Terms of Service | ndotoni Stays

Please read these Terms carefully. They include limitations on Ndotoni's liability, an assumption-of-risk provision for interactions with other users, and a waiver of class or representative claims.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using ndotoni Stays ("the Platform"), you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our services.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Ndotoni Technologies Limited ("Ndotoni", "we", "us", or "our"), a private limited company registered in Tanzania.

Ndotoni Technologies Limited operates two platforms. These Terms govern your use of ndotonistays.com, our short-term stays platform for hosts and guests. Our long-term rental platform, ndotoni.com, is governed by its own Terms of Service. If you use both platforms, the terms for each apply to your use of that platform.

2. Description of Service

ndotoni Stays is an online platform that connects property owners ("hosts") with people seeking short-term accommodation ("guests") across Tanzania. We provide:

Listing and search for nightly stays, party venues, photoshoot locations, and event spaces
Instant booking — confirmed immediately, without waiting for host approval
Messaging and WhatsApp-based communication between hosts and guests
Booking and payment processing services
Check-in instructions, house rules, and property management tools for hosts
User profiles, reviews, and ratings

Ndotoni acts as an intermediary platform and is not a party to the booking agreement between a host and a guest. Long-term rentals (leases, monthly/annual tenancies) are handled separately by ndotoni.com. We may add, change, or remove features of the Platform at any time, with or without notice, and without liability to you.

3. Eligibility and Account Registration

3.1 Eligibility

To use ndotoni Stays, you must:

Be at least 18 years old
Have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts
Not be prohibited from using the service under applicable laws
Provide accurate and complete registration information
If registering on behalf of a company or another person, have the legal authority to bind that party to these Terms

3.2 Account Security

You are responsible for:

Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
All activities that occur under your account
Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access
Ensuring your account information is accurate and up-to-date

4. User Responsibilities

4.1 For Hosts

As a host, you agree to:

Provide accurate and complete listing information, including pricing, house rules, and check-in instructions
Upload genuine, recent photos of your property
Honor confirmed bookings — because bookings are instant, you agree not to cancel except for genuine reasons
Set a clear cancellation policy (Flexible, Moderate, or Strict) for each listing and honor it consistently
Maintain your property in a safe, clean, and habitable condition
Disclose any known defects, restrictions, or issues with the property
Respond to guest inquiries in a timely manner
Comply with all local short-term-rental laws, permits, and tax obligations that apply to you
Not discriminate against guests based on protected characteristics
Hold, or obtain, any license, permit, or registration required by Tanzanian law to offer short-term accommodation

4.2 For Guests

As a guest, you agree to:

Provide accurate information when booking
Review and accept the host's house rules and cancellation policy before booking
Respect the property, its neighbors, and any occupancy or noise limits
Report any issues or damages to the host and to Ndotoni promptly
Use the property only for the purpose booked (e.g. not exceeding the agreed guest count)
Leave the property in the condition you found it
Pay all amounts due, including the nightly rate, any cleaning fee, and the service fee

5. Prohibited Activities

You may not:

Post false, misleading, or fraudulent information
Misrepresent your identity or your legal authority to list or manage a property
Harass, abuse, threaten, or harm other users
Use the platform for any illegal activity, including hosting events prohibited by local law
Attempt to circumvent payment systems, fees, or the booking process (e.g. arranging payment off-platform to avoid fees)
Scrape, copy, or download content without permission
Impersonate others or create fake accounts
Spam or send unsolicited messages
Upload malicious code or interfere with the platform's operation or security
Use automated systems (bots) without authorization
Submit fraudulent reviews or damage claims
Violate any applicable laws or regulations

6. Payments and Fees

6.1 Service Fees

Guests pay the nightly rate, any cleaning fee set by the host, and a service fee (shown as a percentage of the subtotal before you confirm a booking). Ndotoni also charges hosts a commission, deducted from the payout for each completed booking. The applicable guest service fee and host commission rates are shown before you confirm a booking (guests) or in your host dashboard (hosts); rates may vary by listing and may change at any time with notice. All fees are disclosed upfront — nothing is added at check-in — and are quoted in Tanzanian Shillings (TZS) unless stated otherwise. Except where required by law or expressly stated in these Terms, service fees are non-refundable once a booking has been confirmed.

