Terms and Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, listing a property, or making a reservation on CaviteNest, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, our Privacy Policy, and all applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of the Philippines.

2. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. Any changes will be effective immediately upon posting the revised terms on our website. Your continued use of our services after any changes indicates your acceptance of the new terms. We will notify users of significant changes via email or in-app notification.

3. User Accounts & Responsibilities

Users are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of their account credentials.
• All activities that occur under their account.
• Providing accurate, truthful, and up-to-date information in their profile and listings.
• Ensuring that any uploaded government ID is valid and belongs to them.
• Communicating respectfully with other users on the platform.

Each user may only maintain one (1) account. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions or penalties is strictly prohibited.

4. Prohibited Conduct & Violations

CaviteNest is committed to maintaining a safe, trustworthy, and fair platform for all users. The following actions are considered violations and may result in penalties as described in Section 5:

4.1 Listing Violations

• Fake or misleading listings — Posting a property that does not exist, using photos of a different property, or providing false descriptions.
• Duplicate listings — Listing the same property multiple times to gain unfair visibility.
• Incorrect pricing — Advertising a price that does not reflect the actual cost, including hidden fees not disclosed in the listing.
• Unavailable properties — Keeping a listing active for a property that is no longer available for rent or booking.

4.2 Identity & Account Violations

• Fake or stolen identity — Uploading someone else's government ID or using fraudulent documents.
• Multiple accounts — Operating more than one account to evade bans or exploit the system.
• Impersonation — Pretending to be another person, organization, or CaviteNest staff.

4.3 Communication & Behavioral Violations

• Harassment or threats — Sending abusive, threatening, or discriminatory messages to any user.
• Spam — Sending unsolicited, repetitive, or irrelevant messages.
• Scam attempts — Attempting to defraud other users, requesting payments outside the agreed terms, or phishing for personal information.

4.4 Content Violations

• Inappropriate content — Uploading obscene, violent, or offensive images or text.
• Copyright infringement — Using photos, text, or other content that belongs to another person without permission.

4.5 Transaction & Reservation Violations

• No-show without notice — Repeatedly failing to honor confirmed reservations without prior communication.
• Refusal to honor agreed terms — Changing prices, conditions, or availability after a reservation is confirmed.
• False reports — Submitting reports against other users that you know to be untrue, in an attempt to harm their standing.

5. Penalties & Enforcement

CaviteNest applies penalties based on the severity and frequency of violations. The following actions may be taken:

Additional actions may include:

• Removal of specific listings or content
• Revocation of verified status
• Downgrade of subscription plan without refund
• Restriction from messaging or listing features

CaviteNest reserves the right to determine the appropriate penalty at its sole discretion. Decisions are reviewed by our moderation team and are final.

6. Reservations & Booking Policy

6.1 Booking Process

When a lessee submits a reservation request, the lessor has 48 hours to confirm or decline the request. If the lessor does not respond within this timeframe, the reservation will be automatically cancelled and both parties will be notified.

6.2 Instant Book

Lessors may enable "Instant Book" on their listings for short-term/daily bookings. When enabled, reservations are confirmed immediately without requiring manual approval. This feature is not available for long-term monthly rentals.

6.3 Cancellation Policy

• Free cancellation window: Lessees may cancel a confirmed reservation within 24 hours of confirmation at no penalty.
• Late cancellation: Cancellations made after the 24-hour window are subject to the lessor's stated cancellation policy.
• Owner cancellation: Lessors may cancel a reservation at any time, but repeated cancellations may result in account review.

6.4 Date Blocking

Once a reservation is confirmed, the booked dates are automatically blocked and unavailable to other users. This prevents double-booking. Dates are released immediately if a reservation is cancelled.

7. Payments & Financial Transactions

CaviteNest is a listing and matchmaking platform. We do not process rental payments or booking fees between lessors and lessees. All financial transactions (rent, security deposits, booking fees) are arranged and settled directly between the parties involved.

