Terms of Service

1. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and legally capable of entering into a binding contract under Kenyan law to use the Platform. By registering, you confirm that all information you provide is accurate, current, and complete.

2. Account Responsibilities

• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials.
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorised use of your account.
• You may not share, sell, or transfer your account to another person.
• Each person or business may only maintain one active account.

3. User Roles

4. Listings & Content

• All property listings must be genuine. Fake, duplicate, or misleading listings are strictly prohibited and will result in immediate account suspension.
• Photos must accurately represent the current state of the property. Using photos from other properties or heavily edited images that misrepresent the property is prohibited.
• Pricing must reflect the actual rent or sale price — bait-and-switch pricing is prohibited.
• We reserve the right to remove any listing that violates these rules without prior notice.
• Properties that are no longer available must be marked as such or removed promptly.

5. KYC Verification

Agents and landlords must complete Know Your Customer (KYC) verification before their listings go live on the Platform. This involves submitting a government-issued ID and supporting documents. Submission of false, altered, or another person's identity documents is a criminal offence under Kenyan law and will be reported to the relevant authorities. Approval typically takes one business day.

6. Bookings & Viewings

• Booking a viewing is a request only — it is not a tenancy agreement or reservation of the property.
• Agents and landlords are expected to honour all confirmed viewings. Repeated unexplained cancellations may result in account suspension.
• Tenants who repeatedly fail to attend confirmed viewings may have their booking privileges restricted.
• Both parties should communicate any changes or cancellations as early as possible.

7. Payments

All payments on the Platform are processed by Paystack. By making a payment you also agree to Paystack's Terms of Service. SparkleHomes does not store payment card information. Platform fees are non-refundable unless a service is withdrawn due to our error. See our Refund Policy for details.

8. Digital Lease Contracts

Where available, digital lease contracts carry the same legal weight as paper contracts under the Kenya Information and Communications Act (KICA). Both parties are responsible for reviewing all contract terms before signing. SparkleHomes provides only the signing infrastructure and is not a party to any lease agreement. Disputes arising from lease agreements must be resolved between the parties directly or through the appropriate Kenyan courts.

9. Prohibited Conduct

You may not use the Platform to:

• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent property listings.
• Impersonate any person, business, or government entity.
• Harass, threaten, or discriminate against other users.
• Scrape, copy, or commercially exploit Platform content without our written permission.
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Platform or its infrastructure.
• Use the Platform for money laundering, fraud, or any unlawful purpose.

10. Intellectual Property

The SparkleHomes name, logo, and Platform design are our intellectual property. User-generated content (property photos, descriptions) remains owned by the user who posted it, but by posting you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to display that content on the Platform and in promotional materials for as long as the listing is active.

11. Disclaimers

The Platform is provided "as is". While we verify agent and landlord identities through KYC, we do not independently verify every property description, photo, or pricing claim. Tenants should conduct their own due diligence before entering into any tenancy agreement. We are not liable for disputes, financial losses, or other issues arising between landlords, agents, and tenants.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Kenyan law, SparkleHomes shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Platform, including loss of profits, data, or goodwill. Our total liability for any claim arising from these Terms shall not exceed the amount you paid to us in the 12 months preceding the claim.

13. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time for violation of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or behaviour harmful to other users. You may close your account at any time by contacting us. Termination does not affect obligations already incurred, including outstanding payments or active lease agreements facilitated through the Platform.

14. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Kenya. Any disputes that cannot be resolved amicably shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Nairobi, Kenya.

15. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes via email at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

16. Contact