests are responsible for any modifications to a booking that they make via the hostU Platform or direct hostU customer service to make ("Booking Modifications"), and agree to pay any additional hostU Fees and/or Taxes associated with such Booking Modifications.

9.2 Bookings are not cancellable or refundable, unless the Guest and the Host mutually agree in writing to cancel a booking. Upon receiving an executed written agreement, hostU will return any Listing Fee still held by hostU less the hostU Fee.

10. hostU Cancellations

10.1 In certain circumstances, hostU may decide, in its sole discretion, that it is necessary to cancel a pending or confirmed booking and initiate corresponding refunds and payouts. This may be (i) where hostU believes in good faith, while taking the legitimate interests of both parties into account, this is necessary to avoid significant harm to hostU, other Members, third parties or property, or (ii) for any of the reasons set out in these Terms.

11. Damage to Accommodations, Disputes between Members

11.1 As a Guest, you are responsible for leaving the Accommodation (including any personal or other property located at the Accommodation) in the condition it was in when you arrived. You are responsible for your own acts and omissions and are also responsible for the acts and omissions of any individuals whom you invite to, or otherwise provide access to, the Accommodation, excluding the Host (and the individuals the Host invites to the Accommodation, if applicable).

11.2 Guests and Hosts agree to cooperate with each other, and to provide the other party with such information and take such actions as may be reasonably requested by hostU, in connection with any Damage Claims or other complaints or claims made by Members relating to Accommodations or any personal or other property located at an Accommodation. A Member shall, upon the other party’s reasonable request, participate in mediation or a similar resolution process with another Member, with respect to losses for which a Member is requesting payment from the other party, and the Members agree to split the expenses of such mediation.

12. Rounding off

hostU generally supports payment amounts that are payable from or to Guests or Hosts to the smallest unit supported by a given currency (i.e., U.S. cents, Euro cents or other supported currencies). Where hostU’s third-party payment services provider does not support payments in the smaller unit supported by a given currency, hostU may, in its sole discretion, round up or round down the displayed amounts that are payable from or to Guests or Hosts to the nearest whole functional base unit in which the currency is denominated (i.e. to the nearest dollar, Euro or other supported currency); for example, hostU may round up an amount of $101.50 to $102.00, and round down an amount of $101.49 to $101.00.

13. Taxes

13.1 As a Host you are solely responsible for determining your obligations to report, collect, remit or include in your Listing Fees any applicable VAT or other indirect sales taxes, occupancy tax, tourist or other visitor taxes or income taxes ("Taxes").

14. Prohibited Activities

14.1 You are solely responsible for compliance with any and all laws, rules, regulations, and Tax obligations that may apply to your use of the hostU Platform. In connection with your use of the hostU Platform, you will not and will not assist or enable others to:

• breach or circumvent any applicable laws or regulations, agreements with third-parties, third-party rights, or our Terms, Policies or Standards;
• use the hostU Platform or Collective Content for any commercial or other purposes that are not expressly permitted by these Terms or in a manner that falsely implies hostU endorsement, partnership or otherwise misleads others as to your affiliation with hostU;
• copy, store, or otherwise access or use any information, including personally identifiable information about any other Member, contained on the hostU Platform in any way that is inconsistent with hostU’s Privacy Policy or these Terms or that otherwise violates the privacy rights of Members or third parties;
• use the hostU Platform in connection with the distribution of unsolicited commercial messages ("spam");
• offer, as a Host, any Accommodation that you do not yourself own or have permission to make available as a residential or other property through the hostU Platform;
• unless hostU explicitly permits otherwise, book any Listing if you will not actually be using the Listing yourself;
• contact another Member for any purpose other than asking a question related to your own booking, Listing, or the Member's use of the hostU Platform, including, but not limited to, recruiting or otherwise soliciting any Member to join third-party services, applications or websites, without our prior written approval;
• take any transaction off the hostU Platform and/or use the hostU Platform to request, make or accept a sublease or booking independent of the hostU Platform, to circumvent any hostU Fees or for any other reason;
• request, accept or make any payment for Listing Fees outside of the hostU Platform or hostU Payments. If you do so, you acknowledge and agree that you: (i) would be in breach of these Terms; (ii) accept all risks and responsibility for such payment, and (iii) hold hostU harmless from any liability for such payment;
• discriminate against or harass anyone on the basis of race, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, age or sexual orientation, or otherwise engage in any violent, harmful, abusive or disruptive behavior;
• misuse or abuse any Listings or services associated with the hostU Open Homes program as determined by hostU in its sole discretion;
• use, display, mirror or frame the hostU Platform or Collective Content, or any individual element within the hostU Platform, hostU's name, any hostU trademark, logo or other proprietary information, or the layout and design of any page or form contained on a page in the hostU Platform, without hostU's express written consent;
• dilute, tarnish or otherwise harm the hostU brand in any way, including through unauthorized use of Collective Content, registering and/or using hostU or derivative terms in domain names, trade names, trademarks or other source identifiers, or registering and/or using domains names, trade names, trademarks or other source identifiers that closely imitate or are confusingly similar to hostU domains, trademarks, taglines, promotional campaigns or Collective Content;
• use any robots, spider, crawler, scraper or other automated means or processes to access, collect data or other content from or otherwise interact with the hostU Platform for any purpose;
• avoid, bypass, remove, deactivate, impair, descramble, or otherwise attempt to circumvent any technological measure implemented by hostU or any of hostU's providers or any other third party to protect the hostU Platform;
• attempt to decipher, decompile, disassemble or reverse engineer any of the software used to provide the hostU Platform;
• take any action that damages or adversely affects, or could damage or adversely affect the performance or proper functioning of the hostU Platform;
• export, re-export, import, or transfer the Application except as authorized by United States law, the export control laws of your jurisdiction, and any other applicable laws; or
• violate or infringe anyone else’s rights or otherwise cause harm to anyone.