6.2 Payment Processing

Payments are processed securely through third-party providers, including M-Pesa and Stripe. Ndotoni is not a bank or licensed payment institution; we rely on these third-party providers to process, hold, or transmit funds, and we are not responsible for their errors, delays, outages, or fraud. You agree to:

Provide accurate payment information
Pay all amounts when due
Comply with the payment provider's terms
Be responsible for any payment processing fees, currency conversion charges, or chargebacks arising from your transactions

6.3 Host Payouts

Hosts receive payouts for completed bookings, net of Ndotoni's commission, via the payout method they set up in their host dashboard. Payout timing and method may vary and are subject to verification checks.

7. Cancellations and Refunds

Each listing has a cancellation policy set by the host — Flexible, Moderate, or Strict. The specific policy for a property is shown before you book, and by booking you agree to it. Because bookings are confirmed instantly, please review the cancellation policy carefully before confirming.

Refunds are calculated according to the applicable cancellation policy. Ndotoni is not responsible for issuing refunds outside of that policy but may assist in resolving disputes between hosts and guests.

8. Relationship Between Users; Assumption of Risk

Ndotoni is a venue that helps independent hosts and guests find and communicate with each other. Hosts and guests are independent of Ndotoni and of one another. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, agency, joint venture, or partnership relationship between Ndotoni and any user, or between any two users. Ndotoni does not control, and is not responsible for, the conduct of any host, guest, or other user, whether on or off the platform.

You are solely responsible for your interactions with other users, including check-in, key handovers, and any other in-person or off-platform meeting arranged through Ndotoni. We encourage common-sense precautions but do not supervise or guarantee the safety of any such interaction. To the fullest extent permitted by law, you assume all risk arising from your use of the platform and your interactions with other users.

9. Identity Verification

We may ask some users for identity information (such as a National ID/NIDA number) to help verify who they are. We do not independently verify the authenticity of any identity document, and we do not guarantee that any user is who they claim to be, or that any user is trustworthy, creditworthy, or free of a criminal history. You are responsible for exercising your own judgment when deciding whether to transact with another user.

10. Content and Intellectual Property

10.1 Ndotoni's Content

All content on ndotoni Stays (logos, text, graphics, software, design) is owned by Ndotoni or its licensors and protected by intellectual property laws. You may not use our intellectual property without written permission.

10.2 User Content

You retain ownership of content you post (listings, photos, reviews). By posting content, you grant Ndotoni a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute your content on the platform.

You represent that you have the right to post your content and that it doesn't violate any third-party rights.

10.3 Copyright Complaints

If you believe content on ndotoni Stays infringes your copyright, email info@ndotoni.com with: (a) a description of the copyrighted work; (b) the location of the allegedly infringing content on the platform; (c) your contact details; and (d) a statement, made in good faith, that you are the rights holder or authorized to act on their behalf. We may remove or disable content that we determine, in our discretion, infringes another party's rights.

11. Reviews and Ratings

Hosts and guests may leave reviews and ratings about each other after a stay. Reviews must be:

Based on genuine experiences
Honest and factual
Respectful and not defamatory
Free from conflicts of interest

Ndotoni reserves the right to remove reviews that violate these guidelines. Reviews reflect the opinion of the author, not of Ndotoni, and we do not verify or endorse their content.

12. Disclaimer of Warranties

ndotoni Stays is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. We do not guarantee:

Accuracy or completeness of listings
Availability of a specific property
Quality or condition of a property
The identity, behavior, or reliability of other users
Any particular financial, tax, or legal outcome from using the platform
Uninterrupted or error-free service
Security of data transmission

Nothing on ndotoni Stays (including our blog, guides, or support messages) constitutes legal, tax, financial, or real-estate advice. You should seek independent professional advice before making a booking, hosting, financial, or legal decision.

13. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Ndotoni shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to:

Loss of profits, revenue, or data
Property damage or personal injury occurring at a listed property
Disputes between hosts and guests
Unauthorized access to your account
Errors or omissions in content
Failures, delays, or errors of any third-party payment provider
Service interruptions or delays, including those caused by events described in Section 17 (Force Majeure)

Subject to rights and liabilities that cannot lawfully be excluded, our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid to Ndotoni in the 12 months preceding the claim.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Ndotoni, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from:

Your use of the platform
Your violation of these Terms
Your violation of any rights of another party
Your content, listing, or booking
Your interactions with other users, on or off the platform

15. Tax Responsibility

You are solely responsible for determining, reporting, and paying any taxes that may apply to income or payments you receive through ndotoni Stays, including hosting income. Ndotoni does not provide tax advice and does not withhold, collect, or remit taxes on your behalf, except where required by Tanzanian law.

