Terms of Service

1. Introduction

Welcome to Roomeru ("Platform," "we," "us," or "our"). Roomeru is an online marketplace that connects verified students ("Guests") with property owners and managers ("Hosts") for student housing accommodations across the United States.

Roomeru acts solely as an intermediary platform facilitating connections between Hosts and Guests. We are not a party to any rental agreement between Hosts and Guests, and we do not own, manage, or control any properties listed on the Platform. By accessing or using Roomeru, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, you must not use the Platform.

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Roomeru regarding your use of the Platform.

2. Eligibility

To use Roomeru, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• You must be at least 18 years of age.
• You must be a current or incoming student at an accredited college or university in the United States.
• You must possess a valid .edu email address from your institution for verification purposes.
• You must have the legal capacity to enter into binding agreements.

Hosts are not required to be students but must be at least 18 years of age and have the legal right to list their property. We reserve the right to verify your eligibility at any time and to suspend or terminate accounts that do not meet these requirements.

3. Account Registration & Security

You must create an account to use most features of the Platform. When registering, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration.
• Maintain only one account per person. Creating multiple accounts is prohibited.
• Keep your login credentials confidential and not share them with any third party.
• Notify us immediately at support@roomeru.com if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.

You are solely responsible for all activity that occurs under your account. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

4. Student Verification

Guest accounts require student verification through a valid .edu email address. By completing verification, you represent that you are currently enrolled at or accepted to the institution associated with your .edu email.

We may periodically request re-verification of your student status. If you are unable to re-verify, your account may be restricted from making new bookings. Existing active bookings will not be affected by a verification lapse.

Providing false or misleading verification information is grounds for immediate account termination and may result in the forfeiture of any pending refunds.

5. Host Terms

By listing a property on Roomeru, Hosts represent and warrant that:

• All listing information, including descriptions, photos, and pricing, is accurate and not misleading.
• They have the legal right to list the property, including any required landlord consent, and comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, including zoning regulations and short-term rental ordinances.
• Properties in regulated cities (including New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Boston, Cambridge, Washington D.C., Seattle, Chicago, and Portland) are subject to a minimum stay of 30 nights.
• They will maintain appropriate insurance coverage for their property and any rental activities.
• All content posted complies with our content standards and does not infringe on any third-party intellectual property rights.

Hosts are independent contractors and not employees, agents, or partners of Roomeru. Roomeru does not endorse or guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of any listing.

6. Guest Terms

By booking a property on Roomeru, Guests agree to:

• Use the property solely for residential purposes and in accordance with the listing description and any house rules set by the Host.
• Treat the property with reasonable care and report any damage or maintenance issues promptly to the Host.
• Not exceed the occupancy limits specified in the listing.
• Not sublease, assign, or transfer the booking to any other person without prior written consent of the Host.
• Vacate the property by the agreed checkout date unless an extension is mutually agreed upon with the Host.

Booking requests are subject to Host approval unless instant booking is enabled. A booking is confirmed only when you receive written confirmation through the Platform.

7. Fees & Payments

Roomeru charges service fees to facilitate bookings:

• Guest Service Fee: 15% of the base rent amount, added to the booking total. This fee covers platform operations, payment processing, customer support, and verification services.
• Host Service Fee: 3–8% of the base rent, deducted from the Host's payout. The exact rate depends on the property's state and stay length (higher rates apply in states with additional compliance requirements such as monthly billing or embedded damage protection).
• Cleaning Fee: If a Host sets a cleaning fee, it is passed through to the Guest at cost. No platform markup is applied to cleaning fees.

Payment Processing: All payments are processed securely through Stripe Connect. Roomeru holds funds in escrow and releases Host payouts after Guest checkout plus a 1–3 day review window. Guests never pay Hosts directly.

Monthly Billing: For mid-term stays (30+ nights) in Massachusetts, New York, California, New Jersey, and Connecticut, rent is billed on a monthly cycle as required by state law. In other states, the full stay amount may be collected upfront.

Security Deposits: Security deposit amounts and handling vary by state. Deposits are held by the Platform and returned within the state-mandated timeframe (14–31 days depending on state) after checkout, minus any documented damages. Hosts must file damage claims within 7 days of checkout.

8. Cancellation & Refunds

Cancellation policies are set by the Host for each listing. The following tiers apply to short stays (under 30 nights):

• Flexible: Full refund if cancelled 24+ hours before check-in. 50% refund if cancelled less than 24 hours before check-in.
• Moderate: Full refund if cancelled 5+ days before check-in. 50% refund if cancelled less than 5 days before check-in.
• Strict: Full refund if cancelled 14+ days before check-in. 50% refund if cancelled 7–14 days before check-in. No refund if cancelled less than 7 days before check-in.

