Terms of Service

SemesterStay (“we”, “the platform”) is a marketplace that connects students looking for accommodation for one or more months (“students”) with people who let such accommodation (“hosts”). We are not a party to the accommodation contract between a student and a host; we verify hosts, facilitate the request and booking flow, process the monthly payments and provide the dispute process described below.

Stays are booked for whole months aligned to academic semesters, with a minimum of 1 month. Nightly or weekly stays are not offered.

You must be at least 18 to use SemesterStay. One person, one account; you are responsible for what happens under it. Students complete a profile (citizenship, home and host university) before sending requests; hosts complete the verification in section 4 before publishing.

Some listings are marked EU passport required. This is an administrative restriction some hosts apply because of registration duties for non-EU tenants; it is shown transparently on the listing and such listings cannot be requested by non-EU students.

Hosts must describe the place accurately, use real photographs, state the monthly price and the deposit, and keep availability up to date. Only spaces approved for residential use may be listed; the host declares this when registering a property (section 4).

Before a property can publish, its host provides two identity documents, a recent utility bill in their name at the address, and proof of the right to let the place — an ownership document, or a lease that permits subletting (with the landlord's written consent where required) — and signs a declaration that the unit is approved for residential use and fit for habitation. We review these documents and may reject a listing, or remove one later, if they are incomplete, false or expired.

A student sends a request for specific months. The host has 72 hours to approve or decline; unanswered requests expire. An approved request becomes a booking when the student pays the first month (section 6). Until then either side can withdraw.

Contact details are masked in messages until a booking is paid.

• First month. Paid by card through our payment provider (Stripe) when the booking is confirmed. The amount is held by the platform and released to the host 48 hours after the check-in date, unless the student reports a problem within that window.
• Following months. Charged automatically to the student's saved card on the first day of each month of the stay and paid out to the host. If a charge fails, we retry and notify both parties; repeated failures are treated as non-payment under the accommodation contract.
• Fees. Students pay no service fee. Hosts pay a commission of 5% of each payment, deducted before payout.
• Payouts are made to the host's connected Stripe account. Hosts must complete Stripe onboarding and provide a tax identification number before their first payout.

The deposit is paid by the student directly to the host by bank transfer; SemesterStay never holds it. Both parties record the transfer and its receipt on the platform. After the stay the host must, within 21 days, either return the deposit in full or open a deduction case with evidence (section 8). The student confirms receipt; without a response the return is recorded automatically after 14 days.

The final monthly payout of a stay of two months or more is held by the platform until the deposit is settled. A host who does not settle a deposit may have the case escalated and their listings suspended.

Check-in problems. If the place materially differs from the listing, the student reports it from the booking page within 48 hours of check-in. The first payout is held while we look into it; outcomes range from a fix by the host to a full refund of the first month.

Deposit deductions. A host claiming a deduction opens a case with an amount and evidence; the student can respond with their own. Our team reviews both sides and records the outcome. Decisions are made in good faith on the evidence provided and do not replace the parties' rights under Czech law.

• Taking a booking found on SemesterStay off the platform to avoid fees or protection.
• False documents, false declarations, or listing a place you may not let.
• Discrimination against students on grounds protected by law.
• Harassment, spam or scraping.

We may suspend or close accounts that break these rules, with or without notice.

The accommodation contract is between the student and the host. To the extent permitted by law, SemesterStay is not liable for the condition of a place, for a party's breach of that contract, or for indirect losses. Nothing here limits liability that cannot be limited under Czech law.

These terms are governed by the laws of the Czech Republic; consumer rights under EU law are unaffected. We may update these terms; material changes are announced by e-mail at least 14 days in advance. See also our Privacy Policy and Imprint.