Legal & Trust Center

Information We Collect

• Account information — name, email address, phone number, password credential (stored using a one-way hash where ZedStay processes it), account role, and profile information you choose to provide.
• Host, verification, and listing information — property descriptions, photos, prices, availability, approximate or precise location, amenities, and documents or information submitted for Host verification.
• Booking and communications information — booking dates, guest counts, booking status, messages, reports, support requests, and notifications.
• Device, security, and usage information — browser and device information, IP address or equivalent network information, pages and features used, session activity, and security logs.
• Payment information when payments launch — payment status, amount, transaction identifiers, and fraud-prevention information. ZedStay intends to use payment providers rather than store full card or mobile-money credentials itself; the applicable payment terms will identify the live provider and processing details before launch.

Why We Collect Information

• To create and secure accounts, provide platform features, and communicate about accounts, bookings, and support.
• To publish listings, enable Guests and Hosts to communicate, and administer booking requests or confirmations.
• To verify Hosts and listings, detect fraud, investigate reports, enforce our policies, and protect users and ZedStay.
• To meet legal obligations, resolve disputes, and establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.
• With your consent where required, to send marketing communications; you can opt out using the relevant preference or unsubscribe option.

Data Protection & Security

ZedStay uses proportionate technical and organisational safeguards, including access controls, secure credential handling, session controls, input validation, logging, and security monitoring. No internet service can guarantee absolute security, and you should protect your account credentials and notify us promptly of suspected unauthorised access.

We do not sell personal information. We may share information with the other party to a booking or message, service providers that help operate ZedStay, professional advisers, authorities where required or permitted by law, and a successor organisation in a merger, acquisition, or restructuring. We share only what is reasonably necessary for the stated purpose.

Retention, Transfers & Your Choices

• We retain information only for as long as needed for the purposes above, including security, dispute, tax, and legal-record requirements. The applicable retention schedule must be approved before commercial launch.
• Service providers or systems may process information outside your province or country. Where this occurs, ZedStay will use appropriate safeguards required by applicable law.
• You may access and update account information through settings, request correction or deletion, and withdraw consent where processing relies on consent, subject to lawful exceptions.
• Send privacy requests to privacy@zedstay.com. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request.

First-party operational analytics

ZedStay may record first-party operational events such as page views, structured search filters (province, town, category), property views, enquiries, bookings, and payment outcomes. These records use a random browser session identifier and, where you are signed in, the authenticated account known to the server. They do not include passwords, payment-provider payloads, message contents, verification documents, or free-text search strings. They are not used for advertising and are not sent to third-party pixels. This analytics disclosure should be reviewed, and any required consent obtained, before public commercial launch. Proposed raw-event retention is about 24 months; that period is an implementation default, not a confirmed legal obligation.

Maps, AI & Future Services

ZedStay may introduce map, location, payment, analytics, and AI-assisted features. A live map service may receive location or search information necessary to show a map or directions. AI features may process the prompts and content submitted to them to provide the requested result; they must not be used as the sole basis for consequential decisions about a person. Before a material integration goes live, ZedStay will update this policy and obtain consent where required.

1. Platform role

ZedStay is a marketplace platform that facilitates connections and transactions between Guests and Hosts. That marketplace role is distinct from acting as the legal agent or authorised representative of a Guest or Host. Unless expressly stated otherwise, ZedStay does not own, manage, inspect, or control a listed property.

2. User accounts

• You must be at least 18 years old and able to enter a binding agreement, or use ZedStay through a parent or legal guardian who accepts these Terms where law permits.
• You must provide accurate, current registration information, protect your credentials, and promptly tell ZedStay about unauthorised account use.
• You are responsible for activity under your account and must not create accounts for another person without their authority or transfer your account without our approval.
• ZedStay may require identity, contact, or Host verification. Verification reduces risk but is not a guarantee of identity, safety, legality, or property quality.

3. Accommodation listings

Hosts must provide truthful and complete listing information and have authority to offer the property. Guests and Hosts must check the listing, dates, price, guest count, house rules, and cancellation terms before confirming.

4. Bookings and payments

• A booking request, enquiry, or displayed availability is not a confirmed reservation unless ZedStay clearly shows it as confirmed.
• When ZedStay enables payments, separate payment terms will state provider, fees, taxes, payout timing, refunds, chargebacks, and dispute handling.
• Do not send money or sensitive payment details through messages unless ZedStay expressly provides that payment method.

