Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") are a binding agreement between you and Sharelet ("Sharelet", "we", "us", or "our") governing your access to and use of the Sharelet website, applications, and services (together, the "Services"). By creating an account, accessing, or using the Services, you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Services.

If you use the Services on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that organization, and "you" refers to that organization.

You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a legally binding contract to use the Services. By using the Services you represent and warrant that you meet these requirements and that all information you provide is accurate and current.

Sharelet is a neutral online marketplace that helps people discover, communicate about, and arrange housing (rooms, sublets, shared homes, and entire places). We provide tools such as listings, messaging, verification signals, compatibility matching, and optional payment facilitation.

Sharelet is NOT a party to any rental, lease, sublet, roommate, or other agreement between users. We are not a real estate broker, landlord, tenant, property manager, housing provider, leasing agent, or a credit reporting or tenant-screening agency. Any agreement you enter into with another user is solely between you and that user. We do not own, manage, inspect, or control any listing, property, or accommodation, and we do not guarantee the existence, condition, legality, safety, or suitability of any listing or the conduct of any user.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. Notify us immediately at info@shareletspace.com of any unauthorized use. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or that we reasonably believe present risk to other users or to Sharelet.

Sharelet offers verification levels (such as email, government-ID, and background-related checks) performed in part by third-party providers. Verification is a limited, point-in-time signal intended to increase trust. It is NOT a guarantee of any person's identity, character, intentions, criminal or rental history, financial status, or safety, and it is not an endorsement or recommendation by Sharelet.

Background and criminal-records checks (where offered) are run by an independent third-party screening provider, not by Sharelet. By starting a check you consent to your information being shared with that provider and processed for the check. The provider determines the result in its sole discretion; Sharelet does not conduct, process, or evaluate the underlying records. Such checks are point-in-time and may be incomplete or inaccurate: they cannot reveal every record, coverage varies by jurisdiction, and they reflect only information available on the date run. They are NOT a substitute for your own diligence (for example in-person or video meetings, reference checks, and your own searches). Any fee paid for a check is non-refundable once the check has been run, and you agree to indemnify Sharelet in connection with your use of these checks. Hosts and renters must use any result only as one informational signal and in compliance with applicable law, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act, fair-housing, and "ban-the-box"/fair-chance laws.

You are solely responsible for your own decisions about whom to communicate, meet, transact, or live with. Always exercise independent judgment and ordinary caution.

Verified Affordability (income) is optional. If you choose to verify your income through our provider (such as Plaid), Sharelet computes and displays only a coarse income band as a trust signal. It does NOT collect or display your raw financial data. This signal is not a consumer report, credit report, credit score, or tenant-screening report, and it is not intended for use in making credit decisions. Hosts agree to use it only as one informational trust signal and not for any purpose prohibited by applicable law (including the Fair Credit Reporting Act and fair-housing law).

You agree not to, and not to permit anyone else to:

• Violate any law, regulation, or third-party right, including fair housing, anti-discrimination, landlord-tenant, consumer-protection, and privacy laws;
• Post false, misleading, fraudulent, or scam content, or impersonate any person or entity;
• List a property you do not own or otherwise have the legal right to offer;
• Discriminate against any person in violation of applicable fair housing or anti-discrimination law;
• Harass, threaten, defame, stalk, or harm any person;
• Solicit money, deposits, or payments off-platform, or attempt to circumvent our fees or safety tools;
• Collect or harvest other users' information, scrape the Services, or use bots or automated means without our written permission;
• Upload malware, interfere with the Services, or attempt to gain unauthorized access to any system or account.

We may remove content and suspend or terminate accounts at our discretion for any violation, and may report unlawful activity to authorities.

You are solely responsible for the content you post, including listings, messages, photos, reviews, and profile information ("User Content"). You represent that you have all rights necessary to post your User Content and that it is accurate and lawful, including that you have the legal right to offer any property you list and that your listing complies with all applicable laws and any lease, HOA, or other restrictions.

