Effective Date: August 03, 2025 Last Updated: December 17, 2025

Welcome to HostelBuddy! These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the HostelBuddy platform, including our website, mobile applications, and services (collectively, the "Service"). By accessing or using HostelBuddy, you agree to be bound by these Terms. Please read these Terms carefully before using our Service. If you do not agree with these Terms, you may not use HostelBuddy.

1. Definitions

• "HostelBuddy," "we," "us," or "our" refers to the HostelBuddy platform and its operators
• "User," "you," or "your" refers to any individual or entity using the Service
• "Account" refers to your registered user account on HostelBuddy
• "Hostel Owner" refers to users who manage hostels, PGs, or rental properties using our Service
• "Renter" refers to individuals whose data is stored in the system by Hostel Owners
• "Subscription" refers to paid plans (Free, Go, Pro, Enterprise) offered by HostelBuddy

2. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, accessing, or using HostelBuddy, you:

• Confirm that you are at least 18 years of age
• Have the legal authority to enter into these Terms
• Agree to comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• Accept our Privacy Policy (incorporated by reference)

If you are using HostelBuddy on behalf of a business or organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

3. Account Registration

3.1 Account Creation

To use HostelBuddy, you must:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• Maintain and promptly update your account information
• Keep your password secure and confidential
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account

3.2 Account Responsibility

You are responsible for:

• All activities that occur under your account
• Maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials
• Any losses or damages resulting from unauthorized use of your account

3.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these Terms
• You provide false or misleading information
• Your account is inactive for an extended period
• We are required to do so by law

4. Subscription Plans and Billing

4.1 Subscription Plans

HostelBuddy offers multiple subscription tiers:

• Free Plan: Limited features with basic functionality
• Go, Pro, Enterprise Plans: Paid plans with advanced features

Plan details, pricing, and features are available on our website and may be updated from time to time.

4.2 Payment Terms

• Subscription fees are billed in advance on a monthly or annual basis
• All payments are processed securely through Razorpay
• Prices are in Indian Rupees (INR) unless otherwise stated
• Payment is due immediately upon subscription purchase or renewal

4.3 Automatic Renewal

• Subscriptions automatically renew at the end of each billing cycle
• You will be charged the then-current subscription fee
• You may cancel auto-renewal at any time before the renewal date

4.4 Refund Policy

• Subscription fees are generally non-refundable
• Refunds may be issued at our sole discretion in exceptional circumstances
• Refund requests must be submitted within 7 days of purchase
• Contact our support team to request a refund

4.5 Upgrades and Downgrades

• You may upgrade or downgrade your subscription plan at any time
• Upgrades take effect immediately; you will be charged the prorated difference
• Downgrades take effect at the next billing cycle
• Feature restrictions apply based on your current plan

4.6 Taxes

• Subscription fees are exclusive of applicable taxes (GST, etc.)
• You are responsible for all taxes associated with your subscription
• Taxes will be added to your invoice as required by law

4.7 Late Payment

• Failure to pay subscription fees may result in service suspension
• We may charge late fees or interest on overdue amounts
• Access to your account and data will be restored upon payment

5. Use of Service

5.1 Permitted Use

You may use HostelBuddy to:

• Manage hostel operations, renters, rooms, and payments
• Store renter information, documents, and records
• Generate reports, settlements, and receipts
• Send automated reminders and notifications

5.2 Prohibited Use

You agree NOT to:

• Use the Service for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
• Violate any laws, regulations, or third-party rights
• Upload malicious code, viruses, or harmful software
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service
• Scrape, copy, or reverse-engineer the platform
• Use the Service to harass, abuse, or harm others
• Resell or redistribute the Service without authorization
• Impersonate another person or entity
• Upload false, misleading, or fraudulent information

Violation of these prohibitions may result in immediate account termination and legal action.

6. User Data and Content

6.1 Your Data

You retain all ownership rights to the data you upload to HostelBuddy, including:

• Renter profiles, documents, and photographs
• Payment records and transaction history
• Staff information and documents
• Hostel configurations and settings

6.2 License to Use Your Data

By uploading data to HostelBuddy, you grant us a limited, non-exclusive license to:

• Store, process, and display your data as necessary to provide the Service
• Back up your data for security and recovery purposes
• Use aggregated, anonymized data for analytics and service improvement

We will not sell, rent, or share your data with third parties except as described in our Privacy Policy.

6.3 Data Accuracy

You are responsible for:

• Ensuring the accuracy and legality of data you upload
• Obtaining necessary consents from renters and staff before uploading their personal information
• Complying with applicable data protection laws (e.g., IT Act, 2000)

6.4 Data Backup

While we perform regular backups, you are responsible for:

• Maintaining your own backup copies of critical data
• Exporting data regularly using our export features

We are not liable for data loss due to user error, system failure, or other causes.

6.5 Data Deletion

Upon account termination or deletion request:

• Your data will be deleted within 30-90 days
• Some data may be retained for legal, tax, or regulatory purposes
• Backups may persist for a limited period before permanent deletion

7. Intellectual Property Rights

7.1 HostelBuddy Ownership

All intellectual property in HostelBuddy, including but not limited to:

• Software code, algorithms, and architecture
• Design, layout, and user interface
• Trademarks, logos, and branding (including "HostelBuddy" name and logo)
• Documentation, content, and materials

...are owned by or licensed to HostelBuddy. These Terms do not grant you any ownership rights.

7.2 Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to:

• Access and use the Service for your hostel management needs
• Use our platform in accordance with these Terms

This license terminates upon account termination or violation of these Terms.

7.3 Feedback

If you provide feedback, suggestions, or ideas about HostelBuddy:

• You grant us a perpetual, royalty-free license to use such feedback
• We may implement your suggestions without compensation or attribution
• You waive any rights to such feedback

8. Third-Party Services

HostelBuddy integrates with third-party services, including:

• Razorpay: Payment processing
• WhatsApp Business API: Messaging
• AWS: Cloud hosting and storage
• Twilio: SMS notifications
• Resend: Email delivery

8.1 Third-Party Terms

Your use of third-party services is subject to their respective terms and privacy policies. We are not responsible for:

• The availability, functionality, or security of third-party services
• Any issues arising from your use of third-party services
• Changes or discontinuation of third-party integrations

8.2 Payment Processing

All payments are processed by Razorpay. By making a payment, you agree to Razorpay's terms and conditions. HostelBuddy does not store your credit card information.

9. Service Availability and Modifications

9.1 Service Uptime

We strive to provide reliable, uninterrupted service. However:

• We do not guarantee 100% uptime
• Scheduled maintenance may cause temporary downtime
• We will notify you of planned maintenance when possible

9.2 Service Modifications

We reserve the right to:

• Modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature or functionality
• Update pricing and subscription plans
• Change these Terms at any time

We will provide reasonable notice of material changes. Continued use of the Service constitutes acceptance of modifications.

9.3 No Warranty

HostelBuddy is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including:

• Merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose
• Accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the Service
• Uninterrupted or error-free operation

10. Limitation of Liability

10.1 Disclaimer

To the maximum extent permitted by law, HostelBuddy and its affiliates, officers, employees, and partners shall not be liable for:

• Indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
• Service interruptions, errors, or data loss
• Unauthorized access to or alteration of your data
• Third-party conduct or content

10.2 Liability Cap

Our total liability for any claim arising from these Terms or the Service shall not exceed:

• The amount you paid to HostelBuddy in the 12 months preceding the claim, or
• INR 10,000 (whichever is greater)

10.3 Exceptions

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitation of liability. In such cases, our liability will be limited to the fullest extent permitted by law.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless HostelBuddy and its affiliates, officers, employees, and partners from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any law or third-party rights
• Your data or content uploaded to the platform
• Any disputes with renters, staff, or third parties

12. Privacy and Data Protection

Your use of HostelBuddy is subject to our Privacy Policy, which explains:

• What data we collect and how we use it
• How we protect your information
• Your rights regarding your data

By using the Service, you consent to our data practices as described in the Privacy Policy.

12.1 Compliance with Laws

You agree to:

• Comply with all applicable data protection laws (e.g., IT Act, 2000)
• Obtain necessary consents before uploading personal data of renters and staff
• Use the Service in accordance with privacy regulations

13. Termination

13.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by:

• Contacting our support team
• Following the account deletion process in settings

Upon termination:

• Your access to the Service will be revoked
• Your subscription will not be refunded (except as per our refund policy)
• Your data will be deleted as per our data retention policy

13.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately if:

• You violate these Terms
• You engage in fraudulent or illegal activities
• Your account poses a security risk
• Required by law or regulatory authority

13.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• All licenses granted to you will cease
• You must stop using the Service
• Provisions that by nature should survive (e.g., liability, indemnification) will remain in effect

14. Dispute Resolution

14.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in India.

14.2 Dispute Resolution Process

Before filing a lawsuit, you agree to:

• Contact us at hostelbuddyinfo@gmail.com to attempt informal resolution
• Engage in good-faith negotiations for at least 30 days

14.3 Arbitration

If disputes cannot be resolved informally, they may be submitted to binding arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, conducted in India.

14.4 Class Action Waiver

You agree to resolve disputes individually, not as part of a class action or collective proceeding.

15. Miscellaneous

15.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, along with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and HostelBuddy regarding the Service.

15.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full effect.

15.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any provision does not constitute a waiver of that provision.

15.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations without restriction.

15.5 Force Majeure

We are not liable for delays or failures due to causes beyond our reasonable control (e.g., natural disasters, pandemics, government actions, internet outages).

15.6 Notices

We may provide notices via:

• Email to your registered email address
• In-app notifications
• Updates to our website

You may contact us at the details provided below.

16. Updates to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we make changes:

• We will update the "Last Updated" date
• Material changes will be notified via email or in-app notification
• Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance

We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

17. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or feedback about these Terms, please contact us:

HostelBuddy Support

📧 Email: hostelbuddyinfo@gmail.com 📞 Phone: +91 9983307770 🏢 Address: India

Grievance Officer (India Compliance)

📧 Email: hostelbuddyinfo@gmail.com Response Time: Within 48 hours

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By using HostelBuddy, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.

This Terms & Conditions document is compliant with:

• Information Technology Act, 2000 (India)
• Consumer Protection Act, 2019
• Indian Contract Act, 1872
• Industry best practices for SaaS platforms