5. Host responsibilities

• Hosts must comply with the Host Agreement, provide truthful and complete listing information, have authority to offer the property, honour confirmed bookings except where a lawful or safety reason prevents this, and communicate professionally.

6. Guest responsibilities

• Guests must communicate respectfully, provide accurate booking information, follow lawful property rules, and promptly report material listing or safety concerns.

7. Prohibited Activities

8. Cancellations and refunds

Each Host must publish a clear cancellation policy for each listing. Until platform-wide payment and refund rules are launched, cancellation consequences, refunds, and changes are handled as disclosed in the listing or agreed in writing between the Guest and Host, subject to applicable law.

9. Content you submit

You retain ownership of content you submit, but grant ZedStay a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, reproduce, format, display, distribute, and use it to operate, promote, secure, and improve ZedStay, subject to your privacy choices and applicable law.

10. Account suspension and removal

ZedStay may investigate reports and suspend, restrict, remove, or terminate accounts, listings, bookings, or content where we reasonably believe there is a policy breach, fraud, legal risk, safety risk, or harm to the community. Where appropriate, we will explain the decision and provide a reasonable way to appeal; immediate action may be taken without prior notice when needed to protect users, comply with law, or preserve platform security.

11. Privacy and data

By using ZedStay you also agree to the Privacy Policy, which explains how personal data is collected, used, and protected.

12. Changes to these Terms

ZedStay may update these Terms for legal, security, operational, or feature changes. Material changes will be notified through the platform or by another reasonable method; continued use after the stated effective date means acceptance where permitted by law.

13. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of [INSERT GOVERNING JURISDICTION], and disputes will be heard by the courts of [INSERT VENUE], except where mandatory consumer law provides otherwise. This information must be completed by qualified counsel before commercial release. Support and reporting contacts are listed in Contact & Support.

Initial commercial terms

These terms describe ZedStay's proposed initial model. They are not approved legal, tax, or accounting advice, and they do not enable live payments or commission collection.

• Host registration and property listings are free. ZedStay does not charge a listing or onboarding fee.
• The proposed platform commission is 5% of the qualifying accommodation subtotal for an eligible stay.
• Guests currently pay no additional ZedStay platform service fee under this initial model.
• Commission, settlement, cancellation, refund, tax, and provider-fee details must remain transparent. ZedStay does not invent a statutory tax amount or silently allocate provider processing fees.
• Applicable Zambian tax treatment must be confirmed before commercial checkout is enabled. A provisional zero tax amount in checkout is not a conclusion that ZedStay has no tax obligation.
• A guest payment does not mean the host has been paid. Settlements become eligible according to the completed-stay policy, not merely because a payment succeeded.
• ZedStay does not promise a payout date, escrow, insurance, refunds, or compensation that it does not provide. Live payments remain disabled in this release.

Host requirements

1. Accurate property information. Describe the property truthfully, including location, capacity, amenities, access, and material limitations.
2. Genuine, representative images. Use current photos of the actual property. Do not use stock images or photos that misrepresent rooms, views, or condition.
3. Accurate pricing and availability. Keep prices, fees, deposits, minimum stays, and calendar dates current. Do not add a mandatory undisclosed charge after a booking request or confirmation.
4. Booking responsibilities. Honour confirmed bookings, or provide a lawful, prompt resolution where cancellation is unavoidable. Each listing must state a clear cancellation and change policy.
5. Property rules and restrictions. Disclose house rules, occupancy limits, access constraints, and material restrictions before a guest books.
6. Guest safety and conduct. Provide a safe, clean, and lawful environment. Disclose material hazards. Communicate professionally and do not unlawfully discriminate.
7. Host responsibilities. You remain responsible for the property, guest interactions, taxes, licensing, and legal obligations connected with the listing.

Authority, Compliance & Verification

You confirm that you own the property or have all permissions needed to list and offer it for accommodation. You are responsible for local licensing, registration, tax, insurance, building, health, accessibility, consumer, and safety requirements. You must provide accurate verification information and supporting records when requested. ZedStay may remove a listing or limit Host features while verification is pending or if information cannot be confirmed.

Property Safety, Pricing, Availability & Cancellations

• Hosts are responsible for a safe, clean, lawful, and accurately represented environment and for disclosing material hazards, access limitations, house rules, and mandatory fees before booking.
• Prices, taxes, fees, deposits, minimum stays, and availability must be accurate, visible, and kept current. A Host may not add a mandatory undisclosed charge after a booking request or confirmation.
• Each listing must state a clear cancellation and change policy. Hosts must honour confirmed bookings or provide a lawful, prompt resolution where cancellation is unavoidable.

