Terms of Service

1. Welcome to Direct Crib

Welcome to Direct Crib (“Direct Crib”, “Platform”, “we”, “us”, or “our”).

Direct Crib is a property technology platform that connects property listers with individuals searching for residential, commercial, or short-term accommodation.

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Direct Crib website, mobile application, and all related services.

By creating an account or using Direct Crib, you confirm that:

• you have read these Terms,
• you understand them, and
• you agree to be bound by them.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

2. What Direct Crib Does

Direct Crib is only a marketplace platform.

We:

• connect property owners and prospective renters,
• provide listing and search tools,
• help users communicate,
• carry out identity and ownership verification,
• connect clients with artisans and service providers through Artisans Corner,
• support payments between users through our licensed payment processor, Paystack.

Direct Crib does not:

• own properties listed on the Platform,
• act as landlord, third party, or property manager,
• guarantee any property,
• participate in rental agreements,
• set the rent or the terms of any tenancy or service agreement.

All rental agreements exist strictly between users.

3. Definitions

4. Eligibility and Account Registration

To use Direct Crib, you must:

• be at least 18 years old;
• provide accurate registration information;
• create and maintain a secure account.

You are responsible for all activity under your account. Providing false information may result in suspension or termination.

5. Identity Verification (KYC) and Ownership Checks

To maintain trust and reduce fraud, Direct Crib requires identity checks at certain points. Checks are carried out by our verification provider, Dojah, against official NIMC and NIBSS records.

• Owners must verify their NIN and complete a live selfie check before a listing goes live, and may be asked for proof of ownership, tenancy authorisation, proof of address or other property documents.
• Renters must verify their email and phone number, and may be required to verify their NIN and complete a live selfie check before paying rent or raising a payment dispute.
• Artisans must verify their NIN and complete a live selfie check before their profile is approved.
• Anyone receiving payouts must verify their BVN, and the payout bank account must be in the same name.
• Agencies may be asked for company (CAC) registration details.

You also agree that:

• you will only verify with your own identity documents and face;
• each NIN or BVN can be linked to one Direct Crib account only;
• once your ID is verified, your legal name on the Platform is locked to it and can only be corrected by our support team;
• an ID linked to an account removed for fraud or a serious breach of these Terms may not be used to verify another account;
• if you do not complete a required check, we may limit the related features (for example publishing listings, receiving payouts or paying rent). If you believe a check failed in error, you can ask us to review it.

Verification does not mean Direct Crib guarantees ownership, legality, or suitability of any property.

6. Property Listings

Owners agree that listings must:

• be accurate and truthful;
• represent real and available spaces;
• include correct pricing and property details;
• comply with Nigerian housing and tenancy laws.

Owners must have legal authority to list the property.

Direct Crib may remove or suspend listings that are misleading, fraudulent, or incomplete.

7. Platform Role and Rental Agreements

Direct Crib only introduces users.

We are not a party to any rental, lease, or occupancy agreement. All negotiations, agreements, inspections, and decisions are made directly between Owners and Renters. Users are responsible for conducting their own due diligence before entering any agreement.

The same applies to Artisans Corner: any service agreement is between the client and the Artisan. Artisans are independent and are not employees or agents of Direct Crib, and Direct Crib does not guarantee the quality, safety or completion of any work.

8. Payments, Fees and Refunds

Payments on the Platform are processed by Paystack. Card and bank details are entered on Paystack’s page and are never stored by Direct Crib. By paying, you also agree to Paystack’s terms.

Rent payments

• Rent can be paid on the Platform once an Owner accepts your application. The amount, our service fee and the payment option are shown before you pay.
• Depending on the payment option, the payment is either sent to the Owner’s verified bank account when it is made, or held by our Payment Processor and then released to the Owner or refunded to you automatically, according to fixed rules shown at checkout — for example after handover of the property is confirmed, or when a deadline passes.
• If handover is not confirmed before the deadline, or a dispute you raise is not resolved by the deadline, the payment is refunded to you in full.
• Refunds are paid to the bank account you give us for refunds, not back to your card.

Artisans Corner payments

• Clients fund a job or milestone in advance. The payment is released to the Artisan when the client approves the work, or automatically after the review period shown on the job if the client takes no action.
• A platform fee (currently 5%, or 3% for Artisans with a qualifying badge) is deducted from the Artisan’s payout.

General

• Payouts go only to a bank account in the verified account-holder’s name.
• Payments follow the rules above. Direct Crib does not decide disputes about the property or the work itself; we may step in only to correct an error, act on suspected fraud, or comply with the law.
• We may delay or refuse a payment or payout where we suspect fraud or where the law requires it.

9. User Responsibilities

You agree to:

• act honestly and respectfully;
• provide accurate information;
• communicate professionally;
• comply with Nigerian laws;
• respect property rights and privacy.

Users must not:

• impersonate another person;
• post fake properties;
• attempt scams or fraudulent activity;
• misuse platform information;
• harass other users;
• bypass platform payments to avoid platform safeguards.

10. Content and User Information

Users retain ownership of content they upload, including listings, photos, and messages.

By posting content, you grant Direct Crib permission to:

• display,
• promote,
• reproduce,
• and operate the Platform using that content.

You confirm you have the legal right to upload all materials.

11. Platform Moderation

Direct Crib may:

• review listings,
• remove suspicious content,
• request additional verification,
• suspend accounts posing risk to users.

These actions are taken to maintain a safe marketplace.

12. Intellectual Property

All platform design, branding, software, logos, and materials belong to Direct Crib. Users may not copy, reproduce, or commercially exploit the Platform without permission.

13. Limitation of Liability

Direct Crib provides the Platform on an “as is” basis.

We do not guarantee:

• property condition,
• landlord or renter behaviour,
• legality of listings,
• successful rental outcomes.

Direct Crib is not liable for:

• disputes between Owners and Renters,
• property defects,
• failed transactions,
• loss arising from rental agreements,
• actions or outages of third-party providers, including our Payment Processor and verification provider.

Users interact and transact at their own risk. To the fullest extent permitted by Nigerian law, Direct Crib’s liability shall not exceed any service fees paid to the Platform by the affected user within the previous six (6) months.

14. Off-Platform Transactions

Users agree not to complete rental transactions outside Direct Crib after first connecting through the Platform for the purpose of avoiding verification, payment protection, or applicable platform safeguards.

Direct Crib shall not be responsible for any:

• payments occurring outside approved payment process
• agreements made outside the Platform,
• losses, or
• disputes arising

from transactions conducted outside the Platform or outside the approved payment process. Where users choose to transact outside the Platform, they do so entirely at their own risk. Direct Crib reserves the right to suspend accounts that intentionally bypass Platform safeguards.

15. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold Direct Crib harmless from claims arising from:

• your listings,
• rental agreements,
• misuse of the Platform,
• breach of these Terms,
• violation of applicable laws.

16. Suspension and Termination

We may suspend or terminate accounts that:

• violate these Terms,
• engage in fraud,
• threaten platform safety,
• provide false verification documents.

Users may stop using the Platform at any time.

17. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms periodically. Users will be notified of significant changes through the Platform or email. Continued use after updates means acceptance of the revised Terms.

18. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Any disputes shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Lagos State, Nigeria.