Right to list. When you publish a listing you affirmatively confirm that you have the right to rent out that space: that you own it, or that your lease or your landlord permits you to sublet or host it. Listing a space without that right is a material violation of these Terms; Sharelet may remove such listings and suspend or terminate the responsible account, and you remain solely liable to your landlord, the other user, and any other affected party for the consequences.

You grant Sharelet a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable license to host, store, display, reproduce, adapt, and distribute your User Content for the purpose of operating, promoting, and improving the Services. You retain ownership of your User Content. We may, but are not obligated to, review, screen, or remove User Content at any time.

Certain features (such as Sharelet Plus, Host Pro, featured/boosted listings, reserve-with-deposit, protected deposits, and rent facilitation) may require payment of fees. Applicable fees are shown before you incur them. Unless stated otherwise or required by law, all fees are non-refundable.

Deposits. A protected deposit is funded by the renter through our payment provider (Stripe) into a protected account belonging to the host, where it is FROZEN: the account is held on a manual payout schedule, so the host cannot withdraw the funds and Sharelet does not take possession of them. The money moves only when Sharelet releases or returns it under Section 9. It is not paid out to the host at move-in. At move-out the deposit is settled: it is returned to the renter, less any deductions the parties agree to or that are resolved through the dispute tool. A non-refundable deposit protection fee applies and is retained by Sharelet even if the deposit principal is later returned, deducted, refunded, or the booking is cancelled, because it pays for the protection service, which is provided once the deposit is funded.

Rent. Where rent facilitation is enabled, the renter may pay each month on-platform. Rent, rent catch-up installments, and rent autopay are collected by bank debit (ACH) only; cards are not accepted for these. A flat service fee applies per rent payment and is non-refundable. WHO PAYS IT depends on the state the property is in and is fixed for a tenancy when its rent schedule is created: by default the HOST pays it and the renter pays their rent and nothing on top. Where the renter is the payer, the fee is added to the amount shown before payment and is never deducted from the rent owed to the host. No fee applies to rent catch-up installments. Bank-debit (ACH) payments are not instant: funds typically take several business days to clear, and a payment may be returned by the bank (for example, for insufficient funds), in which case the month is treated as unpaid. By choosing bank debit you authorize a debit from the bank account you connect for the amount shown.

Reversed payments (chargebacks and bank returns). A payer's bank can reverse a payment after it has settled, by returning a bank debit or by raising a dispute. When that happens the money is taken back from wherever Sharelet sent it. Sharelet does not advance, cover, or absorb reversed funds: IF RENT HAS ALREADY BEEN FORWARDED TO A HOST AND IS LATER REVERSED, Sharelet WILL RECOVER THAT AMOUNT FROM THE HOST'S PAYOUT ACCOUNT, INCLUDING BY REVERSING THE TRANSFER, WHICH MAY MAKE THAT ACCOUNT'S BALANCE NEGATIVE UNTIL IT IS COVERED BY LATER PAYOUTS. The month is then marked unpaid again and both parties are told. Sharelet contests reversals on the parties' behalf where it holds evidence supporting the payment, and will tell you the outcome either way, but it cannot guarantee one. Reversing a payment you actually authorized does not settle what you owe under your tenancy, and the other party keeps every right they have against you. Where the payer is at fault, Sharelet may charge the reversal fee its payment provider charges it, may require future payments by a different method, and may suspend the account.

First month held until move-in (the "move-in hold"). Where enabled, the renter's first month of rent may be collected through Sharelet and FROZEN before move-in. The money is charged directly onto the host's own protected account with our payment provider, which is held on a manual payout schedule, so the host cannot withdraw it and Sharelet never takes possession of it. THIS IS RENT, NOT A SECURITY DEPOSIT: it is applied to the first month's rent, it is never held as security for anything, and it is not returned at the end of the tenancy. It is held for days, not for the life of the tenancy.

