Terms of Service

Effective date: 12 May 2026 · Last updated: 12 May 2026

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Nearhood platform — including the website at nearhood.app, the web application at app.nearhood.app, and associated mobile applications (collectively, the “Platform”). By creating an account or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

These Terms are a legally binding contract between you and the operator of Nearhood, governed by the laws of India, including the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, Information Technology Act, 2000, and applicable rules thereunder.

1. The Platform

Nearhood is a hyperlocal marketplace that enables residents of gated communities in India to buy and sell home-made goods and skill-based services (food, tutoring, tailoring, beauty & wellness, crafts) within their community.

Nearhood is an intermediary as defined under the Information Technology Act, 2000. We provide the technology platform; we are not a party to transactions between buyers and sellers, and we do not own, manufacture, or guarantee any goods or services listed on the Platform.

The Platform is currently available in select gated communities in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Availability may change without notice.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age to use the Platform.
You must be a resident or authorised occupant of a gated community served by Nearhood to access the buyer or seller experience.
You must be legally competent to enter into a binding contract under the Indian Contract Act, 1872.

3. Account Registration

Accounts are created via OTP verification to an Indian mobile number (+91 format). You are responsible for keeping your device secure. You must not share your OTP with anyone — Nearhood will never ask for your OTP.

You must provide accurate information (name, flat/unit number) during onboarding. False or misleading information may result in account suspension.

You may hold only one account per mobile number. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent bans or platform rules is prohibited.

4. Sellers — Registration & Obligations

4.1 Seller verification

To list goods or services, you must complete the seller application process. A Community Host — a real neighbour appointed by Nearhood — will review your application, including a door photograph submitted for identity purposes. The door photograph is accessible only to the Community Host and Nearhood administrators; it is never displayed publicly.

4.2 Permitted listings

Sellers may only list:

Home-made food items (subject to FSSAI registration where required)
Tutoring and educational services
Tailoring and stitching services
Beauty and wellness services
Handmade crafts and artisan goods

Strictly prohibited listings include: second-hand or pre-owned goods; household services (plumbing, electrical, etc.); products or services regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; alcohol, tobacco, or controlled substances; counterfeit or infringing goods; and anything illegal under applicable Indian law.

4.3 Seller representations

Listings must be accurate, non-misleading, and reflect the current availability of the good or service.
Prices are set by sellers in Indian Rupees; Nearhood stores and displays prices in paise internally. The displayed price is the final price — no additional hidden charges.
Home food sellers must comply with applicable FSSAI regulations and maintain hygiene standards. Nearhood does not inspect food preparation premises.
Sellers must fulfil confirmed orders in a timely manner. Repeated cancellations may result in listing auto-pause.
Sellers are responsible for accurate GST compliance on their own income, where applicable.

5. Buyers — Ordering & Obligations

You may place orders only for listings within your gated community. You cannot order your own listings.
By placing an order, you enter into a direct contract with the seller. Nearhood facilitates but is not party to this contract.
The total amount shown at checkout is final. Do not negotiate off-platform to avoid Nearhood fees — this violates these Terms.
Buyers are expected to collect or receive their order as agreed with the seller within a reasonable time after the order is marked “Ready”.

6. Payments

Payments on Nearhood are processed via Razorpay, a licensed Payment Aggregator regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). By making a payment, you agree to Razorpay's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Nearhood also supports UPI Intent payments (GPay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM) and Cash on Delivery. For cash and UPI orders, the seller is responsible for confirming receipt of payment.

All monetary amounts are calculated server-side by Nearhood. Client-provided totals are never trusted. Coupons and offers are validated at the time of order creation and again at payment capture.

By accepting these Terms you acknowledge that Nearhood may collect a platform fee or commission on transactions; the applicable fee structure, if any, will be disclosed prior to order confirmation.

7. Cancellations & Refunds

7.1 Buyer cancellations

Buyers may cancel a pending order (before seller confirmation) at any time. If a payment has been captured, a full refund will be initiated via Razorpay within 5–7 business days to the original payment instrument.

7.2 Auto-cancellation

Orders not confirmed by the seller within 4 hours of placement are automatically cancelled. A full refund (if payment was captured) is initiated automatically.

7.3 Post-delivery refunds

Buyers may raise a refund request after delivery if the item was not received, was wrong, or was of unacceptable quality. The seller reviews the request and approves or rejects it. Nearhood does not adjudicate refund disputes as a matter of course, but may intervene in cases of clear fraud. Approved refunds are processed within 5–7 business days.

7.4 Consumer Protection

Your statutory rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 are not affected by these Terms. If you are unsatisfied with a refund decision, you may approach the appropriate consumer forum.

8. Community Hosts

Community Hosts are trusted residents appointed by Nearhood to verify seller applications within their community. Hosts act in a voluntary capacity; they are not employees or agents of Nearhood. Hosts do not represent Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) or any other body corporate. Their sole function is to confirm a seller's identity within the community.

9. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

Post false, misleading, or fraudulent listings or reviews
Harass, threaten, or abuse other users
Attempt to circumvent the verification or payment systems
Scrape, crawl, or use automated tools to access the Platform without permission
Use the Platform to advertise competing services or solicit users off-platform
Violate any applicable Indian law or regulation
Upload malicious code, viruses, or interfere with Platform security
Impersonate another user, Community Host, or Nearhood staff

10. Intellectual Property

The Nearhood name, logo, and Platform design are the intellectual property of their respective owner. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without written permission.

By uploading content (photos, descriptions, reviews) to the Platform, you grant Nearhood a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to display, reproduce, and use that content for the purposes of operating and promoting the Platform. You represent that you own or have the right to upload such content.

11. Suspension & Termination

Nearhood may suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or where required by law. We will make reasonable efforts to notify you before suspension unless immediate action is required to prevent harm.

You may delete your account at any time via Settings → Delete Account. Upon deletion, your public listings are removed and your personal data is purged within 30 days (see Privacy Policy for details). Outstanding obligations (e.g., pending orders) must be resolved before deletion is finalised.

12. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available”. To the extent permitted by Indian law, Nearhood disclaims all implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

Nearhood is not liable for: (a) the quality, safety, or legality of any goods or services listed by sellers; (b) the accuracy of any listing description; (c) the ability of sellers to sell or buyers to pay; (d) any loss or damage arising from transactions between users; or (e) any downtime or service interruption.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Nearhood's aggregate liability for any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms shall not exceed the total fees paid by you to Nearhood in the twelve months preceding the claim, or ₹1,000, whichever is greater.

13. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall first be attempted to be resolved amicably by contacting [email protected].

If the dispute is not resolved within 30 days, it shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Nothing in this clause affects your rights as a consumer under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, including the right to approach the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) or the appropriate State Commission.

14. Nodal Officer & Contact

In compliance with the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, the following details are provided:

Platform Name: Nearhood

Registered Office: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Nodal Officer / Grievance Officer Email: [email protected]

Complaints are acknowledged within 48 hours and resolved within 30 days.

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via an in-app notification at least 7 days before the changes take effect. Continued use of the Platform after that date constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree, you must stop using the Platform and delete your account.