Terms of Service

Last updated: 31 March 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Hostu platform ("Platform"), operated by Hostu Limited ("Hostu", "we", "us", "our"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use the Platform.

Hosts are defined as any person offering accommodation on the Platform. Guests are defined as any person booking accommodation on the Platform.

We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

2. Platform Only

Hostu provides the technology platform to assist Hosts and Guests arrange a contract for short term accommodation. Hostu is not a party to any accommodation agreement between Hosts and Guests.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age and capable of forming a legally binding contract under New Zealand law to use this Platform. By registering, you confirm that you meet these requirements.

4. Host Obligations

As a Host, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date listing information, including descriptions, photos, pricing, and availability.
• Comply with all applicable New Zealand laws and local council regulations, including the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, Building Act 2004, and any relevant bylaws related to short-term accommodation.
• Maintain appropriate insurance coverage for your property and short-term rental activities.
• Honour confirmed bookings and communicate promptly with Guests.
• Ensure your property meets reasonable standards of safety, cleanliness, and habitability.
• Comply with New Zealand tax obligations, including GST registration where applicable and income tax reporting.

5. Guest Obligations

As a Guest, you agree to:

• Provide accurate personal information when making a booking.
• Treat the Host's property with reasonable care and respect.
• Comply with any house rules set by the Host.
• Not exceed the maximum number of occupants specified in the listing.
• Report any damage or issues to the Host promptly.
• Leave the property in a reasonable condition at the end of your stay.

6. Bookings & Payments

When a Guest makes a booking, it constitutes a binding agreement between the Guest and the Host. Payment is arranged directly between the Host and the Guest; Hostu does not process Guest payments.

Fee structure

• Hosts pay an annual membership of NZ$99 + GST.

General payment terms

• Hosts are responsible for collecting payment from Guests in line with the terms set out in each booking confirmation.
• All prices are listed in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Hosts are responsible for their own GST obligations.
• Hostu is not responsible for additional charges or arrangements made directly between Hosts and Guests.

7. Cancellations & Refunds

Cancellation policies are set by each Host and displayed on the Host's listing page. Guests should review the cancellation policy before confirming a booking.

• Refunds for Guest cancellations are arranged directly between the Host and the Guest according to the Host's selected cancellation policy.
• Where a Host cancels a confirmed booking, the Host agrees that the Guest will receive a full refund. The Guest agrees not to make any further claim against the Host or Hostu.

8. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by New Zealand law, including the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993:

• Hostu provides the Platform on an "as is" basis and makes no warranties regarding the quality, safety, or legality of any listing.
• Hostu is not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use of the Platform, including property damage, personal injury, or financial loss.
• The contract for accommodation is between the Host and the Guest. Hostu makes no representations or warranties in relation to the Host, the property, or the suitability of Guests.

9. Intellectual Property

All content, trademarks, logos, and intellectual property on the Platform are owned by or licensed to Hostu. You may not copy, reproduce, or distribute any part of the Platform without our prior written consent.

By uploading content (including photos and descriptions) to the Platform, you grant Hostu a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, display, and distribute that content in connection with the Platform.

10. Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time if you breach these Terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or behave in a manner that is harmful to other users or to Hostu.

Voluntary account closure

You may close your account at any time via the Dashboard settings or by emailing support@hostu.co.nz. When you request closure:

1. Immediate deactivation. Your account is set to DEACTIVATED status. Your listings are removed from search results and you can no longer sign in.
2. Confirmation. You will receive a notification: “Your account has been deleted. All your data is scheduled to be deleted 30 days from today’s date.”
3. 30-day scheduled purge. All personal identifying information (PII), listing content, and guest databases are permanently deleted 30 days after deactivation.
4. Legal retention override. Non-personal transaction records required for Inland Revenue (IRD) compliance — including GST collected, payout amounts, and invoice references — are moved to a secure, encrypted archive and retained for the statutory 7-year period required under New Zealand tax law. These records contain no personal identifying information.

Existing bookings and obligations will survive account closure until fulfilled. If you have active bookings at the time of closure, your account will remain in a limited state until those bookings are completed or cancelled, after which the 30-day purge schedule begins.

11. Disputes

Because Hostu does not handle payments between Hosts and Guests, any dispute relating to a booking or stay is a matter between the Host and the Guest.

Liability

Hostu acts as a platform facilitator and is not a party to any accommodation or payment agreement between Hosts and Guests. Hosts and Guests agree not to make any claim against Hostu in relation to the use of the Platform, the accommodation agreement or otherwise.

Escalation

If a dispute cannot be resolved directly between the parties, either party may refer the matter to the Disputes Tribunal of New Zealand (for claims up to $30,000) or the District Court for larger claims. All disputes are subject to the governing law set out in Section 12.

12. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New Zealand. Any disputes arising from these Terms or the use of the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New Zealand.

13. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at support@hostu.co.nz.