Terms & Conditions

The terms "We", "Us", "Our", and "Company" collectively refer to MeraHostel (operated by Brightnous IT Services). The terms "User", "Visitor", "Resident", and "You" refer to all individuals accessing our website or mobile application.

These Terms and Conditions govern your access to the accommodation discovery portal, owner listing dashboard, room booking facilities, tenant management system, and related digital payment infrastructure.

We reserve the right to revise these Terms periodically. Continued utilization of the Platform following published amendments signifies your informed acceptance of the updated provisions.

All intellectual assets featured on this platform?including but not limited to the MeraHostel brand name, logos, graphics, icons, button designs, software code, UI designs, hostel photographs, and data architecture?are the proprietary assets of the Company or used under authorized license:

• You may not reproduce, scrape, mirror, license, sell, or commercially exploit any content without explicit written permission from MeraHostel.
• You are granted a limited, revocable, non-exclusive license to view hostel profiles, verify amenities, and make bona fide inquiries for personal accommodation purposes.
• Unauthorized reproduction or framing of any material constitutes copyright and trademark infringement punishable under Indian intellectual property legislation.

Users must adhere to strict platform standards. Any conduct violating system integrity is strictly prohibited:

3.1 Security Prohibitions

• Accessing data, servers, or user accounts not explicitly authorized for your login credentials.
• Attempting to probe, scan, or exploit security vulnerabilities in our host networks or APIs.
• Injecting malicious software, Trojans, viruses, worms, or executing denial-of-service (DDoS) / flooding attempts.
• Transmitting spam, automated bots, or unverified bulk solicitations to registered hostel owners or residents.

3.2 Behavioral & Community Standards

Users agree not to publish defamatory, obscene, hateful, fraudulent, or harassing reviews, inquiries, or media on the platform. Violators will face immediate profile termination and may be referred to law enforcement authorities.

MeraHostel operates as an intermediary technology aggregator connecting prospective tenants (students and working professionals) with independent hostel and PG proprietors:

While MeraHostel undertakes reasonable measures to verify hostel listings and owner identities, residents are encouraged to physically inspect premises, verify food menus, security arrangements, and tenancy contracts prior to booking.

To ensure community safety and fulfill municipal regulatory norms, tenants and hostel owners must fulfill mandatory identification checks:

• Residents agree to provide authentic identification documents (Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, College ID, or Employment Proof) upon onboarding.
• For transactions exceeding ?50,000/- or as mandated by financial regulations, the User must provide valid PAN card credentials.
• During Aadhaar-based digital KYC, you authorize MeraHostel and its UIDAI-licensed partners to download and verify your Aadhaar XML / DigiLocker data for tenant record verification.

MeraHostel enables residents to pay their monthly rent, utility charges, and security deposits securely through our integrated digital payment gateway:

6.1 Payment Authorization

By initiating a payment, you authorize MeraHostel's designated payment gateway to charge your selected payment method (UPI, Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking) for the requested amount (plus applicable gateway processing charges or GST, if explicitly stated).

6.2 Intermediary Settlement Role

MeraHostel is not a bank or non-banking financial company (NBFC). Payments received from tenants are held in escrow/settlement accounts and disbursed automatically to the hostel owner's designated bank account in accordance with RBI merchant settlement schedules.

We maintain straightforward protocols for failed or disputed transactions:

• Failed Payment Deductions: In instances where money is debited from your bank or UPI account but the platform transaction fails to reach the hostel owner due to gateway timeouts, the entire amount is refunded automatically to your source account within 3 to 7 banking days.
• Settled Rent Amounts: Once funds are successfully credited to the hostel owner's bank account, refund requests (e.g. early vacating, advance rent disputes) are governed by the specific hostel's individual cancellation and refund policies. MeraHostel cannot unilaterally withdraw funds from an owner's account.
• Platform Subscription Fees: Paid listing subscriptions or software add-ons for hostel owners are non-refundable once activated.

If a resident or cardholder initiates a formal transaction dispute or chargeback through their issuing bank:

• The Beneficiary (Hostel Owner) agrees to immediately provide proof of tenancy, check-in records, and rent receipts within 3 business days of notification.
• Failure by the property owner to furnish substantiating documents may result in an irreversible bank chargeback debited from subsequent owner settlements.
• Any bank fines, administrative fees, or penalties imposed by card payment networks arising from fraudulent disputes will be charged to the responsible party.

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless MeraHostel, its founders, directors, employees, and technology partners from and against any claims, losses, liabilities, damages, or costs (including reasonable legal fees) resulting from:

• Your breach of these Terms and Conditions or applicable laws.
• Any physical dispute, property damage, disciplinary action, or disagreement arising between a resident and a hostel proprietor.
• Inaccurate personal or financial data submitted by you during registration, KYC, or payment checkouts.

In no event shall MeraHostel's aggregate cumulative liability to a user for any claim exceed the total platform service fee amount (if any) paid by the user to MeraHostel in the preceding 30 days.

MeraHostel provides its website, mobile apps, and booking infrastructure on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied:

• We do not warrant that site functions will be completely uninterrupted, secure, or free from server errors or software bugs.
• We do not guarantee the physical condition, food taste, cleanliness, or neighborhood security of any hostel listed on the platform.
• Users are urged to perform their own due diligence prior to executing residential lease agreements or paying advance deposits.

MeraHostel reserves the unilateral right to suspend or terminate any user account, disable access, or delist hostel inventory without prior notice in cases of fraud, security breaches, harassment, or non-compliance with these terms.

These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any legal dispute, arbitration, or proceedings shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

If you have any questions, regulatory inquiries, or need assistance regarding these Terms and Conditions, please contact our Legal & Compliance Desk: