Terms of Service

Welcome to SpareRoom Nigeria (“the Platform”, “we”, “us”, “our”). These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your use of our website at spareroomnigeria.com and all related services.

By creating an account, browsing listings, making a booking, or otherwise using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Platform.

We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. We will notify registered users of material changes via email.

SpareRoom Nigeria is an online marketplace that connects individuals who have spare rooms available (“Hosts”) with individuals seeking rooms (“Tenants”). We facilitate the discovery, verification, payment, and agreement process between Hosts and Tenants.

SpareRoom Nigeria is not a landlord, property manager, estate agent, or party to any room license agreement between Hosts and Tenants. We are a technology platform that provides tools and services to facilitate safe room rental transactions.

We do not own, manage, or control any of the rooms listed on the Platform. Hosts are solely responsible for the accuracy of their listings and the condition of their rooms.

All room arrangements facilitated through SpareRoom Nigeria are structured as room license agreements, not tenancy agreements. This is a deliberate legal distinction with important implications:

• A room license grants the Tenant a personal, non-exclusive right to occupy the specified room for a defined monthly period.
• The license is renewable on a month-to-month basis, subject to payment and compliance with house rules.
• The Host retains the right of access to the property and shared areas at all reasonable times.
• The license does not create exclusive possession rights associated with a tenancy under Lagos State Tenancy Law.
• Either party may terminate the license by providing notice as specified in the agreement (typically 30 days or at the end of the current monthly period).
• Non-payment of the monthly fee results in automatic non-renewal of the license.

By using the Platform, both Hosts and Tenants acknowledge and agree that their arrangement is a room license and not a tenancy.

To use certain features of the Platform, you must create an account. You must be at least 18 years of age and legally capable of entering into binding agreements under Nigerian law.

You agree to:

• Provide accurate, truthful, and complete information during registration and at all times.
• Complete identity verification (BVN and government-issued ID) as required by your user role.
• Maintain the security and confidentiality of your account credentials.
• Not create multiple accounts or accounts using false identities.
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or that we reasonably believe are engaged in fraudulent activity.

All Users must:

• Use the Platform in compliance with all applicable Nigerian laws and regulations.
• Not use the Platform for any fraudulent, illegal, or harmful purposes.
• Not attempt to circumvent Platform security, verification, or payment systems.
• Not make payments outside the Platform for arrangements initiated through the Platform.
• Treat other users with respect and communicate in good faith.

Hosts additionally must:

• Provide accurate and truthful listing information, including photos, descriptions, pricing, and amenities.
• Maintain rooms in the condition represented in listings.
• Have the legal right to list the room (ownership or authorized sub-licensing).
• Comply with all applicable safety and building regulations.
• Honor confirmed bookings and the terms of signed room license agreements.

Tenants additionally must:

• Pay all amounts due on time through the Platform.
• Treat the room and shared spaces with reasonable care.
• Comply with house rules specified in the room license agreement.
• Vacate the room upon termination or expiry of the license.

All payments on SpareRoom Nigeria are processed through Paystack, a licensed payment processor in Nigeria.

• Tenant Payments: Tenants pay the room fee (monthly or yearly) plus a 10% Service Fee. For agent-managed listings, an additional 10% Agent Fee applies. Monthly listings include a Last Month Rent (Reserve). All fees are clearly shown before payment.
• Host Payouts: Hosts receive 100% of their listed rent price via Paystack split payments, deposited directly to their registered bank account.
• Service Fee: A 10% Service Fee is charged to tenants on top of the rent, covering verification, escrow, moderation, and support services. This replaces the traditional agreement/legal fee.
• Escrow: Security deposits are held by the Platform in an escrow-like arrangement and released according to the terms of the room license agreement or dispute resolution outcome.
• Refunds: Refunds are processed through the dispute resolution system. Approved refunds are returned via Paystack to the original payment method.

Users must not make or request payments outside the Platform for arrangements initiated through SpareRoom Nigeria. Off-platform payments are not protected and violate these Terms.

SpareRoom Nigeria provides an internal dispute resolution mechanism for issues arising between Hosts and Tenants.

• Either party may raise a dispute through the Platform during an active booking.
• Disputes are reviewed by our moderation team, who evaluate evidence provided by both parties.
• Moderators may decide on refunds, deposit releases, or other remedies consistent with the room license agreement terms.
• Admin users have override authority for escalated cases.
• During an active dispute, escrowed funds are held until resolution.

While we strive to resolve disputes fairly, SpareRoom Nigeria's dispute resolution process does not constitute arbitration or legal adjudication. Users retain the right to pursue legal remedies through Nigerian courts.

To the maximum extent permitted by Nigerian law:

• SpareRoom Nigeria is not liable for the actions, omissions, conduct, or quality of any Host, Tenant, or third party.
• We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or quality of any listing, user profile, or content on the Platform.
• We are not responsible for any loss, damage, injury, or expense arising from room arrangements facilitated through the Platform.
• Our total liability for any claim arising from your use of the Platform shall not exceed the total amount of platform fees you have paid to us in the 12 months preceding the claim.
• We are not liable for indirect, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages of any kind.

Users acknowledge that room rental inherently involves risks and that SpareRoom Nigeria's verification and escrow systems, while designed to minimize risk, cannot eliminate it entirely.

The SpareRoom Nigeria name, logo, website design, software, and all related intellectual property are owned by SpareRoom Nigeria and protected under Nigerian and international intellectual property laws.

By uploading content (listings, photos, reviews) to the Platform, you grant SpareRoom Nigeria a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute that content in connection with the operation of the Platform.

You may close your account at any time by contacting our support team. Closing your account does not release you from obligations under active room license agreements or pending disputes.

We may suspend or terminate your account if you:

• Violate these Terms of Service.
• Provide false or fraudulent information.
• Engage in fraudulent, abusive, or harmful behaviour.
• Fail to complete required identity verification.
• Attempt to circumvent Platform payment or security systems.

Upon termination, your access to the Platform will be revoked. Any outstanding obligations (payments, dispute resolution) will be resolved according to these Terms.

SpareRoom Nigeria is committed to protecting your personal data in compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

• We collect and process personal data only for the purposes described in our Privacy Policy.
• Your consent is obtained before processing personal data.
• You have the right to access, correct, and request deletion of your personal data.
• BVN and identity documents are stored with encryption and accessed only by authorized personnel.

For full details on how we handle your data, please read our Privacy Policy.

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Any disputes arising from these Terms that cannot be resolved through our internal dispute resolution process shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Lagos State, Nigeria.

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us:

• Email: legal@spareroomnigeria.com
• General enquiries: hello@spareroomnigeria.com
• Address: Lagos, Nigeria