These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the mobile application Rent A Home (வாடகை வீடு), package name com.bharathi.vadagaiveedu, and related platforms or services (collectively, the "Platform"), operated by Exceptionz ("we", "us", or "our").

Please read these Terms carefully before accessing or using the Platform. By registering an account, publishing a listing, or browsing properties, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to all of these terms, do not access or use the Platform.

1. ELIGIBILITY AND REGISTRATION

You must be at least 18 years of age and legally competent under Indian law to enter into binding contracts to use our Platform. By creating an account, you represent and warrant that:

• All registration information you provide is accurate, truthful, and up-to-date.
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.
• You will immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account.

2. PLATFORM ROLE & NATURE OF SERVICES

Rent A Home is an online technology marketplace. We provide a digital discovery platform connecting property owners and prospective tenants.

• We are not a real estate agency, landlord, broker, or party to any rental or lease agreement.
• All lease, rental, or Bogithu agreements, security deposit payments, and property handovers are executed directly between the property owner and the tenant.
• We do not inspect physical properties or guarantee the accuracy, safety, or legal title of any property listed on the Platform.

3. OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES & LISTINGS ACCURACY

Property owners and authorized agents who publish listings agree that:

• You have the legal right and authority to rent, lease, or sell the property.
• All listing information, including rent amount, advance deposit, amenities, photos, and location, must be accurate and truthful.
• Misleading prices, fake photographs, or duplicate posts are strictly prohibited and will result in immediate listing removal and possible account termination.
• Owners agree to abide by fair housing standards and may not discriminate against prospective tenants based on religion, race, caste, gender, or marital status.

4. TENANCY REGULATIONS & MODEL TENANCY ACT COMPLIANCE

Users must conduct rental transactions in accordance with applicable Indian laws, including the guidelines established by the Model Tenancy Act:

• Security Deposit Limits: Security deposits for residential properties should generally not exceed two (2) months' rent as prescribed under standard tenancy regulations.
• Deposit Refunds: Owners must refund the security deposit to the tenant within thirty (30) days of physical handover of the property, minus any reasonable and agreed-upon deductions for actual damages.
• Written Agreement: A written, signed tenancy or lease agreement must be executed prior to tenant occupancy.

5. BOGITHU (HEAVY DEPOSIT) POLICIES

For properties listed under the traditional South Indian Bogithu (Heavy Advance / Lease) model:

• 100% of the agreed advance deposit is fully refundable to the tenant upon the expiration of the agreed tenure, subject to standard agreement terms.
• No monthly rent is charged during the tenure, other than standard monthly maintenance fees if explicitly stated in the agreement.
• Parties must execute a notarized or registered lease agreement explicitly detailing the deposit amount, refund tenure, and condition of handover.

6. SUBSCRIPTION & BILLING TERMS (GOOGLE PLAY)

Certain features, elevated listing limits, and premium boosts are offered through paid monthly subscriptions:

• Nest Free: Every owner receives up to 5 active property listings 100% free of charge forever.
• Owner Paid Plans (Nest Lite, Nest Pro, Haven, Manor): Provide higher listing limits, ad-free experience, priority search placement, and featured badges.
• Renter Pass (₹29/month): Provides tenants with early-bird listing access (1 hour ahead), ad-free browsing, and unlimited 3D room scans.
• Billing & Auto-Renewal: All subscription purchases are billed through Google Play In-App Billing and managed via RevenueCat. Subscriptions automatically renew on a monthly basis unless cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the conclusion of the current billing cycle.

7. CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY

You may manage or cancel your subscription at any time directly through your Google account:

• How to Cancel: Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device > Tap your Profile icon > Select Payments & Subscriptions > Select Subscriptions > Select Rent A Home > Tap Cancel Subscription.
• Access After Cancellation: When you cancel, you will retain all subscription benefits until the end of your current paid billing period.
• Refunds: All purchases are processed and subject to Google Play standard refund policies. For unintended charges or technical errors, you may contact us within 24 hours at exceptionz13@gmail.com.

8. PROHIBITED CONDUCT

When using the Platform, you agree not to:

• Submit false, fraudulent, or defamatory content or post fake reviews.
• Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose, including fraud, harassment, or financial scams.
• Circumvent or tamper with security measures, attempt reverse engineering, or harvest contact data using automated bots or scrapers.
• Post abusive, offensive, obscene, or threatening messages in the in-app chat.

9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY & DISCLAIMERS

THE PLATFORM AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, EXCEPTIONZ SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, OR PROPERTY ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM OR TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN OWNERS AND TENANTS.

10. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of India. Any legal dispute, claim, or controversy arising under these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts in Tamil Nadu, India.

11. CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have questions regarding these Terms of Service or need operational support: