Ghubconnect by ZATO

LANDLORD & AGENT TERMS & CONDITIONS

These terms apply only to landlords, property owners, and agents using the platform to list and manage accommodation.

Effective Date: 16.09.2026

Version: 1.0

Landlord & agent implementation notice

This policy document applies to landlords and agents only. The signup flow already requires agreement before account creation, but the following important functions are not yet implemented in the app and should be included before the product is treated as fully compliant with this policy:

  • There is no dedicated landlord or agent verification dashboard to review identity, authorization documents, or property ownership proof before approval.
  • The app does not currently show a Verified badge workflow or field-officer inspection result in the listing UI.
  • There is no property dispute, refund, or rental complaint adjudication flow in the app.
  • The transaction fee logic is not yet enforced in the product even though the policy defines it.
  • There is no dedicated privacy policy page or personal-data request process.
  • There is no public review moderation or complaint escalation workflow beyond the sign-up acceptance checkbox.
  • The platform does not yet implement a full renewal/reminder system for tenancy expiry tracking.

1. Introduction

These Terms & Conditions govern the use of Ghubconnect by landlords, property owners and agents who list or manage accommodation on the platform. Ghubconnect is a student accommodation marketplace operated by ZATO ("Ghubconnect", "we", "us" or "our"). These Terms apply only to listing parties who advertise accommodation, receive student enquiries, manage listings, and are responsible for payment and fee obligations under the platform. By registering, accessing or using Ghubconnect as a landlord or agent, you agree to comply with these Terms and any applicable platform policies.

2. Definitions

A Student is a person using Ghubconnect to search for, enquire about or secure accommodation. A Landlord is the owner of a property or a person legally authorized to act on behalf of the owner. An Agent is a person authorized by a landlord or property owner to advertise, market or facilitate the letting of a property. A Listing Party is the landlord or agent responsible for a particular property listing. A Property means any accommodation listed on Ghubconnect, including rooms, self-contained apartments, room-and-parlour units, larger apartments and hostels. A Unit means an individually rentable accommodation space within a property. Ghubconnect Verified means a property that has completed the applicable verification process. A Field Officer is a person authorized by Ghubconnect to conduct physical property inspections and verification. A Transaction means a successful accommodation arrangement in which a student secures a room or unit listed on Ghubconnect.

3. Purpose and role of Ghubconnect

Ghubconnect provides technology and marketplace services intended to make student accommodation discovery more transparent, organized and accessible. It may facilitate property discovery, search, landlord and agent verification, property listings, communication between students and listing parties, reviews and ratings, accommodation transaction records, rental documentation, availability tracking, renewal reminders and reporting of suspected fraud, misrepresentation or misconduct. Ghubconnect is not a landlord, property owner, property manager, student-side agent, guarantor, party to the tenancy agreement or custodian of rent, deposits, caution fees or other rental payments. Payments relating to the tenancy are made directly between the student and the relevant landlord or agent.

4. Partnership with Gateway ICT Polytechnic

Ghubconnect has an institutional partnership with Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade. The partnership is intended to strengthen the credibility, relevance and accessibility of the platform for students and to support a more organized accommodation ecosystem around the institution. Gateway ICT Polytechnic is not the landlord, owner, manager, agent or guarantor of individual properties listed on Ghubconnect. The partnership does not constitute a guarantee by the institution or Ghubconnect about the ownership, condition, safety, suitability, availability, pricing or outcome of any individual property.

5. Eligibility and account access

Ghubconnect is primarily intended for students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic and accommodation providers serving that student community. Users must provide accurate information when creating an account. Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their account information and for activities conducted through their accounts. A user must not impersonate another person, create an account using false information, operate multiple accounts for fraudulent purposes, transfer an account without authorization or use Ghubconnect for unlawful or fraudulent activities. Ghubconnect may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

6. Landlord verification

Landlords seeking to list properties may be required to provide information and documentation reasonably necessary to establish their identity, ownership or lawful interest in the property and authority to advertise and offer the property for rent. Ghubconnect may request additional information where necessary. Submission of documentation does not automatically guarantee approval. Ghubconnect may reject, suspend or remove a landlord or listing where verification requirements are not satisfied.

7. Agent verification

Agents may register on Ghubconnect, but an agent must be verified and approved before being permitted to list a property. An agent must provide a valid authorization document signed by the landlord or property owner confirming permission to advertise or facilitate the letting of the relevant property. Ghubconnect may independently contact the landlord or property owner to confirm the authorization. An agent must not list a property without authorization, continue advertising a property after authorization has been withdrawn, materially alter property information without approval or represent themselves as the property owner where they are not the owner. Ghubconnect may suspend or permanently remove an agent who provides false authorization or otherwise misrepresents their authority.

8. Property listing requirements

A listing party must provide accurate and complete information about each property. This may include location, room or unit type, rent, rental period, service charges, utility arrangements, electricity, water, distance from the institution, number of available units, facilities, amenities, security arrangements, accessibility, house rules, occupancy arrangements, photographs, videos, availability date, payment requirements, fees and any other information reasonably relevant to a student’s decision. The listing party is responsible for ensuring submitted information is truthful and not misleading.

9. Physical property verification

Ghubconnect may conduct a physical inspection of a property through its designated Field Officers before approving the property for listing or granting “Ghubconnect Verified” status. The purpose is to verify that material information supplied by the landlord or agent corresponds with the property observed during inspection. Field Officers may inspect location, unit type, room arrangement, facilities, electricity, water supply, accessibility, general physical condition, sanitation, security features, fencing, gates, lighting, CCTV, occupancy information and other material information provided in the listing. Where a listing contains a material claim that cannot be verified, the listing party may be required to correct the information before approval. Ghubconnect may also conduct follow-up inspections where circumstances require.

10. Ghubconnect Verified status

A property that satisfies the applicable verification requirements may receive a “Ghubconnect Verified” badge. The badge indicates that Ghubconnect has completed its applicable verification process and that the material information presented by the listing party was checked against the property and circumstances observed during the verification process. Verification is intended to reduce misrepresentation and improve transparency. However, Verified status does not mean that Ghubconnect owns, manages, guarantees or assumes responsibility for the property or tenancy. Verification reflects the condition and information observed at the time of inspection. Conditions, security arrangements, utilities, facilities, availability, pricing, occupancy and other circumstances may change after verification. Users are encouraged to report any material discrepancy between a verified listing and the actual property.

11. False or misleading property information

A landlord or agent must not knowingly provide false, misleading, materially incomplete or outdated information. Where Ghubconnect discovers a material discrepancy, it may require correction, temporarily suspend the listing, remove the listing, remove the Verified badge, suspend the listing party’s account, permanently restrict the listing party from the platform or take other appropriate action. Serious or repeated misrepresentation may result in permanent blacklisting from Ghubconnect.

12. Property changes after verification

A landlord or agent must notify Ghubconnect of material changes to a listed property, including changes to rent, room or unit availability, facilities, utilities, security arrangements, photographs, property condition, occupancy, rental terms or other material listing information. Where required, material changes must be reviewed and approved by Ghubconnect before being reflected as verified information on the platform. Ghubconnect may require a further inspection before continuing or restoring Verified status.

13. Duplicate property listings

Ghubconnect may use automated systems and human review to identify properties that appear to have been listed more than once. Detection may consider location, address, photographs, property characteristics, room or unit information, facilities, listing descriptions and other relevant information. Where duplicate listings are identified, Ghubconnect may contact the relevant listing parties and consolidate, remove or restrict duplicate listings.

14. Property availability

Where a room or unit has been successfully taken, the listing party is expected to update its availability. Ghubconnect may also independently deactivate or change the status of a room or unit where it receives sufficient information indicating that the accommodation is no longer available. For properties containing multiple rooms or units, availability may be tracked at the individual room or unit level. A property may therefore contain a combination of available, pending, secured or unavailable rooms or units.

15. Search and property information

Ghubconnect provides information to assist students in comparing accommodation options. Students are responsible for considering whether a property is suitable for their individual needs. Students should review rent, additional charges, location, facilities, utilities, security, house rules, occupancy, rental duration and other conditions before securing accommodation.

16. Current and previous occupants

Where applicable, Ghubconnect may allow current occupants of a property to communicate with prospective students. Any current resident may communicate with prospective students through the platform where the relevant feature is available. Ghubconnect may also display previous occupants or previous tenants associated with a property. Users must not use occupant information to harass, threaten, impersonate or otherwise misuse another person.

17. Messaging and communication

Ghubconnect may provide in-platform messaging between students, landlords, agents and current occupants. Users must communicate respectfully and must not use the messaging system for harassment, threats, fraud, impersonation, spam, discriminatory abuse, sexual harassment, malicious links or content, or unlawful activities. Ghubconnect may moderate, restrict, remove or report communications that violate these Terms or applicable law.

18. Reviews and ratings

Students may be permitted to review and rate properties, landlords and agents based on genuine experience. Reviews must be honest and based on actual interaction or accommodation experience. Users must not submit fabricated reviews, submit reviews in exchange for improper benefits, manipulate ratings, threaten another person with a negative review, post knowingly false allegations or use reviews to harass or defame another person. Ghubconnect may remove reviews that violate its policies or applicable law.

