Terms of use

1. Who we are

HAUZ (hauz.africa) is run by HAUZ Africa Limited, Nairobi, Kenya ("HAUZ", "we"). These terms apply when you use the HAUZ website, the HAUZ app or any HAUZ service. By creating an account or using HAUZ you agree to them. If you don't agree, please don't use HAUZ.

2. What HAUZ does

HAUZ lists homes, land and commercial spaces to rent or buy, arranges guided site visits, helps landlords collect rent and manage repairs, and connects people with agents and developers. Unless a listing says it is offered by HAUZ, the landlord, owner, agent or developer — not HAUZ — is the party you rent or buy from.

3. Your account

• Give accurate details and keep them up to date. You must be 18 or older to open an account.
• Keep your password and sign-in codes private. You are responsible for what happens on your account.
• We may suspend or close an account that breaks these terms, is used for fraud, or puts other people at risk.

4. Site visits and fees

• The site-visit fee shown at checkout pays for a HAUZ guide to take you to the places on your viewing list. It is not a deposit or rent.
• Payments are made by M-Pesa to HAUZ. A booking is confirmed only when M-Pesa confirms the payment to us.
• Never pay a landlord, agent or anyone else to view a property, or to "hold" it, before you have seen it with a HAUZ guide. Report anyone who asks.
• Refunds: if we cannot arrange your visit, or a place on your list is no longer available before the visit, we refund the fee for that place to the M-Pesa number you paid from.

5. Listings

• Anyone who lists a property confirms they own it or are authorised to let or sell it, and that the details, price and photos are true.
• HAUZ reviews listings before they go live and may verify them, but a "Verified" badge describes the checks we made on the date shown — it is not a guarantee of title or condition. Do your own due diligence (for example a land search) before paying for any property.
• We may edit, refuse, take down or archive any listing, and we watermark photos and videos uploaded to HAUZ.
• Photos, videos, floor plans and text on HAUZ may not be copied, downloaded or reused without permission.

6. Rent collection (landlords and tenants)

• Where a landlord uses HAUZ to collect rent, tenants pay by M-Pesa or the Paybill / Till shown in their account. A payment counts once it is received and matched to the tenancy.
• Late fees are charged only as set by the landlord and shown on the tenancy, and are never compounded.
• HAUZ's commission and payout terms are agreed in writing with each landlord.

7. Agents, developers and paid plans

• Plans and boosts are paid in advance for the period shown and are not refundable once the period starts, except where the law says otherwise.
• Agents and developers must hold any registration the law requires and must respond honestly to enquiries.

8. Things you must not do

Post false, misleading or duplicate listings; ask for money outside HAUZ to view or reserve a property; harass anyone; scrape or copy HAUZ content; try to get round security, watermarks or location privacy; or use HAUZ for anything unlawful.

9. Exact locations

To protect owners and tenants, HAUZ shows an approximate area until a paid site visit is confirmed. Don't share exact locations you receive through HAUZ.

10. Liability

We work hard to keep HAUZ accurate and available, but we provide it "as is". To the extent the law allows, HAUZ is not liable for losses arising from dealings between users, or for indirect losses. Nothing in these terms limits rights you have under the Consumer Protection Act, 2012 or other law that can't be excluded.

11. Changes

We may update these terms. If a change is significant we will tell you by email, SMS or in the app before it takes effect.

12. Law and disputes

These terms are governed by the laws of Kenya. Please contact us first at hello@hauz.africa — most problems can be solved quickly. Otherwise the courts of Kenya have jurisdiction.