14.2 You acknowledge that hostU has no obligation to monitor the access to or use of the hostU Platform by any Member or to review, disable access to, or edit any Member Content, but has the right to do so to (i) operate, secure and improve the hostU Platform (including without limitation for fraud prevention, risk assessment, investigation and customer support purposes); (ii) ensure Members’ compliance with these Terms; (iii) comply with applicable law or the order or requirement of a court, law enforcement or other administrative agency or governmental body; (iv) collect the hostU Fee for any transaction that Members complete off the hostU Platform along with any collection costs of doing so, including attorney’s costs and fees; (v) respond to Member Content that it determines is harmful or objectionable; or (vi) as otherwise set forth in these Terms. Members agree to cooperate with and assist hostU in good faith, and to provide hostU with such information and take such actions as may be reasonably requested by hostU with respect to any investigation undertaken by hostU or a representative of hostU regarding the use or abuse of the hostU Platform.

14.3 If you feel that any Member you interact with, whether online or in person, is acting or has acted inappropriately, including but not limited to anyone who (i) engages in offensive, violent or sexually inappropriate behavior, (ii) you suspect of stealing from you, or (iii) engages in any other disturbing conduct, you should immediately report such person to the appropriate authorities and then to hostU by contacting us with your police station and report number (if available). You agree that any report you make will not obligate us to take any action (beyond that required by law, if any).

15. Term and Termination, Suspension and other Measures

15.1 This Agreement shall be effective for a 30-day term, at the end of which it will automatically and continuously renew for subsequent 30-day terms until such time when you or hostU terminate the Agreement in accordance with this provision.

15.2 You may terminate this Agreement at any time that you have a Listing by sending us an email which has the effect of cancelling your hostU Account, subject to those terms and conditions which survive termination of this Agreement, including without limitation, your obligation to pay hostU Fees and reasonable attorneys fees for hostU’s collection efforts. If you are a Guest or Host with an active booking, you may only cancel this Agreement after conclusion of the booking and any dispute related to the booking.

15.3 Without limiting our rights specified below, hostU may terminate this Agreement for convenience at any time by giving you thirty (30) days' notice via email to your registered email address.

15.4 hostU may immediately, without notice, terminate this Agreement and/or stop providing access to the hostU Platform if (i) you have materially breached your obligations under these Terms, the Payments Terms, our Policies or Standards, (ii) you have violated applicable laws, regulations or third party rights, or (iii) hostU believes in good faith that such action is reasonably necessary to protect the personal safety or property of hostU, its Members, or third parties (for example in the case of fraudulent behavior of a Member).

