Property Owner Policy

Eligibility & Verification

All property owners must complete full verification before any listing is approved and made visible to travelers. Verification includes: (1) government-issued identity confirmation via Stripe Identity, (2) criminal background check and sex offender registry screening conducted by Yardstik, Inc., a licensed third-party screening provider engaged by SecuredStays, and (3) property ownership verification through automated public records lookup and, where necessary, manual review.

Entity Registration Recommendation: SecuredStays strongly encourages property owners to register and participate through a business entity (limited liability company, corporation, or similar) rather than as an individual. Entity registration is the path of least resistance for platform participation and is consistent with best practices for owners leasing property through a marketplace platform. If you operate through a limited liability company or other entity, upload authorization documentation confirming you are authorized to lease on behalf of the entity. SecuredStays compliance staff review and approve this documentation before your listing goes live.

You must be the legal property owner or an authorized property manager with documented authority to lease the property. Listing a property you do not own or are not authorized to manage is grounds for immediate account termination and may be reported to appropriate authorities.

Criminal background and sex offender screening: All owners are required to submit to a criminal background check and sex offender registry screening as a condition of listing. The check is conducted by Yardstik, Inc., a licensed third-party screening provider engaged by SecuredStays, at an annual cost of $35, billed at the time of onboarding and renewed each year thereafter to maintain active listing status. Owner screening covers criminal background and sex offender registry only — no eviction or credit check is conducted for owners. Results are reviewed by SecuredStays compliance staff only and communicated as Approved or Not Approved. Owners who do not pass the screening will not be permitted to list properties on the platform. If adverse action is taken based on your screening report, contact Yardstik, Inc. directly within 60 days to request a free copy of your report and to dispute any inaccurate or incomplete information. Yardstik, Inc. is required to investigate disputes within 30 days. SecuredStays does not have authority to modify, override, or correct screening results — all disputes must be directed to Yardstik, Inc.

Screening Renewal Grace Period: SecuredStays will send you written notice thirty (30) calendar days before your annual screening expiry date, with a renewal link and instructions. A second notice is sent on the date of expiry. You have fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of expiry to complete renewal screening before your listing is suspended. Your listing remains active during the 14-day grace period. Failure to complete renewal within the grace period results in automatic listing suspension until renewal is confirmed.

Active Placement Contingency: If your account is suspended or your verification lapses while a Traveler placement is in effect, your placement is not automatically terminated. SecuredStays will notify both you and the Traveler immediately, conduct an expedited review within seventy-two (72) hours, and work directly with the Traveler to protect their housing rights during the review period. The Traveler's rights under the existing lease and applicable landlord-tenant law are not affected by your account suspension.

Property ownership verification: SecuredStays verifies ownership through automated public deed records (BatchData). For individually owned properties, your verified name is matched against the deed owner of record. For properties owned by a limited liability company, corporation, or trust, you must upload documentation confirming your authorization to lease on behalf of the entity.

Listing draft gate: Upon submitting your listing, it is saved as a draft and is not visible to travelers. Your listing goes live automatically once both your criminal background check and property ownership verification are approved. You will receive email notification when your listing is live. This process typically takes 1–3 business days.

Founding Member Access: Owners who enrolled during the founding member period are entitled to the following benefits by slot, as assigned at enrollment. All founding benefits are non-transferable and subject to full compliance with platform policies at all times.

Slots 1–50 (Founding Access): Lifetime complimentary platform membership for up to three (3) active listings. Platform membership fees permanently waived. Properties beyond three listings billed at standard listing rates per the then-current Membership Pricing Schedule.

Slots 51–100: Five (5) years complimentary platform membership for up to three (3) active listings. Properties beyond three listings billed at standard listing rates per the then-current Membership Pricing Schedule.

Slots 101–200: One (1) year complimentary platform membership for up to three (3) active listings. Properties beyond three listings billed at standard listing rates per the then-current Membership Pricing Schedule.

Slots 201–300: Fifty percent (50%) discount on platform membership for one (1) year. Standard listing rates per the then-current Membership Pricing Schedule apply after the discounted period ends.