CaviteNest provides an optional Payment Tracking feature that allows:

• Lessees to record payments (amount, method, reference number)
• Lessors to confirm or reject recorded payments
• Both parties to maintain a payment history trail

This feature is for record-keeping purposes only. CaviteNest does not guarantee, mediate, or insure any payment between users. For subscription payments (Premium/Business plans), CaviteNest accepts payments via GCash and Stripe which are processed through secure payment gateways.

8. Subscription Plans & Billing

CaviteNest offers subscription plans (Premium and Business) that provide enhanced features for lessors. By subscribing to a paid plan, you agree to the following:

8.1 Billing & Payment

• Subscription payments are processed securely via PayMongo (GCash, Maya, GrabPay, Credit/Debit Card).
• Plans are available in quarterly or annual billing cycles.
• Payment is charged at the time of subscription activation.
• Your subscription starts immediately upon successful payment.

8.2 Cancellation Policy

• You may cancel your subscription at any time from your subscription settings.
• Upon cancellation, you will retain access to your paid plan features until the end of your current billing period.
• After the billing period ends, your account will automatically revert to the Free plan.
• Cancellation does not take effect immediately — you keep the features you paid for.

8.3 No Refund Policy

All subscription payments are final and non-refundable. Once a payment has been processed, no refunds will be issued regardless of the reason for cancellation. This includes:

• Voluntary cancellation before the end of the billing period
• Upgrades or downgrades between plans
• Unused portions of a subscription period
• Account violations leading to suspension or ban

We encourage users to carefully review the plan features before subscribing. You may start with the Free plan and upgrade only when you are confident the paid features suit your needs.

8.4 Plan Changes (Upgrade / Downgrade)

• You may upgrade to a higher plan at any time. A new payment will be charged and your subscription period resets.
• To downgrade, cancel your current plan and subscribe to the lower plan after your current period ends, or switch to the Free plan immediately.

9. House Rules & Property Standards

Lessors may set house rules for their properties (e.g., no smoking, no pets, quiet hours, curfew). These rules are displayed on the listing page and form part of the rental/booking agreement.

• Lessees are expected to comply with all stated house rules during their stay.
• Violation of house rules may result in early termination of the lease or booking at the lessor's discretion.
• House rules must be reasonable, non-discriminatory, and compliant with Philippine law.
• CaviteNest does not enforce house rules — disputes should be resolved between the parties or through our support system.

10. Support & Dispute Resolution

CaviteNest provides a Help & Support system accessible at /help. Users may submit support tickets for account issues, payment concerns, booking problems, technical issues, or general inquiries.

Our support team aims to respond within 24–48 hours. For disputes between lessors and lessees, we encourage users to first attempt resolution through direct communication via the in-app messaging system. If a resolution cannot be reached, either party may file a support ticket for mediation assistance.

CaviteNest's role in disputes is limited to providing a communication channel and, where appropriate, reviewing evidence to determine if any platform rules were violated. We do not serve as a legal arbiter or guarantor.

11. Appeals

If you believe a penalty was applied in error, you may submit an appeal by emailing cavitenest.official@gmail.com within 14 days of the action. Include your full name, registered email, and a clear explanation of why you believe the decision should be reconsidered. Appeals are reviewed within 7 business days.

12. Limitation of Liability

CaviteNest serves as a platform connecting property owners and seekers. We do not own, manage, or control any listed property. CaviteNest shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or relating to:

• Disputes between lessors and lessees
• The condition, safety, or legality of any listed property
• Payment arrangements made outside the platform
• Any loss or damage resulting from user interactions

13. Governing Law

These terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, including but not limited to Republic Act No. 9653 (Rent Control Act), Republic Act No. 7394 (Consumer Act), and the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (R.A. 10173).

14. Privacy Policy

Please refer to our Privacy Policy for information on how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information.

15. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, or wish to report a violation, please contact us at: cavitenest.official@gmail.com