Terms of Service

    Last updated: 24 March 2026

    1. Acceptance of Terms

    These Terms of Service ("Terms") form a legally binding agreement between you and Abode Software Pty Ltd (ABN pending) ("Abode", "we", "us", or "our"), the operator of the Abode platform accessible at abodeaustralia.ai and any associated mobile applications (the "Platform").

    By creating an account, accessing, or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and any additional terms referenced herein. If you do not agree, you must not use the Platform.

    You represent that you are at least 18 years of age and have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms. If you are accepting these Terms on behalf of a company, trust, or other entity, you represent that you have authority to bind that entity.

    2. Account Registration

    To use most features of the Platform, you must register an account and select a user type: landlord, renter (tenant), or trade (contractor). You agree to:

    • Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration.
    • Keep your login credentials secure and confidential. You are responsible for all activity under your account.
    • Notify us immediately at support@abodeaustralia.ai if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.
    • Not create more than one account per person without our written consent.

    We may verify your email address before granting full access. We reserve the right to suspend or freeze any account that we reasonably believe has been compromised, is being used fraudulently, or violates these Terms.

    3. Platform Services

    Abode is a technology platform that facilitates direct connections between landlords, tenants, and licensed trade contractors for the purposes of property management. Our services include:

    • Property listing and search.
    • Tenant application processing and screening tools.
    • Digital lease generation and electronic signing.
    • Bond management (Abode-managed trust account or self-managed by the landlord).
    • Automated rent collection and disbursement.
    • Maintenance request management and contractor bidding marketplace.
    • Property inspection workflows with AI-assisted analysis.
    • AI chat assistant ("Homie"), rental estimate tools, and property description enhancement.
    • Two-way ratings and reviews between landlords, tenants, and contractors.
    • Messaging between parties to a tenancy.
    • Compliance tracking and notifications.

    Important: Abode is not a licensed real estate agent, property manager, or financial adviser. We are a technology provider. We do not provide legal, financial, or property management advice. Landlords using Abode manage their own properties directly, with the Platform serving as a tool to facilitate that management.

    You are responsible for ensuring your use of the Platform complies with all applicable laws, including state and territory residential tenancy legislation, the Australian Consumer Law, anti-discrimination laws, and any local council regulations.

    4. Fees and Payments

    4.1 Platform Fee

    Abode charges landlords a platform fee of $35 per week per property with an active tenancy. This fee is automatically deducted from the tenant's rent before the balance is disbursed to the landlord. There are no setup fees, onboarding fees, or lock-in contracts.

    4.2 Free Trial

    When a tenancy is first activated on a property, the landlord receives 30 days of free platform access for that property. After the trial period, the $35/week fee applies automatically. Listing properties, creating accounts, and browsing the Platform are always free.

    4.3 Rent Collection

    Rent is collected from tenants via Monoova PayTo agreements and the New Payments Platform (NPP). By entering into a lease facilitated through Abode, the tenant authorises Abode to collect rent on the landlord's behalf via direct debit. Abode deducts its platform fee and disburses the remaining amount to the landlord's nominated bank account, typically within one business day.

    Landlords must provide valid Australian BSB and account details on their profile to receive rent disbursements. Abode is not liable for delays caused by incorrect bank details, banking system outages, or third-party payment provider issues.

    4.4 Add-On Services

    We may offer optional paid add-on services (such as physical property inspections or agent-hosted open houses) at prices disclosed at the time of purchase. Add-on payments are processed via Stripe. All prices are in Australian dollars and include GST where applicable.

    5. Bond Management

    Abode offers two bond management options:

    • Abode-Managed: The tenant's bond is held in an Abode-operated trust account in accordance with the applicable state or territory residential tenancy legislation. Abode will lodge the bond with the relevant bond authority as required by law.
    • Self-Managed: The landlord is responsible for collecting, holding, and lodging the bond in compliance with all applicable legislation. Abode provides tracking tools but takes no responsibility for compliance in self-managed arrangements.

    Bond disputes are handled in accordance with the relevant state or territory tribunal or bond authority processes. Abode may facilitate the claims process through the Platform but does not adjudicate bond disputes.

    6. AI Features Disclaimer

    The Platform includes AI-powered features, including but not limited to:

    • Property inspection photo analysis and condition scoring.
    • AI chat assistant ("Homie") for general property-related enquiries.
    • Rental price estimate tools.
    • Property description enhancement.
    • Maintenance request analysis and recommendations.

    These features are powered by third-party AI models (including OpenAI) and are provided for informational and convenience purposes only. AI-generated content, estimates, analyses, and recommendations:

    • Are not guaranteed to be accurate, complete, or current.
    • Do not constitute legal, financial, property valuation, or professional advice.
    • Should not be relied upon as the sole basis for any decision, including rental pricing, property condition assessment, or maintenance prioritisation.
    • May produce different results for the same input at different times.

    You acknowledge that AI outputs may contain errors or omissions and agree to independently verify any AI-generated information before acting on it. Abode disclaims all liability for losses or damages arising from reliance on AI-generated content to the fullest extent permitted by law.

    7. Property Listings

    Landlords may list properties on the Platform at no cost. By publishing a listing, you represent and warrant that:

    • You are the legal owner of the property or have the owner's written authority to list and manage it.
    • All information in the listing (including photos, descriptions, rent amount, and availability) is accurate and not misleading.
    • The property complies with all applicable minimum standards, safety regulations, and habitability requirements under state or territory law.
    • You will not discriminate against prospective tenants on any ground prohibited by Australian anti-discrimination legislation.

    Abode reserves the right to remove or suspend any listing that we reasonably believe violates these Terms, is fraudulent, or breaches applicable law.