19. Responses to reviews

Landlords and agents may be permitted to respond publicly to reviews concerning their properties or services. Responses must remain factual and respectful. A response must not contain threats, harassment, private personal information, false information, retaliation against a reviewer or other prohibited content.

20. Rental transactions

A rental transaction is entered into directly between the student and the relevant landlord, property owner or agent. Ghubconnect does not become a party to the tenancy because a property is discovered, discussed or secured through the platform. Ghubconnect does not hold or process rental funds on behalf of landlords, agents or students unless a separate service expressly provides otherwise. The parties are responsible for agreeing on and fulfilling their respective rental obligations.

21. Ghubconnect transaction fee

Ghubconnect charges a transaction fee to the landlord or agent who listed the property, depending on who is responsible for the listing. The student does not pay the Ghubconnect transaction fee. The fee is charged per room or unit successfully taken, not merely because a property is listed. Current fees are: Single Room ₦5,000 (Five thousand naira), Self-Contained ₦7,000 (Seven thousand naira), Room and Parlour ₦10,000 (Ten thousand naira), Two-Bedroom, Three-Bedroom or Larger ₦15,000 (Fifteen thousand naira). Ghubconnect may revise its transaction fees by providing reasonable notice through the platform or applicable commercial communication.

22. Transaction reporting and confirmation

Ghubconnect does not rely solely on the landlord or agent to update the status of a room or upload proof of payment. After securing accommodation, a student may be required to report the transaction through Ghubconnect. They may be required to provide property details, payment date, amount paid, rental commencement date, rental duration, payment receipt, tenancy agreement and other relevant documentation. The landlord or agent may be notified and given an opportunity to confirm or dispute the transaction. Where the listing party fails to update the room status or fails to upload a receipt, Ghubconnect may still recognize a transaction where sufficient evidence exists. A listing party must not avoid a Ghubconnect transaction fee by deliberately failing to report or update a completed transaction. Where a transaction is disputed, Ghubconnect may review the available evidence and determine the appropriate platform action.

23. Payment and rental documentation

After a student successfully secures accommodation, Ghubconnect may require the student and/or listing party to upload relevant documentation such as a payment receipt, payment confirmation, tenancy agreement, allocation form, occupancy documentation, rental commencement date, rental expiry date and other relevant records. These documents are maintained for platform administration, transaction tracking, verification, safety, record-keeping and renewal purposes. Uploading documentation does not make Ghubconnect a party to the tenancy or responsible for the obligations in the agreement.

24. Accommodation records and renewal tracking

Ghubconnect may maintain an accommodation record associated with a student’s account, including current property, room or unit, landlord or agent, date accommodation was secured, rental commencement date, rental duration, rental expiry date, payment documentation, tenancy agreement information and previous accommodation history. Where sufficient information is available, Ghubconnect may notify or remind students of approaching rental expiry or renewal dates. Renewal is solely a matter between the student and the landlord or agent. The student remains responsible for confirming whether they wish to renew and for completing renewal arrangements.

25. Direct payments and fraud prevention

Students should exercise caution when making payments. Ghubconnect does not guarantee the safety or recovery of funds transferred directly to a landlord or agent. Users should verify payment instructions and avoid making payments to unauthorized persons. Ghubconnect may investigate reported fraudulent activity and may suspend or restrict accounts associated with suspected fraud. Where appropriate, Ghubconnect may preserve relevant records and cooperate with lawful investigations.

26. Cancellations, refunds and rental disputes

Rental agreements, refunds, cancellations, deposits and other tenancy matters are primarily between the student and the relevant landlord, property owner or agent. Ghubconnect is not responsible for determining contractual rights under a tenancy agreement. Ghubconnect may, however, provide a reporting and complaint mechanism through which users can report suspected fraud, serious misrepresentation, unauthorized listings, unsafe or materially misrepresented properties, harassment, misconduct or other violations of policy. Ghubconnect may take platform-level action following a report but does not guarantee a particular outcome in a rental dispute.

27. Student safety

Students should exercise reasonable care before entering any tenancy. Students are encouraged to inspect accommodation where possible, confirm important property information, review the tenancy agreement before signing, verify payment instructions, avoid sharing sensitive financial information unnecessarily, report suspicious behaviour, report material discrepancies in verified listings and contact appropriate authorities where there is an immediate threat to safety. Ghubconnect’s verification process is intended to improve transparency but does not eliminate all risks associated with renting accommodation.

