Terms of Service

1. Definitions

For the purpose of these Terms:

• "Account" means a registered profile on the Platform through which a user accesses the Platform's services and features.
• "Agent" means a user acting on behalf of a landlord or tenant, assisting with listings, inquiries, or transactions.
• "Due Diligence" means the process of verifying the authenticity, accuracy, and legality of information, users, or listings on the Platform.
• "Eligibility Requirements" means the criteria a user must meet to access or use the Platform.
• "Landlord" means a user offering property for rent through the Platform.
• "NDPC" means the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, the regulatory authority overseeing compliance with data protection laws in Nigeria.
• "NDPA" means the Nigeria Data Protection Act, the law governing the processing of personal data in Nigeria.
• "Notification Method" means any means through which users are informed of activities, updates or changes, including in-app alerts, emails, or website postings.
• "Personal Data" means any information that identifies or can reasonably identify a user, including but not limited to name, email address, phone number, identification documents, and payment details.
• "PSP" means Payment Service Provider, any licensed financial institution duly authorized to process payments on behalf of users.
• "Shelterbaze", "we", "us" or "our" means Shelterbaze Nigeria Limited, the owner and operator of the Platform.
• "Tenant" means a user seeking to rent property through the Platform.
• "Third-Party Services" means services integrated into the Platform that are not directly provided by Shelterbaze, which may include payment processors, messaging tools, and identity verification services.
• "User", "You", or "Your" means any individual or entity accessing or using the Platform, including tenants, landlords, or agents.

2. Eligibility

By using the Platform, you agree that you meet the following requirements:

• You are at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter contracts under Nigerian law.
• You are not barred from using financial services or entering into rental agreements under applicable law.
• All verification documents provided by you as requested by the Platform are authentic and up to date.

3. Third-Party Services

The Platform may integrate third-party services for:

• Messaging and communication;
• Verification of user identity, profiles, and listings;
• Data hosting, analytics, and security;
• Payment planning and processing.

All payments initiated through the Platform are processed exclusively by licensed third-party payment service providers (PSPs) authorized by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Shelterbaze does not:

• Receive, hold, store, pool, or control user funds;
• Operate wallets, deposit balances, float accounts; or escrow services;
• Settle payments or process refunds.

Payment transactions are subject to the PSPs' own terms and conditions. Shelterbaze does not control third-party services and is not responsible for their availability, accuracy, or performance.

4. Users and Responsibilities

5. Acceptable Use

All users, including landlords, tenants, and agents, agree to use the Platform responsibly, in accordance with these terms and for lawful purposes only. You agree not to:

• Violate any applicable Nigerian or international law, regulation, or legislative, executive, or judicial directive;
• Engage in fraudulent, misleading, or illegal conduct on/using the Platform;
• Infringe on the fundamental rights of other users on the Platform either virtually or physically;
• Upload, post, transmit, or distribute in any form, any content that is unlawful, harmful, abusive, harassing, defamatory, obscene, infringing, or otherwise objectionable using the Platform;
• Circumvent or attempt to circumvent security features, access controls, and usage restrictions, or otherwise disrupt or attempt to disrupt the integrity, safety, or performance of the Platform;
• Manipulate or access paid services provided by the Platform for free or use the Platform to promote or conduct commercial activities not expressly permitted by the Platform;
• Store, share, access or use accounts, listings, security information, or personal data of other users without their express consent or authorization;
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or otherwise attempt to discover the source code or underlying structure of the Platform;
• Use the Platform in a manner that could harm the Platform's reputation or expose it to legal or regulatory liability.

6. Data Protection

Shelterbaze processes personal data in accordance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), applicable guidance issued by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and its Privacy Policy. Personal data may be processed for:

• Account creation and management;
• Identity and listing verification;
• Payment facilitation through PSPs;
• Platform security, analytics, and improvement;
• Compliance with legal and regulatory obligations.

Your data may be processed by third-party processors and stored on servers located within or outside Nigeria, subject to appropriate safeguards. By using the Platform, you consent to such processing.

7. Limitation of Liability

The Platform is available on an "as is" and "as available" basis. To the maximum extent permitted by Nigerian law, Shelterbaze disclaims all warranties, express or implied. Shelterbaze is not liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, including losses arising from disputes between landlords, agents, and tenants.

Shelterbaze is not liable for:

• Any loss or security breach of your account or information resulting from improper use of your login credentials.
• Any loss or security breach arising from your failure to set up an appropriate security measure whether recommended by us or not.
• Any loss resulting from failure to conduct due diligence on users or listings, whether recommended or not, or any negligence or gross misconduct on your part.
• Any loss arising from transactions with/using any third-party service integrated into our Platform.
• Any loss resulting from system downtime or service interruption.

8. Termination

We reserve the right to terminate or suspend access to our specific services where you breach any of these Terms or applicable laws.

9. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which shall have exclusive jurisdiction over all disputes and claims arising from the use of the Platform.

10. Amendments

We reserve the right to update these Terms periodically. Updates will be effective upon placement on the Platform or via any notification method you have chosen or made available to you. By continuing to use the Platform, you agree to any updated Terms.

11. Supplementary Terms

Any privacy policy, specific platform rules, or other policies or agreements you enter into with Shelterbaze are considered supplementary terms and form an integral part of these Terms. These supplementary terms have the same legal effect as these Terms, provided that you have been notified of any material updates via any notification method you have chosen or made available to you. Your continued use of the Platform, or our specific products or services constitutes acceptance of the supplementary terms.