Community Guidelines

1. For Students

• Be respectful when contacting hostel owners — they are running a business, not a 24/7 helpline.
• Send genuine inquiries. Don’t spam owners with mass messages or fake interest.
• Keep account info accurate. Real name, working phone number, correct college.
• Visit before paying. Always inspect the hostel and verify details in person.
• Report problems. If something feels off, flag it — that keeps everyone safer.

2. For Hostel Owners

• Verify honestly. Submit real ID and ownership documents.
• Show the real hostel. Real photos, real prices, real availability.
• Respond to inquiries in a timely, polite, and professional manner.
• Honor your commitments. If a room is confirmed, don’t reassign it.
• No discrimination. Don’t reject students based on religion, region, caste, gender, or disability beyond what your hostel type (boys/girls/co-ed) requires.

3. Listing Standards

Listings must:

• Use only photos you took or have rights to.
• Show monthly rent in INR, upfront, with any deposit or extras disclosed.
• Accurately describe room type, capacity, AC/non-AC, and amenities.
• Be for a real, currently-operating hostel — not a future or fictional one.

The following are not allowed:

• Stock photos, AI-generated photos, or photos from other listings.
• Fake or misleading pricing ("starting from" prices that don’t actually exist).
• Duplicate listings of the same hostel under different names.
• Properties that are not hostels or PGs (e.g., short-stay hotels, illegal accommodation).

4. Inquiries & Messaging

• Use the in-app inquiry flow — it keeps both sides protected.
• Don’t share contact details to move conversations off-platform until you’re ready.
• No harassment, threats, abusive language, or sexually inappropriate messages.
• No spam, ads, scams, or links to unrelated services.

5. Reviews & Ratings

• Reviews must be from actual stays or inquiries.
• Be specific, factual, and fair — describe your real experience.
• No paid, fake, or retaliatory reviews from any side.
• Hostelova may remove reviews that violate these rules.

6. Report & Enforcement

Every listing has a Report option. Use it for:

• Fake or misleading content
• Unsafe or unhygienic conditions
• Discrimination or harassment
• Scams, fake bookings, or extortion attempts

Our team aims to review reports as quickly as possible, with priority for safety, fraud, harassment, and illegal activity concerns.

7. Consequences

Depending on severity, violations may result in:

• A warning and required fix
• Temporary suspension of the account or listing
• Permanent removal from Hostelova
• Forwarding to law enforcement in serious cases (fraud, threats, illegal activity)

Hostelova works best when everyone is honest. Help us keep it that way — and thank you for being part of the community.