15.5 In addition, hostU may take any of the following measures (i) to comply with applicable law, or the order or request of a court, law enforcement or other administrative agency or governmental body, or if (ii) you have breached these Terms, the Payments Terms, our Policies or Standards, applicable laws, regulations, or third party rights, (iii) you have provided inaccurate, fraudulent, outdated or incomplete information during the hostU Account registration, Listing process or thereafter, (iv) you and/or your Listings at any time fail to meet any applicable quality or eligibility criteria, (v) hostU otherwise becomes aware of or has received complaints about your performance or conduct, (vi) you have repeatedly cancelled confirmed bookings or failed to respond to booking requests without a valid reason, or (vii) hostU believes in good faith that such action is reasonably necessary to protect the personal safety or property of hostU, its Members, or third parties, or to prevent fraud or other illegal activity:

• refuse to surface, delete or delay any Listings, Ratings, Reviews, or other Member Content;
• cancel any pending or confirmed bookings;
• limit your access to or use of the hostU Platform;
• temporarily or permanently revoke any special status associated with your hostU Account;
• temporarily or in case of severe or repeated offenses permanently suspend your hostU Account and stop providing access to the hostU Platform.
• In case of non-material breaches and where appropriate, you will be given notice of any intended measure by hostU and an opportunity to resolve the issue to hostU's reasonable satisfaction.

15.6 If we take any of the measures described above (i) we may refund your Guests in full for any and all confirmed bookings that have been cancelled, irrespective of preexisting cancellation policies, and (ii) you will not be entitled to any compensation for pending or confirmed bookings that were cancelled.

15.7 When this Agreement has been terminated, you are not entitled to a restoration of your hostU Account or any of your Member Content. If your access to or use of the hostU Platform has been limited or your hostU Account has been suspended or this Agreement has been terminated by us, you may not register a new hostU Account or access and use the hostU Platform through an hostU Account of another Member.

15.8 Sections 5 through 9 and 11 through through 22 of these Terms shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement.

16. Disclaimers

If you choose to use the hostU Platform or Collective Content, you do so voluntarily and at your sole risk. The hostU Platform and Collective Content is provided “as is”, without warranty of any kind, either express or implied.

You agree that you have had whatever opportunity you deem necessary to investigate the hostU Services, laws, rules, or regulations that may be applicable to your Listings and/or Listing you are receiving and that you are not relying upon any statement of law or fact made by hostU relating to a Listing.

If we choose to conduct identity verification or background checks on any Member, to the extent permitted by applicable law, we disclaim warranties of any kind, either express or implied, that such checks will identify prior misconduct by a Member or guarantee that a Member will not engage in misconduct in the future.

The foregoing disclaimers apply to the maximum extent permitted by law. You may have other statutory rights. However, the duration of statutorily required warranties, if any, shall be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

17. Liability

You acknowledge and agree that, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the entire risk arising out of your access to and use of the hostU Platform and Collective Content, your publishing or booking of any Listing via the hostU Platform, your stay at any Accommodation, or any other interaction you have with other Members whether in person or online remains with you. Neither hostU nor any other party involved in creating, producing, or delivering the hostU Platform or Collective Content will be liable for any incidental, special, exemplary or consequential damages, including lost profits, loss of data or loss of goodwill, service interruption, computer damage or system failure or the cost of substitute products or services, or for any damages for personal or bodily injury or emotional distress arising out of or in connection with (i) these Terms, (ii) from the use of or inability to use the hostU Platform or Collective Content, (iii) from any communications, interactions or meetings with other Members or other persons with whom you communicate, interact or meet with as a result of your use of the hostU Platform, or (iv) from your publishing or booking of a Listing, including the provision or use of a Listing’s Listing, whether based on warranty, contract, tort (including negligence), product liability or any other legal theory, and whether or not hostU has been informed of the possibility of such damage, even if a limited remedy set forth herein is found to have failed of its essential purpose. Except for our obligations to pay amounts to applicable Hosts and hostU pursuant to these Terms or an approved payment request, in no event will hostU’s aggregate liability arising out of or in connection with these Terms and your use of the hostU Platform including, but not limited to, from your publishing or booking of any Listings via the hostU Platform, or from the use of or inability to use the hostU Platform or Collective Content and in connection with any Accommodation, or interactions with any other Members, exceed the amounts you have paid or owe for bookings via the hostU Platform as a Guest in the twelve (12) month period prior to the event giving rise to the liability, or if you are a Host, the amounts paid by hostU to you in the twelve (12) month period prior to the event giving rise to the liability, or one hundred U.S. dollars (US$100), if no such payments have been made, as applicable. The limitations of damages set forth above are fundamental elements of the basis of the bargain between hostU and you. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, so the above limitation may not apply to you. If you reside outside of the U.S., this does not affect hostU’s liability for any liability which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