Annual Background Screening Fee — All Founding Tiers: The $35 annual background screening fee applies to all founding owners regardless of slot or membership tier and is not waived by any founding benefit.

After all 300 founding slots are filled, standard listing plans for new owners are governed by the then-current Membership Pricing Schedule.

Membership Pricing Schedule: All platform membership fees, listing fees, and standard rates are governed by the SecuredStays Membership Pricing Schedule, published at securedstays.com/pricing and incorporated into this Policy by reference. SecuredStays reserves the right to update the Membership Pricing Schedule upon thirty (30) days' written notice to active members. The version in effect at the time of enrollment governs founding member benefits for the duration of those benefits.

IMPORTANT — DOCUMENT RETENTION POLICY: SECUREDSTAYS DOES NOT STORE, RETAIN, OR ARCHIVE ANY PERSONAL DOCUMENTS, WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION: Uploaded document images, identity scan images, deed copies, uploaded files, photographs, and videos are stored on SecuredStays servers for the purpose of maintaining a secured environment for all parties involved. By uploading any document, image, or file to the SecuredStays platform, you consent to its secure storage.

Your identity, background, and ownership verification must remain current. SecuredStays reserves the right to re-verify at any time. Failure to pass re-verification may result in listing suspension.

Listing Requirements

All property information submitted must be accurate, current, and complete. Misrepresentation of amenities, property condition, location, or any other listing detail is grounds for immediate removal from the platform.

A minimum of 6 photographs are required before any listing is approved. Required photos include: exterior front, front door or entry, each bedroom, living room, kitchen, and laundry area if washer and dryer is listed as an amenity.

All photos are reviewed by SecuredStays before your listing goes live. Low-quality, misleading, or insufficient photos will result in listing rejection.

You must specify your property's smoking policy (Smoking Allowed, Not Allowed, or Outside Only) and your pet policy. These fields are required and cannot be left blank.

If you permit pets, any pet fees or pet deposits must be clearly disclosed in your listing before a traveler applies. You may not introduce pet fees after a lease agreement has been reached.

Your listing must accurately reflect the current availability date, minimum stay requirement, and monthly rent. You may not change the listed rent after a verified traveler has expressed formal interest.

Escrow Compliance & Lease Execution

Escrow is mandatory on every SecuredStays placement. You agree that all security deposits and first month's rent will be transacted exclusively through the SecuredStays-approved third-party escrow provider.

The 48-hour escrow funding clock begins automatically once both you and the traveler have independently confirmed lease execution by each pressing the 'Confirm Lease Signed' button within the platform. Both confirmations are required — the clock does not start on one confirmation alone. This ensures neither party can trigger the funding window without the other's acknowledgment.

You will receive a platform notification when the clock starts, a warning notification at the 24-hour mark if escrow remains unfunded, and an immediate notification if the 48-hour window expires without confirmed funding. Upon expiration, the placement nullifies automatically and your listing is restored to active status. If escrow is confirmed funded within the window, you will receive a 'Placement Activated' notification and your listing transitions to 'Currently Placed' status with the Next Availability date automatically calculated.

The escrow service fee is paid by the traveler — not by you. You have no out-of-pocket escrow costs. Escrow funds are automatically disbursed to you at 3:00 PM on the scheduled move-in date, provided no Habitability Concern Report has been submitted by the traveler before that time. No action is required on your part to initiate disbursement.

All monthly rent payments after the first month are collected by you directly from the traveler, outside of the SecuredStays platform. SecuredStays is not involved in, and assumes no responsibility for, ongoing rent collection.

You may not request, accept, or solicit the initial security deposit or first month's rent from a traveler outside of the SecuredStays escrow process — including via Zelle, Venmo, cash, personal check, wire transfer, or any other payment method. Doing so is grounds for immediate account termination and may constitute fraud.

If a traveler fails to fund escrow within 48 hours of confirmed lease execution, the placement is automatically nullified and your property is immediately returned to the available listing pool. You are under no obligation to hold the property beyond the 48-hour funding window.