16. Communications

By creating an account, you consent to receive transactional communications from Ndotoni related to your account, listings, and bookings via email, SMS, WhatsApp, or push notification. You may opt out of marketing communications at any time; you cannot opt out of essential account and transaction-related messages while your account is active.

17. Force Majeure

Ndotoni is not liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms where the failure or delay results from causes beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, fire, flood, epidemic or pandemic, war, civil unrest, government action or regulation, labor disputes, or outages of power, internet, telecommunications, or third-party payment networks.

18. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time if you:

Violate these Terms
Engage in fraudulent or illegal activities
Harm other users or the platform
Fail to pay fees when due

You may also delete your account at any time through account settings. Upon termination:

Your access to the platform will be revoked
Your listings will be removed
Outstanding obligations (including confirmed, unfulfilled bookings) remain in effect
Certain provisions of these Terms survive termination

We may also modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the platform at any time, with or without notice, and without liability to you.

19. Dispute Resolution

If you have a dispute with another user (for example, a damage claim or a disagreement about a cancellation), you agree to first attempt to resolve it directly with that user. Ndotoni may provide assistance but is not obligated to do so.

For disputes with Ndotoni, you agree to first attempt informal resolution by contacting us at info@ndotoni.com.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim against Ndotoni must be brought in your individual capacity, and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class, collective, or representative proceeding.

20. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the United Republic of Tanzania. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of Tanzania.

21. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via email or a prominent notice on the platform. Your continued use of ndotoni Stays after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

22. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

23. Entire Agreement

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and Ndotoni regarding your use of ndotoni Stays.

24. Business Information

Ndotoni is operated by a legally registered company in Tanzania, operating with full compliance to local regulations and business standards. Ndotoni Technologies Limited operates both ndotonistays.com (short-term stays) and ndotoni.com (long-term rentals).

Legal Business Name

NDOTONI TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

Company Type

Private Limited Company

Principal Place of Business

Wazo Hill, Kunduchi Ward
Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam
P.O. Box 14125
Tanzania

Director

Adam Nzinza

25. Host Listing Service

By listing your property with ndotoni Stays, you agree to the following:

Bookings on your listing are instant — a guest's booking is confirmed automatically, without a host approval step
You set your own nightly rate, cleaning fee, minimum stay, house rules, check-in instructions, and cancellation policy
Ndotoni earns revenue by charging guests a service fee and by deducting a commission from your payout for each completed booking; the applicable rate is shown in your host dashboard and may change at any time with notice
You confirm that you are the legal owner or an authorized manager of the property being listed, and that you have the legal right to offer it for short-term accommodation
You agree to keep your listing's availability, pricing, and condition accurate and up to date
You are solely responsible for complying with any local permits, licensing, or tax obligations that apply to short-term rentals in your area
You may connect a WhatsApp number to your listing so guests can reach you directly; you are responsible for responding through that channel
You may remove your listing at any time from your host dashboard, and Ndotoni may remove, edit, or reject any listing at its discretion
Ndotoni does not guarantee a minimum level of bookings, occupancy, or income

26. Referral Programme and Promotions

Introduce new hosts and guests. Earn up to TZS 30,000 for new hosts and up to TZS 50,000 for booking referrals. These terms explain how personal-Link referral rewards work across Ndotoni and Ndotoni Stays.

