1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using RentNeighbors ("the Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Platform. We may update these Terms from time to time, and continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

2. Description of Service

RentNeighbors is a peer-to-peer rental marketplace that connects individuals who want to rent out personal items ("Owners") with individuals who want to rent those items ("Renters"). RentNeighbors provides the platform and payment processing infrastructure but is not a party to any rental agreement between Owners and Renters.

3. Account Registration

To use certain features of the Platform, you must create an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration, maintain the security of your password, and accept responsibility for all activities under your account. You must verify your email address before posting listings or initiating rentals. You must be at least 18 years old to create an account.

4. Identity Verification

Before making your first rental booking, you are required to complete identity verification through our third-party provider (Stripe Identity). This process involves submitting a government-issued photo ID. Identity verification helps maintain trust and safety within the community.

5. Listings and Rentals

Owners are responsible for the accuracy of their listings, including descriptions, photos, pricing, and availability. Owners must only list items they legally own or have authority to rent. Items that are illegal, stolen, hazardous, or prohibited by applicable law may not be listed.

Renters agree to use rented items responsibly, return them on time and in the same condition as received (normal wear and tear excepted), and communicate promptly with Owners regarding any issues.

6. Payments and Fees

All payments are processed securely through Stripe. A 10% platform fee is applied to each rental transaction. Owners receive 90% of the rental fee via Stripe Connect. Security deposits, if required by the Owner, are collected at checkout and refunded upon satisfactory return of the item.

Refunds are issued automatically when a rental request is declined, cancelled before approval, or when a date conflict is detected. For other refund requests, contact support.

7. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• Use the Platform for any illegal purpose
• List stolen, counterfeit, or prohibited items
• Misrepresent the condition or description of items
• Harass, threaten, or engage in abusive behavior toward other users
• Attempt to circumvent the Platform's payment system to avoid fees
• Create multiple accounts to evade suspension or bans
• Interfere with or disrupt the Platform's operation or security
• Scrape, crawl, or collect data from the Platform without permission

8. Disputes and Resolution

We encourage Owners and Renters to resolve disputes directly. When direct resolution is not possible, either party may file a dispute through the Platform. We review disputes based on available evidence including condition photos, messages, and transaction records. RentNeighbors's dispute resolution is provided as a courtesy and our decisions are not legally binding arbitration.

9. Content and Intellectual Property

You retain ownership of content you post (photos, descriptions, reviews). By posting content, you grant RentNeighbors a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute that content in connection with the Platform's operation. You represent that you have the right to post all content you submit.

10. Account Suspension and Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms, engage in prohibited conduct, or if we receive verified reports of misconduct. Suspended users will be notified and may not create new accounts. You may delete your account at any time by contacting support.

11. Limitation of Liability

RentNeighbors is a marketplace platform and does not own, inspect, or guarantee any items listed. We are not liable for the condition, safety, legality, or quality of listed items, the accuracy of listings or user content, any damage, loss, or injury arising from rental transactions, or any disputes between Owners and Renters. The Platform is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless RentNeighbors, its officers, employees, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from your use of the Platform, violation of these Terms, or your rental transactions with other users.

Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly:

• Account information: Name, email address, password (stored as a bcrypt hash)
• Listing information: Item descriptions, photos, pricing, location
• Identity verification: Government-issued ID processed by Stripe Identity (we do not store your ID documents)
• Payment information: Processed and stored by Stripe (we do not store card numbers)
• Communications: Messages between users, reviews, and reports

How We Use Your Information

• To provide and improve the Platform
• To process rental transactions and payments
• To send transactional emails (booking confirmations, verification, password resets)
• To verify your identity and prevent fraud
• To resolve disputes and enforce our Terms
• To display your public profile, listings, and reviews to other users

Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only with:

• Stripe: For payment processing and identity verification
• Resend: For transactional email delivery
• Other users: Your name, listings, reviews, and public profile are visible to other users
• Law enforcement: When required by law or to protect the safety of our users

Data Security

We implement security measures including password hashing (bcrypt), HTTPS encryption, secure HTTP headers, and JWT-based session management. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Rights

You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information by contacting us at privacy@rentneighbors.com. You may update your notification preferences at any time in your account settings.

Contact

For questions about these Terms or our Privacy Policy, contact us at support@rentneighbors.com.