    8. Maintenance and Contractors

    The Platform provides a maintenance request system where tenants can report issues, and a contractor marketplace where licensed trades can bid on maintenance jobs.

    • Landlords are responsible for reviewing contractor bids, selecting a contractor, and approving work. The contractual relationship for maintenance work is between the landlord and the contractor directly.
    • Contractors must hold all licences, insurance, and qualifications required by law for the services they offer. Contractors undergo a screening process but Abode does not guarantee the quality, timeliness, or legality of any work performed.
    • Tenants must report maintenance issues accurately and provide reasonable access for repairs as required under their lease and applicable tenancy legislation.

    Abode is not a party to any maintenance contract and is not liable for the acts, omissions, or negligence of any contractor or tradesperson engaged through the Platform.

    9. Ratings and Reviews

    The Platform includes a two-way ratings system. Landlords may rate tenants and contractors; tenants may rate landlords; and contractors may rate landlords. By submitting a rating or review, you agree that:

    • Your review is honest, accurate, and based on genuine experience.
    • You will not submit reviews that are defamatory, misleading, harassing, discriminatory, or in breach of any law.
    • Abode may remove or moderate reviews at its discretion if they violate these Terms or are the subject of a legitimate complaint.

    Ratings are visible to other users. Abode does not verify the accuracy of reviews and is not liable for any content posted by users.

    10. Intellectual Property

    All intellectual property in the Platform — including software, design, branding, logos, AI models (as integrated), and documentation — is owned by or licensed to Abode Software Pty Ltd. You may not copy, modify, distribute, reverse-engineer, or create derivative works from any part of the Platform without our prior written consent.

    Content you upload to the Platform (such as property photos, descriptions, and inspection images) remains your property. By uploading content, you grant Abode a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, display, and process that content for the purpose of providing the Platform services (including AI analysis). This licence terminates when you delete your account, except where retention is required by law.

    11. Limitation of Liability

    To the maximum extent permitted by law, including the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)):

    • The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from security vulnerabilities.
    • Abode's total aggregate liability to you for any claims arising from or related to these Terms or your use of the Platform is limited to the total fees you have paid to Abode in the 12 months immediately preceding the claim.
    • Abode is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunity, however caused.
    • Abode is not liable for the actions, omissions, or conduct of any landlord, tenant, contractor, or other user of the Platform.
    • Abode is not liable for delays or failures in rent collection or disbursement caused by third-party payment providers, banking systems, or user error.

    Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any consumer guarantee, right, or remedy conferred by the Australian Consumer Law or any other applicable law that cannot be excluded, restricted, or modified by agreement.

    12. Indemnification

    You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Abode Software Pty Ltd, its directors, officers, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from or related to: (a) your use of the Platform; (b) your breach of these Terms; (c) your violation of any applicable law or regulation; (d) any content you submit, post, or transmit through the Platform; or (e) any dispute between you and another user of the Platform.

    13. Termination

    You may close your account at any time by contacting us at support@abodeaustralia.ai. Upon account closure:

    • Active leases and tenancy obligations are not affected by account closure. You remain bound by any existing lease until it is lawfully terminated.
    • Any outstanding fees owed to Abode remain payable.
    • Your personal data will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws. You may request deletion of your data in accordance with your rights under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

    We may suspend or terminate your account immediately if we reasonably believe you have breached these Terms, engaged in fraudulent activity, or posed a risk to other users or the integrity of the Platform.

    14. Dispute Resolution

    If you have a dispute with Abode arising from these Terms or your use of the Platform, you agree to first attempt to resolve it by contacting us at support@abodeaustralia.ai. We will endeavour to resolve complaints within 14 business days.

    If the dispute cannot be resolved informally, either party may refer it to mediation administered by the Australian Disputes Centre (ADC) in Sydney, New South Wales, before commencing any court proceedings.

    Disputes between landlords and tenants regarding tenancy matters (including bond disputes, lease breaches, and maintenance obligations) should be directed to the relevant state or territory tribunal (e.g., NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, VCAT, QCAT). Abode is not a party to tenancy disputes and does not act as an arbitrator or mediator in such matters.

    15. Governing Law

    These Terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. You agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales and any courts entitled to hear appeals from those courts. Nothing in these Terms limits your rights to bring proceedings in any other court of competent jurisdiction as permitted by law.

    16. Privacy and Data

    Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy. We collect, use, and disclose personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles.

    By using AI features, you acknowledge that property photos, descriptions, and other content you submit may be processed by third-party AI providers (including OpenAI) for the purpose of generating analyses, estimates, and recommendations. We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

    17. Email Communications

    By creating an account, you consent to receiving transactional emails from Abode, including but not limited to: account verification, password resets, application status updates, new messages, inspection requests, tenant invitations, and rent payment notifications. These emails are necessary for the operation of the Platform and are not marketing communications. You may opt out of non-essential communications at any time through your account settings.

    18. Changes to Terms

    We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes to our services, legal requirements, or business practices. When we make material changes, we will:

    • Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.
    • Notify you via email or a prominent notice on the Platform at least 14 days before the changes take effect.

    Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree with any changes, you should stop using the Platform and close your account.

    19. General Provisions

    • Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any additional terms referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and Abode regarding use of the Platform.
    • Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.
    • Waiver: Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other provision.
    • Assignment: You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. Abode may assign its rights and obligations without restriction.
    • Force Majeure: Abode is not liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations where such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, government actions, internet or telecommunications failures, or third-party service outages.

    20. Contact

    If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us:

    Abode Software Pty Ltd

    Email: support@abodeaustralia.ai

    Website: abodeaustralia.ai