Trust and safety
Our community guidelines
kommu is a community of real people sharing real homes. Not a rental marketplace. Not a hotel booking site. A place where trust makes travel possible.
These guidelines explain what everyone can expect—as a guest, a host, and a member of this community. They apply in the app, in messages, in homes, and in kommu community spaces.
For everyone
The ground rules that make trust possible.
Be honest.
Your profile, listing, and messages should be accurate and current. Verified identity is the baseline: who you say you are should match who shows up.
Be respectful.
Treat every kommu member the way you would want to be treated in your own home. Discrimination, harassment, hate, and threats have no place on kommu.
Communicate.
Respond promptly. If plans change, say so early. When in doubt, over-communicate.
Keep it on kommu.
Bookings, payments, and messages stay on the platform. That is how your stay stays covered and how we can help if something goes wrong.
Respect privacy.
Do not share personal information, home addresses, or access codes. Do not use personal channels without mutual consent.
Respect the network.
If something feels unsafe or off—a listing, a message, or a stay—report it. We take every report seriously.
When you’re a guest
You’re staying in someone’s real home. Here’s what that asks of you.
Treat the home better than your own.
This is someone’s personal space, belongings, and life. Act accordingly.
Read the house guide.
Read it before you arrive and follow the house rules throughout your stay.
Ask first.
Extra guests, pets, or a gathering require approval. Only people on the booking should stay overnight.
Stay out of private spaces.
Marked rooms, closets, and drawers are off limits. Do not use personal items unless the host made them available.
Report issues immediately.
If something breaks, spills, or goes wrong, tell the host and contact kommu right away.
Honor timing and neighbors.
Respect check-in, check-out, quiet hours, parking, building rules, and shared spaces.
Keep the home safe.
No smoking, vaping, or drugs indoors. Never tamper with safety equipment, locks, thermostats, or connected devices.
Leave it clean.
Handle trash, dishes, and linens as requested. Leave the home as you found it, or better.
When you’re a host
Someone’s trusting you with their stay. Here’s what that asks of you.
Represent your home honestly.
Photos, description, availability, and amenities should match reality. Disclose anything a guest should know.
Be responsive.
Reply within 24 hours, and within 48 hours for a Stay Proposal. Keep your calendar current.
Cancel only as a last resort.
Cancelling breaks someone’s plans. If you truly have to, do it as early as possible.
Prepare your home.
Clean it, stock the basics, confirm everything works, and send access instructions at least 24 hours before check-in.
Protect your guest’s privacy.
No cameras or recording devices inside the home. Ever. Disclose exterior devices. Do not enter during a stay unless invited or there is a genuine emergency.
Set clear house rules.
Write down what matters. Guests cannot honor rules they have never seen.
Meet the safety basics.
Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, an accessible extinguisher, clear exits, and secured firearms or weapons.
Keep coverage and pricing honest.
Keep your homeowners or renters coverage active. Your nightly rate should reflect actual housing costs, not profit.
Swaps and pet-sits play by the same rules
Paid stays aren’t the only way to stay on kommu—and the guidelines travel with you.
On a swap, you’re both.
Two members host each other, so both sets of expectations apply in both directions.
On a pet-sit or house-sit.
Care for the home, pets, or both exactly as agreed. If anything feels fuzzy, ask before the sit starts.
Pets and service animals
Pets need a yes.
Disclose your pet before booking and wait for explicit approval. Share breed, size, and behavior.
Service animals are welcome.
Hosts may not decline solely because of a trained service animal. The animal must remain housebroken and under the guest’s control.
Emotional support animals follow pet rules.
They need host approval like any other pet.
Pet damage is on the guest.
Damage caused by any animal except a service animal is not covered by kommu’s damage protection.
What keeps every stay protected
Trust is built into how kommu works.
Verified identity
The person at your door is the person on the profile.
Shared connections
See the people, groups, and communities you have in common.
Double opt-in
A booking happens only when both people confirm it.
Damage protection
Protection and deposits help make things right when accidents happen.
What’s not allowed
Most of this page is about being a good neighbor. This part isn’t negotiable.
What happens if guidelines are broken
We review every report fairly and both sides get heard. Serious or repeated violations climb a short ladder.
Warning
A formal warning and a clear explanation of what needs to change.
Paused
Your listing or booking ability is paused while we investigate or until the issue is resolved.
Removed
Serious or repeated violations end your time on kommu.
A note on trust
kommu works because people trust each other enough to share their homes. Every member who follows these guidelines strengthens that trust. Every member who doesn’t weakens it for everyone.
Be the kind of guest you’d want in your home. Be the kind of host you’d want to stay with.
