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These Payment Terms describe how money flows when you use SublettingU. They are part of our Terms of Service.
This is a draft pending legal review. It describes the payment model we are moving to and may change before it is finalized.
SublettingU is a neutral venue that connects student listers and renters. We are not a party to the sublease or to any payment between you, and we do not hold, escrow, or take a cut of your money. Depending on what the lister has enabled, a renter can pay one of two ways:
Off-platform payment is always available. Online card payment is offered only when the lister has connected a Stripe account capable of accepting it.
SublettingU charges a 0% platform fee. We do not charge service fees, booking fees, listing fees, application fees, onboarding fees, or any commission on rent. When a renter pays online, the listing price is what the renter is charged and the full amount goes to the lister's Stripe account, less only Stripe's own processing fee, which the lister absorbs. SublettingU takes nothing.
SublettingU is not a bank, escrow agent, or merchant of record, and does not process payments for its own account. We do not hold funds, do not run rent through a SublettingU-controlled account, and do not maintain platform-held deposits. On the online path, Stripe processes the charge and the money settles directly into the lister's connected Stripe account under Stripe's terms. On the off-platform path, the renter and lister settle entirely between themselves and SublettingU is not in the flow at all.
To accept online card payments, a lister connects their own account through Stripe Connect and completes Stripe's identity and tax-information collection. Charges on the online path are made directly to that connected account, with the lister as the merchant of record. By connecting an account you agree to the Stripe Services Agreement and Connected Account Agreement. SublettingU facilitates the connection as a neutral non-party; it does not direct, hold, or take a fee from these payments.
Because SublettingU is not the merchant of record and holds no funds, the protection available to you depends entirely on how you pay:
Any security deposit is arranged and settled off-platform, directly between the renter and the lister. SublettingU does not hold, escrow, or release security deposits. The lister, as the party who collects and holds the deposit, is responsible for complying with the security-deposit laws that apply to the property, including any return deadlines, itemization, and interest requirements. Renters should agree the deposit amount, the method of return, and the return timeline with the lister in writing before move-in.
Renters insurance is strongly recommended for every sublease. SublettingU does not provide property or liability insurance. Renters are encouraged to purchase a short-term policy from providers such as Lemonade, State Farm, or others. If a listing requires renters insurance, the renter must provide proof prior to move-in.
Listers are solely responsible for declaring sublease income and paying any applicable taxes (federal, state, local, or transient occupancy). SublettingU may issue Form 1099-K to listers who exceed thresholds set by the IRS or state tax authorities. We do not provide tax advice; consult a qualified tax professional.
Because SublettingU does not hold funds or act as the merchant of record, refunds and disputes are handled between the renter and the lister. If a renter believes the property does not match the listing or is uninhabitable on move-in, they should raise it with the lister directly and may also report it to us through their Bookings page so we can review conduct on the Platform. For an online card payment, the renter's recourse runs through Stripe and their card issuer against the lister, including the ability to dispute the charge. For an off-platform payment, there is no platform refund or dispute mechanism. Cancellation expectations are described in the Cancellation Policy.
On the online path, a card chargeback is between the renter, the lister (as merchant of record), and the card networks; SublettingU is not the merchant and does not adjudicate it. Do not initiate a chargeback for a booking you actually received the benefit of and are not entitled to a refund for — chargeback abuse may result in account suspension. If you have a problem, try to resolve it with the lister first, and you may contact support@sublettingu.com for help. Off-platform payments are not subject to chargebacks at all.
All prices and payouts are in U.S. dollars (USD). International cards may incur foreign transaction fees from the cardholder's bank.
For payment questions, email support@sublettingu.com.