Placement Status & Listing Visibility

Once escrow is confirmed funded, your listing transitions to 'Currently Placed' status for the duration of the lease term. Your listing remains fully visible and searchable throughout the placement — it is not removed from the platform. A 'Currently Placed' banner and a Next Availability date — calculated automatically from the lease end date — are displayed prominently on your listing card so prospective travelers can note your upcoming opening and plan accordingly.

While a placement is active, your listing is not open for new applications. Travelers who visit your listing during an active placement may use the 'Notify Me When Available' button to join your silent interest queue. No messages are sent to you during this period — there is no inbox noise or obligation to respond until the listing re-activates.

Your listing re-activates automatically 14 days before the current lease end date. At that point, travelers who expressed interest are notified and may begin submitting formal connection requests. You are not required to act on any requests until you are ready.

If a placement ends without renewal, your listing returns to fully active status with no action required on your part.

Lease Terms & Renewals

All lease agreements are entered into directly between you and the traveler. SecuredStays is not a party to any lease and assumes no landlord obligations under it. You remain solely responsible for compliance with all applicable landlord-tenant law.

If a traveler wishes to extend their stay, you will receive a written extension request through the SecuredStays platform at least 14 days before the lease end date. Extensions must be confirmed in writing by both parties through the platform messaging system.

Verbal agreements to extend are not recognized by SecuredStays and do not constitute a valid extension. Written platform confirmation is required.

Extensions are treated as a continuation of the existing placement under the same agreed terms. No new escrow transaction is required for an extension — the original security deposit and lease terms carry forward through the extended period. Upon mutual written confirmation of an extension through the SecuredStays platform, SecuredStays will notify the escrow provider of the updated tenancy end date and the security deposit hold extends automatically through the new lease end date at no additional cost.

You may not increase rent during an active lease term. Any rent adjustment for a renewal must be agreed upon in writing before the renewal begins.

Smoking & Pet Policies

You must set a smoking policy on your listing before it goes live: Smoking Allowed, Not Allowed, or Outside Only. This policy is binding for the duration of any placement made under that listing.

You may not change your smoking or pet policy after a traveler has formally expressed interest in your listing. Policy changes apply only to future listings or renewed listings.

Traveler messaging is limited to one message until you respond. Once you send your first reply, messaging is unlimited for both parties.

SecuredStays does not display traveler profile photographs or full legal names. Travelers are identified to you by their platform username only. This is an intentional anti-discrimination design — all travelers in your inbox are fully verified, and connection decisions should be based on their verified status, not their appearance or identity.

If you permit pets, any pet deposit or pet fee must be fully disclosed in your listing before a traveler applies. You may not introduce new pet fees after a lease agreement has been reached.

Pet deposits and pet fees are transacted directly between you and the traveler and are not part of the SecuredStays escrow amount. SecuredStays assumes no responsibility for pet fee disputes.

If a traveler violates your smoking or pet policy, document the violation thoroughly with dated photographs and written records, and report it through the platform. Verified violations are logged in the traveler's account history and may affect their future placement eligibility.

Verified Owner Badge

The Verified Owner badge is displayed on your listing once you have completed all three required verification steps: identity confirmation (Stripe Identity), criminal background and sex offender registry screening (cleared via Yardstik, Inc.), and property ownership verification (deed match or entity authorization approved).

The badge signals to travelers that SecuredStays has independently confirmed that you are who you say you are, that you have passed a criminal background check, and that you are the legal owner or authorized agent of the property you are listing.

If any component of your verification is revoked or expires, your Verified Owner badge is removed and your listing is suspended pending re-verification. Active placements are not automatically terminated — SecuredStays will notify both parties and conduct an expedited review.

You are responsible for keeping your verification current. If your background check results are appealed and reversed, or if property ownership changes, you must notify SecuredStays at admin@securedstays.com immediately.

Owner Obligations Regarding Traveler Screening Reports

SecuredStays operates a marketplace in which Travelers obtain their own Portable Tenant Screening Report directly from Portable Tenant and share it voluntarily with property owners through the SecuredStays messaging thread. SecuredStays does not order, obtain, receive, or review any consumer report on any Traveler.