18. Indemnification

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to release, defend (at hostU’s option), indemnify, and hold hostU and its affiliates and subsidiaries, including but not limited to, hostU Payments, and their shareholders, officers, directors, employees and agents, harmless from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including, without limitation, legal and accounting fees, arising out of or in any way connected with (i) your breach of these Terms or our Policies or Standards, (ii) your improper use of the hostU Platform or any hostU Services, (iii) your interaction with any Member, stay at an Accommodation, including without limitation any injuries, losses or damages (whether compensatory, direct, incidental, consequential or otherwise) of any kind arising in connection with or as a result of such interaction, stay, participation or use, (iv) hostU’s Collection and Remittance of Occupancy Taxes, or (v) your breach of any laws, regulations or third party rights.

19. Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Agreement

19.1 This Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Agreement shall apply if your (i) country of residence or establishment is in the United States; or (ii) your country of residence or establishment is not in the United States but bring any claim against hostU in the United States (to the extent not in conflict with Section 21).

19.2 Overview of Dispute Resolution Process. hostU is committed to participating in a consumer-friendly dispute resolution process. To that end, these Terms provide for a two-part process for individuals to whom Section 19.1 applies: (1) an informal mediation between the Host and Guest, and (2) a binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) using its specially designed Consumer Arbitration Rules (as modified by this Section 19 and except as provided in Section 19.6). Specifically, the Consumer Arbitration Rules provide:

• Claims can be filed with AAA online (www.adr.org);
• Arbitrators must be neutral, and no party may unilaterally select an arbitrator;
• Arbitrators must disclose any bias, interest in the result of the arbitration, or relationship with any party;
• The initial filing fee for the consumer is capped at $200;
• The consumer gets to elect the hearing location and can elect to participate live, by phone, video conference, or, for claims under $5,000, by the submission of documents;
• The arbitrator can grant any remedy that the parties could have received in court to resolve the party’s individual claim.

19.3 Pre-Arbitration Dispute Resolution and Notification. Prior to initiating an arbitration, you and hostU each agree to notify the other party of the dispute and attempt to negotiate an informal resolution to it first. If after a good faith effort to negotiate one of us feels the dispute has not and cannot be resolved informally, the party intending to pursue arbitration agrees to notify the other party via email prior to initiating the arbitration. In order to initiate arbitration, a claim must be filed with the AAA and the written Demand for Arbitration (available at www.adr.org) provided to the other party, as specified in the AAA Rules.

19.4 Agreement to Arbitrate. You and hostU mutually agree that any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the applicability, breach, termination, validity, enforcement or interpretation thereof, or to the use of the hostU Platform, the Listing, or the Collective Content (collectively, “Disputes”) will be settled by binding individual arbitration (the “Arbitration Agreement”). If there is a dispute about whether this Arbitration Agreement can be enforced or applies to our Dispute, you and hostU agree that the arbitrator will decide that issue.

19.5 Exceptions to Arbitration Agreement. You and hostU each agree that the following claims are exceptions to the Arbitration Agreement and will be brought in a judicial proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction: (i) Any claim related to actual or threatened infringement, misappropriation or violation of a party’s copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, or other intellectual property rights; (ii) Any claim seeking emergency injunctive relief based on exigent circumstances (e.g., imminent danger or commission of a crime, hacking, cyber-attack).

19.6 Arbitration Rules and Governing Law. This Arbitration Agreement evidences a transaction in interstate commerce and thus the Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this provision. The arbitration will be administered by AAA in accordance with the Consumer Arbitration Rules and/or other AAA arbitration rules determined to be applicable by the AAA (the “AAA Rules“) then in effect, except as modified here. The AAA Rules are available at www.adr.org or by calling the AAA at 1–800–778–7879.

19.7 Modification to AAA Rules - Arbitration Hearing/Location. You and hostU agrees that any required arbitration hearing may be conducted, at your option, (a) in Chicago, Illinois; (b) in any other location to which you and hostU both agree; (c) via phone or video conference; or (d) for any claim or counterclaim under $5,000, by solely the submission of documents to the arbitrator.

19.8 Arbitrator’s Decision. The arbitrator’s decision will include the essential findings and conclusions upon which the arbitrator based the award. Judgment on the arbitration award may be entered in any court with proper jurisdiction. The arbitrator may award declaratory or injunctive relief only on an individual basis and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by the claimant’s individual claim.

19.9 Jury Trial Waiver. You and hostU acknowledge and agree that we are each waiving the right to a trial by jury as to all arbitrable Disputes.

19.10 No Class Actions or Representative Proceedings. You and hostU acknowledge and agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we are each waiving the right to participate as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class action lawsuit, class-wide arbitration, private attorney general action, or any other representative proceeding as to all Disputes. Further, unless you and hostU both otherwise agree in writing, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one party’s claims and may not otherwise preside over any form of any class or representative proceeding. If the “class action lawsuit” waiver or the “class-wide arbitration” waiver in this Section 19.10 is held unenforceable with respect to any Dispute, then the entirety of the Arbitration Agreement will be deemed void with respect to such Dispute and the Dispute must proceed in court. If the “private attorney general action” waiver or the “representative proceeding” waiver in this Section 19.10 is held unenforceable with respect to any Dispute, those waivers may be severed from this Arbitration Agreement and you and hostU agree that any private attorney general claims and representative claims in the Dispute will be severed and stayed, pending the resolution of any arbitrable claims in the Dispute in individual arbitration.

19.11 Severability. Except as provided in Section 19.10, in the event that any portion of this Arbitration Agreement is deemed illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be severed and the remainder of the Arbitration Agreement shall be given full force and effect.

19.12 Changes. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3 (“Modification of these Terms”), if hostU changes this Section 19 (“Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Agreement”) after the date you last accepted these Terms (or accepted any subsequent changes to these Terms), you may reject any such change by sending us written notice (including by email) within thirty (30) days of the date such change became effective, as indicated in the “Last Updated” date above or in the date of hostU’s email to you notifying you of such change. Rejecting a new change, however, does not revoke or alter your prior consent to any earlier agreements to arbitrate any Dispute between you and hostU (or your prior consent to any subsequent changes thereto), which will remain in effect and enforceable as to any Dispute between you and hostU.

19.13 Survival. Except as provided in Section 19.11 and subject to Section 15.8, this Section 19 will survive any termination of these Terms and will continue to apply even if you stop using the hostU Platform or terminate your hostU Account.

20. Feedback

We welcome and encourage you to provide feedback, comments and suggestions for improvements to the hostU Platform (“Feedback“). You may submit Feedback by emailing us, through the “Contact” section of the hostU Platform, or by other means of communication. Any Feedback you submit to us will be considered non-confidential and non-proprietary to you. By submitting Feedback to us, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable, sub-licensable, perpetual license to use and publish those ideas and materials for any purpose, without compensation to you.

21. Applicable Law and Jurisdiction

21.1 These Terms will be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois and the United States of America, without regard to conflict-of-law provisions. Judicial proceedings (other than small claims actions) that are excluded from the Arbitration Agreement in Section 19 must be brought in state or federal court in Chicago, Illinois, unless we both agree to some other location. You and we both consent to venue and personal jurisdiction in Chicago, Illinois.

22. General Provisions

22.1 Except as they may be supplemented by additional terms and conditions, policies, guidelines or standards, these Terms constitute the entire Agreement between hostU and you pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all prior oral or written understandings or agreements between hostU and you in relation to the access to and use of the hostU Platform.

22.2 No joint venture, partnership, employment, or agency relationship exists between you and hostU as a result of this Agreement or your use of the hostU Platform.

22.3 These Terms do not and are not intended to confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties.

22.4 If any provision in these Terms is determined to be illegal or unenforceable, that provision is severed from this Agreement and the other provisions remain in force.

22.5 hostU’s failure to enforce any right or provision in these Terms will not constitute a waiver of such right or provision unless acknowledged and agreed to by us in writing. Except as expressly set forth in these Terms, the exercise by either party of any of its remedies under these Terms will be without prejudice to its other remedies under these Terms or otherwise permitted under law.

22.6 You may not assign, transfer or delegate this Agreement and your rights and obligations hereunder without hostU's prior written consent. hostU may without restriction assign, transfer or delegate this Agreement and any rights and obligations hereunder, at its sole discretion, with 30 days prior notice. Your right to terminate this Agreement at any time remains unaffected.

22.7 Unless specified otherwise, any notices or other communications to Members permitted or required under this Agreement, will be provided electronically and given by hostU via email, hostU Platform notification, or messaging service.