Legal

Terms of Service

Last updated: 15 May 2026 · Effective: 15 May 2026

Please read these Terms carefully before using the Flatmates.ng platform. By creating an account or making a booking, you agree to be bound by these Terms. These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and are compliant with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, the Consumer Protection Act 2019, and applicable tenancy laws.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Flatmates.ng platform - including the website, mobile applications, and related APIs (collectively the "Platform") - you agree to be legally bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Flatmates Nigeria Ltd, a company incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We may update these Terms from time to time (see Section 16). Where you are entering into a specific agreement (e.g., a lease facilitated through the Platform), that agreement may supplement these Terms but does not replace them.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age to use the Platform. By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that:

•You are at least 18 years old and have full legal capacity under Nigerian law to enter into binding contracts

•You are not subject to any court order or legal restriction that would prevent you from using the Platform

•All registration information you provide is truthful, accurate, and current

•You are not a person who has been previously banned from the Platform for violating these Terms

Use of the Platform in violation of these eligibility requirements may result in immediate account suspension and termination.

3. Account Registration and Security

To access most Platform features, you must create an account. When registering, you agree to:

•Provide accurate, current, and complete information

•Promptly update your information if it changes

•Keep your password confidential and not share access credentials

•Notify us immediately at support@flatmates.com.ng if you suspect unauthorised access to your account

You are solely responsible for all activity that occurs under your account. Flatmates shall not be liable for any loss resulting from unauthorised use of your account where you failed to take reasonable precautions to protect your credentials.

We reserve the right to verify your identity, require additional documentation, and suspend or terminate accounts that contain inaccurate information or that we reasonably suspect of fraudulent activity.

4. Host Obligations

If you list a property on the Platform as a host, host, or property agent ("Host"), you agree to the following:

Legal Authority

•You represent that you own the property or have valid, written authority from the owner to list and let it

•You acknowledge that providing false authority to let is unlawful and grounds for immediate account termination and potential legal action

Accuracy of Listings

•All listing information - including property description, location, photographs, amenities, and pricing - must be accurate, current, and not misleading

•Photographs must depict the actual property. Stock images or images of other properties are prohibited.

•You must update your listing promptly if any details change (availability, price, amenities)

Legal Compliance

•You are solely responsible for complying with all applicable Nigerian tenancy laws, including:

-The Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2011 (Cap. T3)

-The Tenancy Laws of other states where the property is located

-The Land Use Act 1978 (as amended)

•You are responsible for obtaining any necessary host registration, property licences, or permits required by local government or state authorities

•You are responsible for ensuring the property meets applicable health and safety standards

Honouring Confirmed Bookings

•You must honour all confirmed bookings. Cancellation of confirmed bookings without cause is prohibited and may result in account suspension, removal of the listing, and/or liability to the seeker for reasonable losses incurred.

Taxes

•You are solely responsible for determining, collecting, and remitting all applicable taxes (including income tax, withholding tax, and VAT) arising from rental income received through the Platform

5. Renter and Tenant Obligations

If you use the Platform to find accommodation as a room-seeker or tenant ("Renter"), you agree to:

Property Use

•Use any property you access through the Platform only for its intended residential purpose

•Comply with all house rules communicated by the Host

•Not sublease, assign, or transfer the tenancy to any other person without the Host's prior written consent and Flatmates' knowledge

Care of Property

•Treat the property and its contents with reasonable care

•Report damage or maintenance issues to the Host promptly

•Return the property at the end of the tenancy in a condition consistent with normal wear and tear

Caution Fee and Security Deposits

•Caution fees or security deposits (where applicable) are agreed directly between you and the Host. Flatmates facilitates but is not a party to the tenancy agreement.

•Disputes over refund of caution fees must be raised through the Platform's dispute resolution process

Verification

•You consent to identity verification as part of the booking process. Providing false identification documents is a criminal offence under Nigerian law and grounds for immediate termination.

6. Platform Fees

Flatmates charges service fees to facilitate secure transactions, maintain the Platform, and provide customer support. Fees apply to rent only - not to commission fees, agreement fees, caution fees, service charges, or any other ancillary costs agreed between the Host and Renter.

Move-In Transaction Fees (first month's rent)

•Seeker: 5% of the first month's rent

•Host: 10% of the first month's rent

Recurring Rent Payments (subsequent months)

•Seeker: No platform fee

•Host: 5% of each subsequent monthly rent payment collected through the Platform

Zero-Fee Items

The following are passed through to the Host at 100% with no platform deduction:

•Agency / finder's fees (where applicable)

•Legal documentation fees (where applicable)

•Caution / security deposits

•Service charges (estate management, utilities)

•Agreement fees

All applicable fees are displayed clearly in the booking summary before you confirm a transaction. You are not charged any fee you have not seen and agreed to.

Payment Processing

All payments are processed by Paystack Payments Ltd, a licensed payment service provider regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria. By making a payment, you agree to Paystack's terms of service (paystack.com/terms).

7. Escrow and Fund Release

To protect both parties, rent payments are held in a secure escrow arrangement operated by Flatmates:

•Funds paid by the Renter are held in escrow until the move-in date is confirmed

•The Renter has 24 hours after physical access to the property to raise a dispute if the property materially differs from the listing

•If no dispute is raised within 24 hours, funds are released to the Host (less applicable fees)

•If a dispute is raised, funds remain in escrow until the dispute is resolved (see Section 14)

Escrow is available for transactions facilitated entirely through the Platform. Payments made outside the Platform are not eligible for escrow protection.

8. Cancellation and Refund Policy

Cancellation terms depend on the policy selected by the Host for each listing. The applicable policy is shown on the listing page before you confirm a booking.

Flexible

•Full refund if cancelled at least 7 days before the agreed move-in date

•50% refund if cancelled 3–6 days before move-in

•No refund for cancellations within 48 hours of move-in

Moderate

•Full refund if cancelled at least 14 days before move-in

•50% refund if cancelled 7–13 days before move-in

•No refund for cancellations within 7 days of move-in

Strict

•Full refund within 48 hours of booking (provided the booking was made at least 14 days before move-in)

•50% refund if cancelled at least 14 days before move-in

•No refund for cancellations within 14 days of move-in

Platform Fees

Platform service fees are non-refundable once a transaction is processed, except where the Host cancels the booking or where a property materially misrepresents its listing (see Section 7).

Force Majeure

Refunds may be granted at Flatmates' discretion in cases of genuine force majeure events (natural disasters, government orders) affecting the ability to proceed with the tenancy.

9. Prohibited Conduct

The following conduct is strictly prohibited and may result in immediate account termination, removal of content, and/or referral to law enforcement:

Fraud and Misrepresentation

•Posting false, misleading, or fraudulent listings, profiles, or reviews

•Impersonating another person, organisation, or government authority

•Providing false or forged identity documents

Discrimination

•Refusing or conditioning access to accommodation on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, national origin, or any other characteristic protected under Nigerian law (including the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018)

Off-Platform Transactions

•Soliciting or inducing other users to complete transactions outside the Platform in order to avoid fees, bypass escrow, or circumvent our policies

•Sharing contact details on public listing pages or in early-stage messages for the purpose of off-platform dealing

Abuse and Harassment

•Harassing, threatening, intimidating, stalking, or defaming other users

•Sending unsolicited commercial communications (spam) to other users

Illegal Activity

•Using the Platform to facilitate any activity that violates Nigerian federal or state law, including money laundering, fraudulent advance fee schemes (419), drug trafficking, or terrorism financing

Technical Interference

•Reverse engineering, scraping, or systematically harvesting data from the Platform without our written consent

•Attempting to gain unauthorised access to any account, system, or network connected to the Platform

10. Reviews and Ratings

Reviews help build a trusted community. By submitting a review, you agree that:

•Your review is based on a genuine, first-hand experience with the reviewed party

•Your review is factually accurate and not defamatory

•You will not offer or accept any incentive (cash, gifts, discounts) in exchange for a positive review

•You will not threaten a negative review to extract concessions

We may remove reviews that violate these standards, contain personal data, or are the subject of a credible legal complaint. Removal decisions are final.

Flatmates may publish reviews (including your display name and profile photo) on the Platform and in promotional materials. We will not attribute reviews to your full legal name in public communications without your consent.

11. Intellectual Property

Our Content

The Platform and its content - including the Flatmates trademark, logo, software code, design, text, and graphics - are owned by Flatmates Nigeria Ltd and protected by Nigerian and international copyright, trademark, and unfair competition law. You may not copy, reproduce, modify, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without prior written permission.

Your Content

By uploading, posting, or submitting any content to the Platform (including property photographs, listing descriptions, profile information, and reviews), you grant Flatmates a non-exclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, worldwide licence to use, display, reproduce, modify (for formatting purposes only), and distribute that content solely in connection with operating and promoting the Platform.

You represent that you own or have the necessary rights to grant this licence, and that your content does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights.

You may request removal of your content at any time by deleting it from the Platform or contacting support@flatmates.com.ng.

12. Platform as Marketplace - No Tenancy Party

Flatmates is a technology marketplace. We are not a party to any tenancy agreement, rental contract, lease deed, or related document entered into between Hosts and Renters through the Platform.