Prohibited Listing Practices

Guests, Payments & ZedStay's Role

Hosts must communicate professionally, address concerns promptly, and not unlawfully discriminate. Hosts are responsible for their property, guest interactions, taxes, and legal obligations. ZedStay may charge platform or payment-related fees only under payment terms made available before they apply. ZedStay is a marketplace platform that facilitates connections and transactions between guests and hosts. That role is distinct from acting as the legal agent or authorised representative of a host or guest. ZedStay may moderate listings and facilitate bookings, but this does not make ZedStay a property owner, manager, employer, agent, insurer, or party to an accommodation agreement unless we expressly say so.

Act with Respect & Honesty

• Respectful communication — be polite and professional in messages, bookings, and support requests.
• No scams or fraud — do not attempt to deceive users, redirect payments off-platform improperly, or misrepresent identity.
• No harassment — threats, bullying, discrimination, and abusive language are not tolerated.
• No spam — avoid unsolicited promotions, repetitive messaging, or automated abuse.
• Honest property listings — photos, descriptions, and pricing must truthfully represent the accommodation.
• Safe interactions — report suspicious behaviour, use platform tools where available, and prioritise personal safety when meeting or staying with others.
• Protect privacy — do not share private contact, identity, location, or payment information about another person without a lawful reason and their permission.

Reports & Enforcement

Report policy breaches, unsafe conduct, or suspicious listings through the in-app reporting tools or reports@zedstay.com. ZedStay may review content, preserve evidence, limit visibility, suspend access, or refer matters to authorities where appropriate. Do not misuse reporting tools to harass, retaliate against, or gain an unfair advantage over another user.

ZedStay provides a digital marketplace that facilitates connections and transactions between Guests and Hosts. Unless ZedStay expressly states otherwise, it is not the legal agent or authorised representative of a Host or Guest, and it does not own, manage, inspect, insure, endorse, or control a listed property, Host, Guest, or accommodation agreement.

ZedStay's verification, reviews, search results, maps, recommendations, and future AI-assisted features are provided for convenience and are not a guarantee, recommendation, safety certification, legal advice, insurance, or substitute for your own judgment. Users should independently assess property details, credentials, price, suitability, and local requirements.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, ZedStay is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive loss arising from user interactions, property conditions, or off-platform arrangements. Nothing in this Disclaimer excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limits mandatory consumer rights.

Current Use

ZedStay currently uses browser local storage and session storage to support sign-in state, preferences, feature operation, security-related functions, and a random first-party analytics session identifier. These technologies may store identifiers and settings on your device. They are not used to sell personal information or to build advertising profiles. This storage use should be reviewed against cookie-consent requirements before public launch.

Future Cookies & Your Choices

If ZedStay introduces non-essential cookies for analytics, advertising, maps, payments, or similar services, we will provide the required notice and consent controls before they are activated. You can clear or block storage through your browser settings, but essential platform features may then not work correctly. The cookie-consent design and a current technology inventory must be approved before any non-essential tracking is launched.

ZedStay Content & User Content

The ZedStay name, logo, platform design, software, and original content are owned by or licensed to ZedStay and may not be used without permission except as law allows. Users retain rights in the content they submit, but must have the rights and permissions needed to share it. The licence granted in the Terms of Service allows ZedStay to operate and promote the platform; it does not transfer ownership of user content.

Respecting Others' Rights

Do not upload photos, text, logos, reviews, or other material that infringes copyright, trade marks, privacy, publicity, or other rights. Hosts must ensure listing images accurately depict the property and that they have permission to use them. Rights holders may submit a notice under the Content Removal Policy.

Submit a Notice

Send notices to reports@zedstay.com with the relevant URL or listing identifier, your contact details, a clear description of the concern, supporting information, and a statement that your report is accurate and made in good faith. For copyright or trade-mark claims, identify the protected work or mark, the allegedly infringing material, your authority to act, and any additional details required by applicable law.

Review, Action & Appeals

ZedStay will review notices using a risk-based process and may request more information. We may remove, disable, preserve, or restrict content or accounts, and may notify the affected user where appropriate. A user who believes action was incorrect may appeal to reports@zedstay.com with the decision details and supporting reasons. ZedStay may decline abusive, incomplete, or bad-faith notices and may act immediately when safety or law requires it.