1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using the Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you may not use the Site.
2. Services
The Site allows homeowners (“Owners”) to list their properties and connect with potential house sitters (“Sitters”). Owners and Sitters are solely responsible for screening, vetting, and entering into any agreements with each other.
3. Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old and able to form legally binding contracts to use the Site. The Site is intended for personal, non-commercial use only.
4. Accounts
You may need to create an account to access certain features. You are responsible for maintaining your account credentials confidential and secure.
5. Fees and Payments
The Site charges fees for certain services, as described on the Site. All fees are in Australian dollars. We reserve the right to change fees at any time.
6. Intellectual Property
The Site and its content are the property of Responsible House Sitters and protected by intellectual property laws. You may not use our trademarks or logos without permission.
7. User Content
You are solely responsible for any content you post or submit. It may not violate any laws or third-party rights. We reserve the right to remove any prohibited content.
8. Third-Party Links and Services
The Site may contain third-party links or integrations. We do not endorse and are not responsible for such third parties.
9. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability
We provide the Site on an “as is” basis without warranties. We are not liable for any indirect, special, or consequential damages relating to your use of the Site.
10. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold Responsible House Sitters harmless from any claims or damages arising from your use of the Site or violation of these Terms.
11. Termination
We may suspend or terminate your access to the Site at any time for any reason.
12. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia.
Any disputes shall be resolved in the state courts of Victoria.
13. Updates to Terms
We may update these Terms at any time by posting the revised version on the Site. Your continued use constitutes acceptance of any updates.
14. Contact Please contact us at support@resonsiblehousesitters.com with any questions about these Terms.
15. Dispute Resolution In the event of any dispute, claim, question, or disagreement
arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Site, or any interactions or agreements
between Owners and Sitters facilitated through the Site (“Dispute”), the parties shall use their best efforts to settle the Dispute. To this effect, the parties shall consult and negotiate with each other in good faith and, recognising their mutual interests, attempt to reach a just and equitable solution satisfactory to both parties.
If the parties do not reach a mutually agreed upon solution within a period of 30 days, then upon notice by either party to the other, the Dispute shall be referred to
mediation administered by an accredited mediator agreed upon by the parties or,
failing agreement within 14 days of demand for mediation, a mediator appointed by
the Resolution Institute. The mediation shall take place in Victoria, Australia, and shall be attended by a representative of each party having full authority to negotiate and settle the Dispute. All unresolved Disputes relating to rights and obligations arising from these Terms or use of the Site, regardless of the nature of the cause of action or legal theory, shall be resolved by mediation. Each party shall bear its own costs of the mediation, and the parties shall share equally the mediator’s fees and expenses. The mediation shall be confidential and conducted in accordance with the Resolution Institute Mediation Rules. If the Dispute has not been resolved within 60 days after appointment of the mediator, or such further time as agreed by the parties, the Dispute shall be referred to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria, Australia. Nothing in this clause shall preclude a party from seeking urgent interlocutory or equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
16. Refund Policy
Our refund policy is designed to comply with the Australian Consumer Law and consumer guarantees applicable in Victoria. For any paid services on the Site, you have a standard 10 business day cooling-off period after purchase to obtain a full refund for change of mind, no questions asked. Beyond the cooling-off period, you may still be entitled to a refund under the consumer guarantees. Our services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law, including that they will be rendered with due care and skill, be fit for purpose, and be delivered within a reasonable timeframe. If our services fail to meet a consumer guarantee, you are entitled to a refund, replacement or compensation for the drop in value of the services below the price paid. To request a refund, please contact us at support@responsiblehousesitters.com with details of
your purchase and the reason for requesting the refund. We will assess all refund claims in a reasonable timeframe.
This refund policy is in addition to any other rights and remedies you have under applicable laws in Victoria. Consumer rights cannot be excluded, restricted or modified by contract.
17. Changes to this Policy
We may update this Refund Policy from time to time to ensure it remains compliant with consumer laws. Any changes will be posted on the Site and become effective immediately upon posting.
18. Introductory Service Only
The Site operates solely as an introductory platform to connect Owners and Sitters. Responsible House Sitters itself does not provide any
housesitting, property management or other services. The Site facilitates the exchange of information between Owners and Sitters to identify and initiate potential housesitting arrangements. However, any and all housesitting agreements are directly between Owners and Sitters.Responsible House Sitters is not a party to any housesitting agreements, does not participate in screening or vetting Owners or Sitters, and does not monitor, control or ensure the performance or compliance of either party with their obligations. Owners and Sitters are solely responsible for conducting appropriate screening, due diligence, negotiations and entering into legally binding agreements that govern their housesitting arrangement, including obligations, liabilities, fees, insurance requirements and other terms. By using this Site, you acknowledge and agree that Responsible House Sitters is not liable and explicitly disclaims any responsibility for disputes between Owners and Sitters or either party’s performance or compliance relating to a housesitting arrangement.
19. User Verification Policy: Responsoble House Sitters does not allow accounts to be registered with disposable, anonymous, or obfuscated email addresses. All ownership accounts must be linked to a permanent, traceable email address that can be verified by site administration. Any accounts suspected of using disposable email services intended to conceal one’s identity are subject to suspension or permanent deactivation.