Terms of Service

1. About ThingShare

ThingShare is a peer-to-peer rental marketplace operated as a personal project based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We provide the platform that connects item owners ("Owners") with people who want to rent items ("Renters"). ThingShare is not a party to any rental agreement between users — we are the platform that facilitates those agreements.

2. Eligibility

To use ThingShare, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be located in Toronto or the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
• Complete our identity verification process
• Have the legal right to list any items you post on the platform

By creating an account, you confirm that you meet these requirements.

3. User accounts

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You agree to notify us immediately at hello@thingshare.ca if you suspect unauthorized use of your account.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

4. Listing items (Owners)

As an Owner, you agree that:

• You own or have the legal right to rent out any item you list
• All item descriptions, photos, and pricing are accurate and not misleading
• You will honour confirmed rental bookings except in genuine emergencies
• You are responsible for ensuring your item is safe and fit for the purpose described
• You will not list stolen, counterfeit, illegal, or hazardous items

Prohibited items include but are not limited to: weapons, illegal substances, items that require a professional licence to operate, and items under active insurance claims.

5. Renting items (Renters)

As a Renter, you agree that:

• You will use rented items only for their intended purpose and as described in the listing
• You will return items on time and in the same condition they were received
• You are responsible for any damage caused beyond normal wear and tear
• You will not sub-rent or lend items to third parties without the Owner's written consent

6. Fees

ThingShare charges a service fee on completed rentals:

• Standard members: 15% of the gross rental amount
• Founding Listers: 8% of the gross rental amount, permanently

There is no fee to list an item. Fees are deducted automatically when a rental payment is processed. The fee structure may change for new members in the future, but locked-in rates for Founding Listers will never change.

7. Payments

Payments on ThingShare are planned to be processed through Stripe, a third-party payment provider. By using our platform, you agree to Stripe's terms of service in addition to ours. Payment details are handled directly by Stripe — ThingShare does not store your card information.

Payouts to Owners are released within 24 hours of the item being returned and confirmed by both parties.

8. Security deposits

To protect Owners from damage without exposing ThingShare to uncapped liability, all rentals require a refundable security deposit paid by the Renter at the time of booking.

• Deposit amount: Set by the Owner when listing the item, based on their declared item value. ThingShare recommends 30–50% of the item's replacement value, capped at $500 CAD per rental.
• How it works: The deposit is held by ThingShare's payment processor at the time of booking and is not transferred to the Owner.
• Release: The deposit is automatically refunded to the Renter within 48 hours of the item being returned and confirmed in good condition by the Owner.
• Damage claims: If the Owner reports damage at return, the deposit (or a portion of it) may be retained and transferred to the Owner to offset repair or replacement costs. The Owner must provide photo evidence of damage within 24 hours of return.
• Disputes: If the Renter disputes a damage claim, both parties agree to contact ThingShare at hello@thingshare.ca for mediation. ThingShare's decision is final and binding within the platform.

ThingShare is not an insurer and does not guarantee full compensation for lost or damaged items beyond the deposit amount held. Owners are encouraged to maintain their own insurance for high-value items.

9. Prohibited conduct

You agree not to:

• Use ThingShare for any unlawful purpose
• Harass, threaten, or deceive other users
• Attempt to circumvent our platform by arranging payments outside of ThingShare
• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent listings
• Scrape, copy, or misuse data from the platform
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems

Violations may result in immediate account suspension and, where applicable, reporting to law enforcement.

10. Limitation of liability

ThingShare is a marketplace platform. We are not responsible for the actions, listings, or conduct of any user. To the fullest extent permitted by law, ThingShare's total liability for any claim arising out of or related to these Terms or the platform shall not exceed the total fees paid by you to ThingShare in the 3 months preceding the claim.

We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, including loss of data, revenue, or profits.

11. Intellectual property

The ThingShare name, logo, and platform design are the property of ThingShare. You may not use them without our written permission. Content you post (listings, photos, reviews) remains yours — by posting it, you grant ThingShare a non-exclusive licence to display it on the platform.

12. Changes to these terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by email and by updating the "Last updated" date above. Continued use of the platform after changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

13. Governing law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be resolved exclusively in the courts of Ontario.

14. Contact us

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

ThingShare
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
hello@thingshare.ca