01Who these terms apply to
This section applies if you are a student in Ghana using RooMates to find or book semester accommodation. By creating an account or making a booking, you accept these Terms & Conditions and the Acceptable Use Policy referenced below.
02Account & age
You must be at least 16 years old to register. We may ask you to verify your school enrolment, especially when booking with a hostel that limits access to its partner institutions. Provide accurate information and keep your password confidential. You are responsible for activity on your account.
03Free to browse — a service fee applies when you book
Browsing and searching on RooMates is free. When you book, a service fee is added to the room price for running the platform, securing your booking, and issuing your receipt. The room price is set by the hostel; the service fee is set by RooMates. You always see the full amount — room price plus service fee — before you confirm and pay, with no hidden charges added afterwards. See the Fees & Payment page for the current fee.
04Where your money goes
You pay one amount, and it is split at the payment provider (Paystack, Hubtel, or whichever gateway the hostel uses): the room price settles directly into the hostel's own account, and the service fee goes to RooMates. RooMates does not hold the hostel's room revenue. Your bank or mobile-money provider may add its own separate charges. If you have a question about a payment, the first stop is the hostel; we can help you reach them, but the hostel handles refunds of the room price.
05Booking confirmations
Your booking is confirmed only after the gateway tells us payment has succeeded. Until then the room remains available to other students. Once confirmed, you receive a receipt and the booking appears in your dashboard.
06Cancellations & refunds
Each hostel sets its own cancellation policy and displays it on the listing before you pay. If you need to cancel, contact the hostel through your dashboard. The hostel decides whether and how much to refund; RooMates does not arbitrate refund disputes.
07Conduct on the platform
Treat hostel staff and other students with respect. Do not post fake reviews, attempt to scrape listings, share your account, or use RooMates to harass anyone. Violations may result in account suspension or termination.
08Disputes with the hostel
RooMates is not a party to your tenancy or stay agreement with the hostel. We provide the platform that connects you, not the accommodation itself. We will reasonably help mediate, but property condition, room standards, and house rules are between you and the hostel.
09Account suspension
We may suspend or close your account if you breach these Terms, repeatedly cancel bookings without cause, file fraudulent payment chargebacks, or pose a safety concern to a hostel. We try to give notice and a chance to explain; we may act without notice if there is a clear safety or fraud signal.