Host Terms

These Host Terms apply in addition to our Terms of Service to anyone who lists a property on Homesztay ("Host"). They are effective from [Effective date: set in Admin › Settings › Legal].

1. Who can host

• You must be 18 or older and either own the property or have the written right to list it (for example, as a lessee with the owner's permission, or a registered property manager).
• Hosting on Homesztay may require verified email, phone and identity, and for payouts a PAN and an Indian bank account in your or your business's name.
• If you host as a business, you confirm you are authorised to bind that business.

2. Your listing

• Describe the property honestly: photos must be of the actual property, amenities must exist and work, and anything a guest should know (stairs, construction nearby, shared spaces, pets on site, power backup, water supply) must be disclosed.
• Set clear house rules before booking, including check-in and check-out times, maximum occupancy, smoking, pets, parties and visitors. Rules must be lawful and applied consistently.
• Any requirements about guest ID (for example "local ID not accepted") must be lawful, disclosed in the listing before booking, and applied to every guest equally.
• Listings may be reviewed by our team before going live and may be removed if they break these terms.

3. Legal compliance is your responsibility

Hosting rules differ by state and city. You are responsible for, among other things:

• Registration or licences under your State's homestay, bed-and-breakfast or tourism scheme, where applicable.
• Permissions from your housing society, building or landlord, and any trade licence or property-tax classification required.
• Guest registration and ID records required by local police and, for foreign nationals, submitting Form C to the FRRO within 24 hours of their arrival.
• Fire safety, structural safety and other building-code requirements.
• Taxes: GST registration and returns where your turnover requires it, income tax on hosting income, and any local levies. Homesztay may collect TCS under Section 52 of the CGST Act and deduct TDS under Section 194-O of the Income-tax Act, 1961, and will issue the statements needed to claim credit. Where the law makes Homesztay liable to pay GST on your bookings, we will collect and pay it.

4. Pricing, fees and payouts

• You set your nightly price, cleaning fee, extra-guest fee and discounts. Prices are in INR.
• We charge a host commission of 3% of the booking subtotal (excluding taxes), deducted from your payout. Guests pay a separate service fee.
• Payouts are released about 24 hours after the guest checks in, to your verified bank account, after deducting fees, applicable TCS/TDS and any refunds owed. Bank processing times may apply.
• We may hold a payout if we reasonably suspect fraud, a policy breach or a pending dispute, and will tell you why.

5. Booking requests and cancellations

• Respond to booking requests within 24 hours. Requests you don't answer expire automatically.
• Honour every confirmed booking. If you cancel, the guest gets a full refund, and we may charge a cancellation fee, block the dates on your calendar, add a public note to your listing or suspend it for repeat cancellations.
• Cancellations for genuine extenuating circumstances (for example a natural disaster or serious damage to the property) are assessed case by case.
• Your cancellation policy applies to guest cancellations; see the Cancellation & Refund Policy.

6. Guests, safety and conduct

• Keep the property safe, clean and as described. Provide working locks, a first-aid kit, and clearly marked emergency exits and contacts. Fire extinguishers and smoke detectors are strongly recommended.
• Disclose any security cameras or recording devices in the listing. Cameras are never allowed in bedrooms, bathrooms or other private spaces.
• Treat all guests equally in line with our Community Guidelines.
• Keep communication and payments on Homesztay. Asking guests to pay outside the Platform can lead to removal.

7. Damage and security deposits

If a guest damages your property, report it through the resolution centre within 14 days of check-out with photos and repair estimates. We will help mediate and, where appropriate, collect payment from the guest. Homesztay does not provide insurance unless we say so expressly, and we recommend you hold suitable home or commercial insurance.

8. Reviews and ratings

Guests can review a stay within 14 days of check-out, and you can review guests. You may respond publicly to reviews. You must not offer anything in exchange for a review or pressure guests to change one.

9. Content licence

You grant us a licence to use your listing content and photos to operate and promote the Platform, including on social media and in advertising. You confirm you own or have permission to use them.

10. Suspension and ending hosting

You can unlist a property at any time, but must honour confirmed bookings or cancel them under these terms. We may suspend or remove a listing or account for breach of these terms, the law, or repeated poor quality, with notice where possible. Payouts for completed stays remain payable unless withheld for a dispute or legal reason.

11. Contact

Host support: support@homesztay.in · [Customer care phone: set in Admin › Settings › Legal]. Grievances: see Grievance Redressal.