How the move-in hold is released. The held amount is released to the host when the renter confirms they have moved in and the property matches its listing — or AUTOMATICALLY seventy-two (72) hours after the stated move-in date if the renter does nothing. READ THAT SECOND SENTENCE AGAIN: taking no action releases the money to the host. Automatic release does not happen while a First Night Promise claim is open on the tenancy. Only the renter may confirm a move-in; a host cannot confirm on their behalf.

Getting the move-in hold back. While the amount is held and within forty-eight (48) hours of the move-in date, the renter may report through the First Night Promise that the property is misrepresented, unsafe, or not the property advertised. Where such a claim is approved, the held first month is returned in full, together with any service fee paid on it, once the keys have been returned. Once the amount has been released to the host it is that host's rent and is final, on the same terms as Section 9's "Finality of released funds".

Service fee on the move-in hold, and where none is charged. A service fee may apply to funding a move-in hold and is shown before payment. NO SERVICE FEE IS CHARGED where the law of the state the property is in lists permitted start-of-tenancy charges exhaustively — Massachusetts (G.L. c. 186 §15B(1)(b)) is one such state. In those states the renter pays their first month and nothing on top, Sharelet earns nothing on the hold, and bank debit is the only method offered; the ordinary bank-processing cost of the payment is borne by the host's account and is disclosed to the host before the money moves.

Payments, deposits, and rent are processed and held by third-party payment providers (such as Stripe), which are licensed to do so. Your use of those features may be subject to the providers' own terms. Sharelet does not hold, pool, or take custody of your funds: a protected deposit sits in the host's own protected account with the payment provider, frozen, and Sharelet's role is limited to instructing the provider to release or return it under the rules in Section 9. Sharelet is not a bank, money transmitter, escrow agent, lender, or property manager, and does not provide financial, legal, or tax advice. Subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled; you can cancel at any time, and cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.

Any viewing, application, agreement, deposit, payment, move-in, or tenancy arranged through the Services is solely between the users involved. Sharelet is not responsible for, and disclaims liability arising from, such transactions, including any failure to pay, misrepresentation, property condition, eviction, dispute, injury, or loss. We strongly encourage using in-platform tools (verification, in-app messaging, protected deposits, and viewings) and never sending money off-platform or before an in-person or video viewing.

Ending a tenancy. If a move-in falls through, a host may end the arranged tenancy through the Services. When this happens, any funded deposit principal is returned to the renter, the non-refundable deposit protection fee is retained, any rent schedule is ended (no further rent comes due), and the listing may be re-opened. Service and protection fees already incurred are not refunded.

Move-in condition report. When a deposit is funded, Sharelet opens a move-in condition report in which either party may add timestamped photographs of the property's condition and each party may confirm the baseline. Documentation is evidentiary, not mandatory: no party is prevented from moving in or funding a deposit for not participating. The baseline seals when both parties confirm, or when the documentation window (by default seventy-two (72) hours from the stated move-in date) closes with at least one photograph on file; once sealed it is immutable. A party that does not document within the window may be unable to contest the documented baseline in a later settlement or dispute. Because deductions are judged against this baseline, a host may not propose move-out deductions unless a sealed move-in condition report exists; where none exists, the deposit is returned to the renter in full (a return in full is always permitted). These windows and rules are conveniences that Sharelet may adjust, and do not override any mandatory requirement of applicable law or constitute legal advice.

Move-out settlement. At the end of a tenancy, either party may start the move-out settlement. The host then returns the held deposit in full, or proposes itemized deductions (for example for damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, cleaning, or unpaid amounts) supported by a written breakdown and photo evidence judged against the sealed move-in condition report. The renter may accept the proposal (in which case the agreed deductions are paid to the host and the remainder is returned to the renter) or open a dispute. If the host takes no action within the statutory return period for the state the property is in, the full deposit is returned to the renter automatically; that period varies by state (commonly fourteen to sixty days), the current deadline is shown on the deposit in the conversation, and where we do not have the property's state we use thirty (30) days. If the host proposes deductions and the renter neither accepts nor disputes within seven (7) days, the itemized, evidenced proposal is applied automatically. The non-refundable protection fee is never returned.