As an Owner on SecuredStays, you agree to the following obligations:

You receive a Traveler's Portable Tenant Screening Report by way of a secure authenticated link shared by the Traveler through the SecuredStays messaging thread. You access and review the Portable Tenant Screening Report independently on Portable Tenant's platform.

You hold all adverse action obligations arising from any housing decision you make based on the contents of a Traveler's Portable Tenant Screening Report. Portable Tenant provides adverse action notice templates to owners to assist you in fulfilling this obligation. Contact Portable Tenant for guidance on completing adverse action notices.

You shall not independently obtain, order, or request any consumer report, background check, credit report, or screening report on any Traveler through any channel other than the Portable Tenant Screening Report shared by the Traveler through the SecuredStays platform.

You shall not use the contents of a Traveler's Portable Tenant Screening Report to discriminate against any Traveler on the basis of any characteristic protected under the Fair Housing Act or applicable state law.

You shall not require a Traveler to share a Portable Tenant Screening Report as a condition of initial contact. Travelers share their Portable Tenant Screening Report voluntarily as part of the placement process, after a connection has been initiated.

Failure to properly handle adverse action obligations arising from your review of a Traveler's Portable Tenant Screening Report is a violation of this Policy and may result in account suspension.

Dispute Resolution

If a dispute arises between you and a traveler during a placement, the following process applies.

Step 1 — Direct Resolution (48 hours): You and the traveler have 48 hours to resolve the dispute directly through the SecuredStays platform messaging system. Keeping communications on-platform creates a documented record available to both parties.

Step 2 — SecuredStays Review (5 business days): If unresolved after 48 hours, either party may submit a formal dispute ticket. SecuredStays will review all available platform records — messages, escrow confirmation, verification documents, and listing details — and provide a written summary of findings within 5 business days.

Step 3 — Escrow Hold: If the dispute involves funds currently held in escrow, SecuredStays may request that the escrow provider hold disbursement pending resolution or a legal order. If a dispute involving escrowed rent funds remains unresolved after thirty (30) days of SecuredStays review and neither party has initiated legal proceedings, SecuredStays may instruct the escrow provider to deposit the disputed funds with the clerk of the county court where the property is located pending a court order directing disbursement.

IMPORTANT: SecuredStays is not a court, arbitrator, mediator, or legal representative. Our dispute summary is informational only, is not legally binding, and does not constitute legal advice. SecuredStays assumes no liability for any outcome or action taken in response to our review. For legal disputes, consult a licensed attorney in the state where your property is located.

Security Deposit Returns

You are required to return the traveler's security deposit, minus any documented and itemized deductions, within the timeframe required by the law of the state where the property is located. In Florida, the correct statutory sequence under § 83.49 is: if you intend to make a damage or unpaid rent claim, you must send written notice by certified mail to the traveler within thirty (30) calendar days of move-out; if no claim notice is sent within thirty (30) calendar days, the deposit must be returned within fifteen (15) calendar days of that 30-day period expiring. SecuredStays is designated as your authorized § 83.49 compliance agent and performs all deposit notice, hold, and release functions on your behalf through the licensed escrow provider. You are not required to contact the traveler directly regarding the deposit — SecuredStays manages this process on your behalf.

You have two options after move-out:

Option A — Voluntary Immediate Release: If you have inspected the property and determined no damage or unpaid rent claim exists, you may elect to release the deposit immediately through the SecuredStays platform. This constitutes a permanent, irrevocable waiver of the 30-day claim window. You retain the right to pursue a separate civil action for damages.

Option B — Standard Claim Window: If you intend to file a claim, you must do so within thirty (30) calendar days of move-out via certified mail. If no claim is filed within 30 days, the deposit is automatically released to the traveler within 15 days of that window closing.

All deductions must be documented with receipts, invoices, or photographs taken after the tenant vacates. You may not deduct for normal wear and tear.

Failure to return the deposit within the legally required timeframe, without documented cause, is a violation of this policy and applicable law. In Florida, failure to comply may require you to return the full deposit plus damages. Substantiated complaints may result in removal from the platform.

SecuredStays maintains escrow confirmation records and platform communications that may serve as documentation in deposit disputes.