•We do not own, manage, control, or inspect any property listed on the Platform

•We make no warranty about the accuracy of listing descriptions, the condition of properties, or the legal compliance of any tenancy arrangement

•We are not responsible for the conduct of any Host or Seeker

•Any rental agreement is solely between the Host and Renter. Flatmates' role is limited to facilitating the introduction, processing payments, and providing optional dispute resolution support

Nothing in these Terms creates an agency, partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship between Flatmates and any Host or Renter.

13. Disclaimer of Warranties

To the fullest extent permitted by Nigerian law, the Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without any warranty of any kind, express or implied, including:

•Warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose

•Warranties that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or harmful components

•Warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any content on the Platform

We do not warrant that properties listed on the Platform are accurately described, legally compliant, or suitable for any particular purpose. You rely on Platform content at your own risk.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria:

•Cap on liability: Flatmates' total cumulative liability to you for any claim arising from your use of the Platform shall not exceed the greater of (a) the total platform fees paid by you in the 3 months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim, or (b) ₦50,000 (fifty thousand Naira).

•Excluded losses: Flatmates shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, loss of data, loss of goodwill, or cost of substitute services, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

•Property condition: Flatmates is not liable for losses arising from the physical condition of a property, including personal injury, property damage, or theft occurring at a listed property.

Nothing in these Terms limits our liability for:

•Death or personal injury caused by our negligence

•Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation by Flatmates

•Any liability that cannot be excluded under the Consumer Protection Framework for Digital Financial Services or any other mandatory Nigerian consumer protection law

15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Flatmates Nigeria Ltd and its directors, officers, employees, agents, and licensors from and against all claims, demands, losses, damages, fines, penalties, costs, and expenses (including reasonable agreement fees) arising out of or relating to:

•Your use of or inability to use the Platform

•Your violation of these Terms

•Your violation of any applicable law or regulation

•Your infringement of any third party's rights (including intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or contractual rights)

•Any content you submit to the Platform

•Any dispute between you and another Platform user

Flatmates reserves the right to assume exclusive control of the defence of any matter subject to indemnification by you, at your expense.

16. Dispute Resolution

Step 1 - Direct Resolution

If you have a dispute with another user or with Flatmates, you must first attempt to resolve it by contacting our support team at support@flatmates.com.ng. Most disputes are resolved within 5–10 business days.

Step 2 - Mediation

If direct resolution fails, the parties agree to attempt good-faith mediation before commencing formal legal proceedings. Mediation shall be conducted in Lagos, Nigeria, under the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) rules, unless the parties agree otherwise.

Step 3 - Litigation

If mediation is unsuccessful, disputes shall be resolved by the courts of Lagos State, Nigeria. Both parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of those courts.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods does not apply.

No Class Actions

You agree to resolve disputes with Flatmates on an individual basis only. You waive any right to bring or participate in any class action, collective proceeding, or representative action against Flatmates.

17. Modifications to Terms

We may update these Terms at any time to reflect changes in our services, business practices, or applicable law. When we make material changes, we will:

•Send a notice to the email address registered on your account at least 30 days before the changes take effect

•Display a prominent banner on the Platform summarising the key changes

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of those Terms. If you do not accept the revised Terms, you must stop using the Platform and close your account before the effective date.

18. Termination

By You

You may close your account at any time through your account settings. Closure does not entitle you to a refund of any fees already processed. Pending bookings must be resolved before account closure.

By Flatmates

We may suspend or terminate your account, with or without notice, if:

•You violate these Terms or any supplemental policies

•We have reason to believe your account has been compromised

•We are required to do so by applicable law or court order

•We decide to discontinue the Platform or a material feature of it

Effect of Termination

On termination, your licence to use the Platform ceases. Sections 9 (Prohibited Conduct), 11 (Intellectual Property), 14 (Limitation of Liability), 15 (Indemnification), and 16 (Dispute Resolution) survive termination.

19. General Provisions

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any supplemental terms applicable to specific features, constitute the entire agreement between you and Flatmates regarding your use of the Platform and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a competent court, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

Waiver

Flatmates' failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision in any subsequent situation.

Assignment

You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. Flatmates may assign these Terms, or any rights under them, to any successor entity or acquirer, with notice to you.

Language

These Terms are drafted in English. In the event of any inconsistency between an English version and a translated version, the English version prevails.

20. Contact

For questions about these Terms, please contact:

Legal Affairs

Email: legal@flatmates.com.ng

Customer Support

Email: support@flatmates.com.ng

Response time: within 2 business days

Flatmates Nigeria Ltd

Lagos, Nigeria