Host responsibility for deposit law. The deposit tools are neutral facilitation only. The host is solely responsible for complying with all applicable laws governing security deposits in the jurisdiction where the property is located, which may include limits on the deposit amount, where and how it must be held, required interest, itemized-statement and notice requirements, and strict deadlines for returning the deposit and supporting any deductions. The settlement timers and tooling Sharelet provides are conveniences and do not override those laws or constitute legal advice; where the law requires something different, the host must follow the law. Sharelet is not a party to the tenancy and is not liable for a host's failure to meet its legal obligations.

Disputes over a funded deposit (for example, a disagreement about property condition or damage) are raised through the in-platform dispute tool, where both parties may submit evidence. Sharelet then reviews that evidence against its published deduction standards and the sealed move-in condition report, and DECIDES WHERE THE PROTECTED FUNDS GO. That decision is a disbursement decision about money held under these Terms, which you and the other party agree in advance that Sharelet may make. It is NOT a determination of legal liability: it does not decide who breached the tenancy, who caused any damage, or what either of you may owe the other, and it does not release, waive, settle, or limit any claim either of you has against the other. Either party remains free to pursue the other in court or small claims for any amount they believe is still owed, and this outcome does not bind that court. Every resolution is issued first as a proposal with a written rationale, sent to both parties, with a forty-eight (48) hour window to submit new evidence before any funds move. Sharelet's fee does not change with the outcome of a dispute, and Sharelet will not decide a dispute in which it has a financial interest in the result; our full neutrality rules are published at /standard.

Dispute facilitation procedure. Where the parties do not resolve a deposit dispute themselves, Sharelet may instruct the payment provider to release or return the protected funds by applying its published deduction standards to the evidence both parties submitted (including any confirmed move-in condition report). Before funds move, both parties receive the written rationale and have at least a 48-hour window to submit new evidence. By funding or receiving a protected deposit you authorize Sharelet to instruct the payment provider to move the protected funds according to this procedure. This determination concerns only where those funds go. It is not an adjudication of any legal claim, and it does not limit either party's rights or remedies against the other under applicable law.

Finality of released funds. Resolve any disagreement BEFORE a deposit is released. Once a deposit is released or otherwise paid out to the host (including when a dispute is resolved in the host's favor or a move-out settlement completes), that outcome is final, and Sharelet does not reverse, claw back, or refund those funds. Sharelet instructs the payment provider and is not an escrow agent, trustee, insurer, or guarantor of any deposit; it does not hold the funds, does not advance or cover funds, and is not responsible for amounts already disbursed to a host. In rare cases of confirmed fraud or a platform error, Sharelet may, at its sole discretion and without obligation, attempt to reverse a disbursement, but recovery is not guaranteed. Nothing here limits any rights you may have directly against the other user, or any non-waivable rights under applicable law.

What it covers. If a property you booked through the Services is materially misrepresented, unsafe, or is not the property that was advertised, you may file a First Night Promise claim. "Materially misrepresented" means the property differs from its listing in a way that would have changed your decision to take it — for example a different property, a different unit type, a missing bedroom, or a condition making it uninhabitable. It does NOT cover a change of mind, ordinary wear, minor cosmetic differences, a dispute with a housemate, or anything you knew about before you paid.

The window. A claim must be filed within forty-eight (48) hours of your stated move-in date, with at least one photograph or comparable evidence. This window is deliberately shorter than the seventy-two (72) hour automatic release of a move-in hold so that a claim can be filed before money moves. Filing an open claim stops the automatic release; Sharelet reviews claims within one (1) business day.

What is returned if a claim is approved. The first month held for the move-in is returned in full, together with any service fee paid on it. Any protected deposit that is still held and not in settlement or dispute is returned in full. The deposit PROTECTION FEE is not returned — it pays for a service that was provided. Rent for months already lived in the property is not returned. Money you sent off-platform is never covered, because Sharelet cannot see it, hold it, or reverse it.