Mid-Term Stays (30+ nights): Full refund if cancelled 14+ days before move-in. 50% of the first month is retained if cancelled 7–13 days before move-in. The full first month is retained if cancelled less than 7 days before move-in.

Early Termination (after check-in): Guests must provide 30 days' written notice through the Platform. Guests are responsible for rent through the notice period. Hosts are required to make reasonable efforts to relist the property within 48 hours of vacancy; any rent collected from a new booking during the remaining lease period will be credited back to the departing Guest.

California 24-Hour Rule: For short-term stays of 30 nights or fewer in California, Guests may cancel within 24 hours of booking without penalty, provided the booking was made at least 72 hours before check-in.

9. Prohibited Conduct

Users of the Platform agree not to:

• Discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected class under the Fair Housing Act and applicable state laws.
• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent listing information or reviews.
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users, including through Platform messaging.
• Use the Platform for any illegal purpose, including but not limited to unauthorized subletting or operation of an unlicensed hotel.
• Attempt to circumvent Platform fees by arranging payments outside the Platform.
• Create fake accounts, use automated bots, or engage in activities that compromise Platform integrity.
• Interfere with or disrupt the Platform's infrastructure or security systems.

Violations may result in content removal, account suspension or termination, forfeiture of pending payouts, and reporting to appropriate authorities.

10. Content & Intellectual Property

User Content: By posting content (including listing descriptions, photos, reviews, and messages) on the Platform, you grant Roomeru a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, display, and distribute such content in connection with operating and promoting the Platform.

Platform IP: All Platform content, including its design, logos, trademarks, software, and text (excluding User Content), is the property of Roomeru or its licensors and is protected by intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, or create derivative works from any Platform content without our prior written consent.

DMCA Takedown: If you believe that content on the Platform infringes your copyright, please send a DMCA takedown notice to legal@roomeru.com with: (a) identification of the copyrighted work, (b) identification of the infringing material, (c) your contact information, (d) a statement of good faith belief, and (e) a statement under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.

11. Privacy

Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. By using the Platform, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in the Privacy Policy.

12. Disclaimers

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

Roomeru does not warrant that: (a) the Platform will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free; (b) listings are accurate, complete, or reliable; (c) any property meets any particular standard of quality, safety, or legality; or (d) any defects in the Platform will be corrected.

You acknowledge that Roomeru is not a real estate broker, landlord, or property manager and does not inspect properties listed on the Platform. All rental arrangements are solely between the Host and Guest.

13. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ROOMERU AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE PLATFORM.

IN NO EVENT SHALL ROOMERU'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE PLATFORM EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FEES YOU PAID TO ROOMERU DURING THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES, SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Roomeru, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use of or access to the Platform; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any applicable law or regulation; (d) your User Content; (e) any property damage, personal injury, or other harm arising from your interaction with other users; or (f) your breach of any representation or warranty in these Terms.

15. Dispute Resolution

In the event of a dispute between users, we encourage the following resolution process:

1. Direct Resolution (72 hours): Parties should first attempt to resolve the dispute directly through the Platform's messaging system within 72 hours.
2. Platform Mediation (7 days): If direct resolution fails, either party may request mediation by contacting support@roomeru.com. We will review the dispute and issue a non-binding recommendation within 7 business days.
3. Binding Arbitration: Any dispute that cannot be resolved through mediation shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. Arbitration shall be conducted in the English language, and judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Class Action Waiver: You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action.

Small Claims Exception: Either party may bring an individual action in small claims court for disputes within the court's jurisdictional limits.

Opt-Out: You may opt out of the arbitration agreement by sending written notice to legal@roomeru.com within 30 days of first accepting these Terms. Your notice must include your name, address, and a clear statement that you wish to opt out of the arbitration provision.

16. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any legal action not subject to arbitration shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Wilmington, Delaware, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

17. General Provisions

Modifications: We may update these Terms from time to time. For material changes, we will provide at least 30 days' notice via email and an in-app notification. Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. For significant changes, we may require you to re-accept the updated Terms before continuing to use the Platform.

Termination: We may suspend or terminate your account at any time for violation of these Terms or for any other reason at our sole discretion. You may terminate your account at any time by contacting support@roomeru.com. Termination does not relieve you of obligations incurred prior to termination, including any outstanding payments or active bookings.

Severability: If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Roomeru with respect to the Platform and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

Force Majeure: Roomeru shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, pandemics, government actions, internet outages, or third-party service failures.

Assignment: You may not assign or transfer your rights under these Terms without our prior written consent. Roomeru may assign its rights and obligations without restriction.

Waiver: The failure of Roomeru to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other provision.

Contact Information: For questions about these Terms, please contact us at legal@roomeru.com or write to: Roomeru Inc., Attn: Legal Department.