Who can participate. You must be at least 18, have a valid Ndotoni account or use your WhatsApp number with our bot, and provide accurate identity and payment details. To qualify for referral rewards, follow the Ndotoni Instagram page (@ndotoni_rentals) and download the Ndotoni app from the App Store or Google Play. Eligibility is reviewed before payout; a link click alone does not establish that these requirements have been met. The referred host must be a genuine new owner or authorized manager who has not previously listed on Ndotoni or Ndotoni Stays. Creating another account does not make an existing host new.
Share freely; six rewarded hosts. You may share your personal Link with as many people as you wish. Cash rewards apply only to your first six eligible new hosts approved by Ndotoni under this programme, in approval order, with a maximum total of TZS 30,000. Further referrals may join the platform but do not earn cash rewards. This is one combined limit across the website, app, WhatsApp, Ndotoni, and Ndotoni Stays; it does not reset through additional accounts or units.
One host, one reward. A host can generate only one referral reward, even if they list multiple rooms, apartments, properties, or units, or use multiple accounts or channels. Duplicate submissions, repeat owners, and attempts to split the same host into several identities do not qualify.
Amounts are confirmed after review. Up to TZS 5,000 is the maximum reward per approved host, not a fixed or guaranteed payment. The approved amount may be lower and is determined by Ndotoni after reviewing eligibility, listing suitability, and programme requirements. Signup, a draft, publication, or verification alone does not guarantee a reward. Ndotoni will confirm the approved amount before payment. Referrers must not promise others guaranteed payments, bookings, or income.
Booking rewards. You may also earn when a guest books a stay on Ndotoni Stays through your Link or a stay you shared. The first referrer recorded for a guest is credited for that guest’s eligible bookings for 12 months from that first referral. A booking reward can become due only after the guest’s checkout date, once the booking has been paid and has not been cancelled, refunded, or marked as a no-show. Up to TZS 10,000 per booking is the maximum, not a fixed or guaranteed payment; Ndotoni confirms the amount after review. A maximum of five eligible bookings can earn cash rewards per referrer, in approval order, for a maximum booking-reward total of TZS 50,000. Repeat bookings by the same guest each use one of these five places. Referring 100 bookings still earns rewards for at most five bookings. This combined programme limit applies across Ndotoni, Ndotoni Stays, the app and WhatsApp, and does not reset through additional accounts. Bookings you make yourself, bookings at a place you host or manage, and bookings arranged mainly to obtain a reward do not qualify.
Attribution and eligibility. The first valid referral accepted and recorded for the host is used. The host must use your Link or referral code before their first listing, and at least one genuine listing must be verified and published. Opening a Link alone is not approval. Browser restrictions, switching devices, and installing the app can interrupt tracking; reopen the Link or enter the referral code to continue. If attribution is missing or disputed, contact us with supporting evidence. We review records and evidence reasonably; attribution cannot be retrospectively added to an existing host simply to claim a reward.
Verification and payment. We may request reasonable evidence of identity, authority to list, ownership, and accurate contact or payout information. Rewards remain pending until review and express approval. Approved payments are sent to a verified mobile money account; you must ensure its details are correct. There is no promise of instant payment or a fixed processing time. We will process approved rewards within a reasonable period after required checks are complete, subject to lawful holds and payment-provider delays. Any legally required withholding will be explained.
Fair use and consent. Self-referrals, fabricated hosts, duplicate accounts, false documents, impersonation, unauthorized sharing of personal data, unsolicited bulk messaging, and manipulation of tracking or reward limits are prohibited. Obtain permission before sharing another person’s details. Do not present yourself as an employee or agent of Ndotoni, bind us to promises, charge people on our behalf, or misrepresent these terms.
Suspension, rejection, and recovery. Where reasonably necessary to investigate suspected abuse, conflicting ownership, incomplete verification, or payment errors, we may pause review or payment and request evidence. We may reject ineligible referrals, suspend programme access, correct mistakes, or seek lawful recovery of payments obtained through fraud, duplication, or material error. We will explain the relevant reason where lawful and appropriate and allow you to raise a dispute. These rights do not permit us to arbitrarily cancel a valid approved reward.
Programme changes. We may change, pause, or end this programme by publishing updated terms or notifying participants as appropriate. Changes ordinarily apply prospectively and do not reduce rewards already expressly approved, except for fraud, duplication, material error, or a legal requirement. A referral not yet approved is not a guarantee of payment. Separate promotions and earlier written reward or profit-share agreements remain governed by their own agreed terms; this programme does not automatically include rental profit sharing.
Independent participation. Participation does not create employment, agency, partnership, or an entitlement to salary or guaranteed income. You are responsible for your own lawful referral activity and applicable taxes. To the extent permitted by law, you are responsible for losses directly caused by your fraud, unlawful disclosure, or material breach, rather than losses caused by Ndotoni’s own fault.
Questions, disputes, and legal rights. For an attribution, eligibility, or payment question, contact info@ndotoni.com with the referral code and relevant information. We will review your complaint in good faith. These programme terms operate with the general Terms of Service, but do not exclude mandatory consumer rights, lawful access to regulators or courts, liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, or payment of valid approved rewards. Ndotoni’s review discretion must be exercised reasonably and in accordance with applicable law.

27. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms:

Email: info@ndotoni.com

Phone/WhatsApp: +255 790 720 329

Address:
NDOTONI TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Wazo Hill, Kunduchi Ward
Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam
P.O. Box 14125
Tanzania

Note: By using ndotoni Stays, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.