Keys first. An approved refund is released once you have returned the keys and vacated. The promise is a way out of a property that was not what you were promised; it is not a way to live somewhere for free while holding the keys.

Fair use. One claim per member. Sharelet may decline a claim that is unevidenced, filed outside the window, or that on review does not meet the standard above, and may suspend an account for claims made in bad faith. Where a claim is declined you will be told why, and you keep every right you would otherwise have — including against the host directly.

Fraud. Separately from the above, where a booking arranged through the Services goes wrong through the fraud of another user and not your own act or omission, Sharelet will return the money YOU PAID THROUGH THE PLATFORM on that booking that Sharelet is still able to reverse or has not yet disbursed. This is a refund of platform-handled money, not insurance and not a guarantee against loss: Sharelet does not advance its own funds to cover money already disbursed, and does not cover off-platform payments. Where funds have already been released, Sharelet may attempt recovery but cannot promise it. Nothing here limits your rights against the person who defrauded you.

These terms may be updated in the same way as the rest of these Terms, and the version in force is the one published when your claim is filed.

Using the Services may involve interacting with, meeting, and living with other people and entering properties. You do this AT YOUR OWN RISK. Sharelet does not conduct in-person inspections or supervise interactions and is not responsible for the conduct of any user, on or off the platform. You agree to take reasonable precautions in all interactions, especially when meeting someone in person or exchanging money.

THE SERVICES AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. Sharelet does not warrant that the Services will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free, that listings or users are accurate, legitimate, or safe, or that any housing outcome will be achieved. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain warranty exclusions, so some of the above may not apply to you.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, Sharelet AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, OR HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF (OR INABILITY TO USE) THE SERVICES, OR ANY INTERACTION OR TRANSACTION WITH ANOTHER USER.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, Sharelet'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATING TO THE SERVICES WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNTS YOU PAID TO Sharelet IN THE TWELVE MONTHS BEFORE THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100).

Sharelet's third-party service providers, including its payments, identity-verification, background-check, and income-verification providers (for example Stripe, Checkr, and Plaid), are intended third-party beneficiaries of the disclaimers and limitations of liability in these Terms and may rely on and enforce them as if they were Sharelet.

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Sharelet and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to your User Content, your use of the Services, your violation of these Terms or any law, or your interactions or transactions with any other user.

The Services, including their software, design, text, graphics, and the Sharelet name and logos, are owned by Sharelet or its licensors and are protected by intellectual-property laws. We grant you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Services for their intended purpose. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or create derivative works from any part of the Services except as expressly permitted.

The Services rely on and may link to third-party services (for example, payment, identity, background-check, hosting, email, mapping, and AI providers). We are not responsible for third-party services, and your use of them may be governed by their own terms and privacy policies.

You may stop using the Services and close your account at any time. We may suspend or terminate your access at any time, with or without notice, including for violation of these Terms. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination (including ownership, disclaimers, limitations of liability, indemnification, and dispute resolution) will survive.

Please read this section carefully, as it affects your legal rights. We will first try to resolve any dispute informally; contact us at info@shareletspace.com and we will attempt to resolve it within 60 days.

Except where prohibited by law, you and Sharelet agree that any dispute not resolved informally will be resolved by binding individual arbitration, rather than in court, except that either party may bring an individual claim in small-claims court. YOU AND Sharelet WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS, COLLECTIVE, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION. Arbitration will be conducted on an individual basis under the rules of a recognized arbitration provider in Massachusetts, United States.

You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by emailing info@shareletspace.com within 30 days of first accepting these Terms.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Massachusetts, United States, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. Subject to the arbitration section above, the exclusive venue for any permitted court proceeding is the state or federal courts located in Massachusetts.

We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we will take reasonable steps to notify you (for example, by posting the updated Terms with a new effective date or notifying you in-app or by email). Your continued use of the Services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect. Our failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver. You may not assign these Terms without our consent; we may assign them in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, are the entire agreement between you and Sharelet regarding the Services.

Questions about these Terms? Contact us at info@shareletspace.com.