Property Condition Responsibility

You are solely responsible for ensuring your property meets all applicable habitability standards under Florida law (or the law of the state where the property is located) for the full duration of any lease.

SecuredStays reviews submitted listing photographs but does not physically inspect properties. SecuredStays' review of your photos does not constitute certification, endorsement, or warranty of your property's condition.

A Habitability Concern Report submitted by the traveler before 3:00 PM on the scheduled move-in date will trigger an automatic escrow hold, pausing disbursement until the concern is reviewed. Qualifying conditions for a hold include: non-functional utilities (electricity, water, heat or air conditioning), inaccessibility (missing keys or non-functioning locks), material misrepresentation of the property relative to the listing, or an active safety hazard such as verified mold, pest infestation, or structural damage. Minor cleanliness issues, aesthetic differences, or subjective preferences do not qualify. SecuredStays will contact both parties within 24 hours of a filed report. You are required to respond within 48 hours and take reasonable steps to remediate any verified issue as required by applicable landlord-tenant law. If the concern is determined to be unfounded following review, disbursement proceeds immediately.

SecuredStays assumes no liability for any property condition, habitability defect, injury, or loss arising from the physical condition of any listed property. You indemnify SecuredStays against any claim arising from your property's condition.

Reporting Misconduct

If you experience conduct that you believe violates platform policy — including traveler misrepresentation, harassment, lease violations, escrow circumvention, or any other form of misconduct — use the Report button available on every active placement page and traveler profile.

Tapping Report opens a direct submission to the SecuredStays compliance board, where all reports are individually logged, reviewed, and resolved. You will receive a confirmation when your report is received and a follow-up notification when action has been taken.

Reports may also be submitted by email at admin@securedstays.com. The Report function is available to all users at all times, is separate from the standard dispute resolution process, and may be submitted anonymously if preferred.

All reports are treated confidentially. Submitting a report in bad faith or for retaliatory purposes is itself a violation of platform policy.

Platform Conduct & Liability

You agree to use the SecuredStays platform in good faith and in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Fair Housing Act, landlord-tenant law, and consumer protection law.

The following are grounds for immediate account termination: misrepresentation of property details; requesting or accepting payment outside of the approved escrow process; discriminatory conduct toward any traveler; unauthorized entry into an occupied property; harassment of travelers or SecuredStays staff; failure to confirm lease execution within the required window; any fraudulent activity; and failure to fulfill adverse action obligations arising from your review of a Traveler's Portable Tenant Screening Report.

SecuredStays is a technology platform — not a landlord, property manager, real estate broker, or housing authority. SecuredStays is not a party to your lease agreements and assumes no obligations under them. You remain solely responsible for compliance with all landlord-tenant laws applicable to your property.

SecuredStays does not display traveler photographs or full legal names. You may not request this information as a condition of accepting or rejecting a connection. All travelers who can message you are fully verified members. Connection decisions must be based on verified credentials, availability, and lease terms — not on any personal characteristic of the traveler.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, SECUREDSTAYS' TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU HAVE PAID TO SECUREDSTAYS IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

SecuredStays reserves the right to suspend or terminate any owner account at its discretion for policy violations. Properties associated with terminated accounts will be immediately removed from the listing pool.

Platform Removal and Account Termination

SecuredStays reserves the right to suspend, delist, or permanently remove any property listing or owner account from the Platform at any time, without prior notice, for any reason including but not limited to: failure to maintain verification standards; reports of misconduct or dishonesty; patterns of unresponsiveness to placement requests; conduct inconsistent with the integrity of the Platform; violation of any term of this Policy or the Terms of Service; or any business reason at the Company's sole discretion. Removal of a listing or account does not entitle the owner to any compensation or refund except where required by applicable law. All obligations accrued prior to removal or termination shall survive.

Platform Verification Disclaimer: SecuredStays works to verify all listing information submitted by property owners, including identity, criminal background, and property ownership. However, SecuredStays cannot guarantee the absolute accuracy of host-provided content, including listing descriptions, photographs, amenity disclosures, or other owner-supplied information. If you encounter any concern with a listing or placement, contact us immediately at admin@securedstays.com.