28. Fraud, misrepresentation and blacklisting

Ghubconnect takes fraud and deliberate misrepresentation seriously. Conduct that may result in suspension or permanent restriction includes fake property listings, false ownership claims, fraudulent agent authorization, fabricated documents, deliberate misrepresentation of rent or charges, deliberately concealing material property information, falsely reporting a transaction, deliberately concealing a transaction to avoid Ghubconnect fees, manipulating reviews, impersonation, harassment and repeated violation of these Terms. Ghubconnect may maintain internal records of accounts or properties restricted because of serious violations.

29. Complaints and reporting

Users may report problems through official Ghubconnect support channels. Reports may concern inaccurate property information, suspected fraud, unauthorized agents, unsafe conditions, harassment, fake listings, payment-related concerns, review abuse or other platform violations. Ghubconnect may request supporting information where necessary to investigate a report.

30. Intellectual property

Ghubconnect, its software, branding, interface, logos, designs, text, graphics and other platform materials are owned by or licensed to ZATO or its applicable rights holders. Users may not reproduce, copy, modify, distribute, sell, reverse engineer or commercially exploit Ghubconnect’s protected materials without appropriate authorization.

31. User-submitted content

Users may submit photographs, videos, property descriptions, reviews and other content to Ghubconnect. Users must have the necessary rights and authority to submit such content. By submitting content, the user grants Ghubconnect a non-exclusive permission to use, display, reproduce and process the content as reasonably necessary to operate, promote, verify and improve the platform. Ghubconnect may remove content that violates these Terms, applicable law or platform policies.

32. Privacy and personal data

Ghubconnect may collect and process personal information necessary to provide its services, verify users, administer transactions, maintain accommodation records, prevent fraud, communicate with users and improve the platform. Personal data will be handled in accordance with applicable Nigerian data protection requirements and Ghubconnect’s Privacy Policy. Users should review the Privacy Policy before using the platform.

33. Third-party services

Ghubconnect may integrate or link to third-party services, payment providers, mapping services, communication tools or other external platforms. Ghubconnect does not control third-party services and is not responsible for their independent operations, terms or policies. Users should review the applicable third-party terms before using such services.

34. Platform availability

Ghubconnect aims to maintain reliable access to the platform but does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation. The platform may occasionally be unavailable because of maintenance, technical failures, updates, network problems, security incidents, third-party failures or circumstances beyond Ghubconnect’s reasonable control.

35. No guarantee of rental outcome

Ghubconnect provides tools intended to help students find accommodation. Ghubconnect does not guarantee that a student will secure a particular property, that a property will remain available, that a landlord or agent will accept a student, that a tenancy will continue for its expected duration, that rent will remain unchanged, that property conditions will remain unchanged or that a rental relationship will be successful.

36. Limitation of Ghubconnect’s role

To the extent permitted by applicable law, Ghubconnect is not responsible for obligations arising directly between students and landlords, property owners or agents. This includes disputes concerning rent, deposits, caution fees, tenancy duration, possession, repairs, property damage, eviction, utilities, personal property, conduct of occupants, contractual obligations or other matters arising primarily from the tenancy.

37. User responsibility

Users are responsible for the decisions they make based on information obtained through Ghubconnect. Landlords and agents remain responsible for the accuracy of their listings and their legal authority to offer properties for rent. Students remain responsible for reviewing rental terms and making informed decisions before entering a tenancy.

38. Suspension and termination

Ghubconnect may suspend, restrict or terminate access to the platform where a user violates these Terms, provides false information, engages in fraud, abuses other users, manipulates the platform, repeatedly receives credible complaints or engages in conduct exposing Ghubconnect or other users to significant risk. Ghubconnect may also remove or suspend individual property listings.

39. Changes to these Terms

Ghubconnect may update these Terms as the platform develops, laws change or new services are introduced. Material changes may be communicated through the platform or other appropriate channels. Continued use of Ghubconnect after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms, subject to applicable law.

40. Governing law

These Terms shall be governed by the laws applicable in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Where applicable, mandatory federal or state laws relating to tenancy, consumer protection, data protection and other relevant matters shall apply.

41. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.

42. Entire agreement

These Terms, together with applicable Ghubconnect policies and any separate terms expressly incorporated by reference, constitute the agreement governing use of the Ghubconnect platform. Separate agreements may apply to landlords, agents, commercial partners or other categories of users.

43. Contact and support

Questions, complaints and reports may be submitted through the official Ghubconnect support channels provided on the platform.

44. Acceptance

By checking the acceptance box during signup and creating an account, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agreed to these Landlord & Agent Terms & Conditions. If you do not agree with these Terms, you should not create a landlord or agent account on Ghubconnect.