Hostel Owner Agreement
This Agreement defines the listing standards, resident record stewardship, and statutory lodging compliance required of all hostel owners, wardens, and property administrators using Hostel Cloud.
1. Scope & Binding Nature
By registering, claiming, listing, or managing a property on Hostel Cloud, you (the "Hostel Owner," "Property Administrator," or "Operator") enter into a binding agreement with Staurax. This agreement supplements our general Terms of Service and establishes your operational responsibilities.
2. Truth in Advertising & Listing Authenticity
Hostel Owners warrant that all information submitted to their property listing is authentic, current, and non-deceptive:
- Physical Location: Exact address, city, neighborhood, and GPS coordinates must represent the actual physical building.
- Capacity & Availability: Listed room capacities (single, double, triple, dormitory) and current bed counts must reflect actual available capacity. Overbooking or bait-and-switch practices are grounds for immediate delisting.
- Pricing Transparency: Room charges, utility policies, mess meal fees, and advance security deposit terms must be stated without hidden charges.
- Photographs & Facilities: Images must depict the current physical premises. Stolen copyright images or misleading architectural renders are prohibited.
3. Resident Documentation & Data Stewardship
Hostel administrators routinely handle sensitive identification documents. When managing resident data on Hostel Cloud:
Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC) and Form-B copies must be processed strictly for lawful resident identification and facility safety. Unauthorized distribution, public posting, or commercial exploitation of any resident's CNIC is a criminal offense under Section 16 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA).
Emergency contact details must be used strictly for bona fide health, discipline, or safety emergencies. They must never be repurposed for marketing or commercial solicitations.
Where staff assistance is utilized, operators should assign dedicated staff accounts (such as warden roles) rather than sharing administrative owner credentials, ensuring auditability of resident record access.
4. Handling Resident Access, Rectification & Checkout
Operators must maintain accurate resident directories:
- Operators must update inaccurate resident information within the management dashboard upon verified request by the resident.
- Upon checkout and settlement of accounts, operators should archive or remove departed resident records from active rosters in accordance with the Data Retention & Deletion Policy, retaining records only as required by local lodging statutes.
5. Statutory Lodging & Police Reporting Obligations (Pakistan)
Provincial Jurisdiction & Statutory Duties:
Hostel owners and managers are subject to specific provincial security legislation governing temporary residents and student accommodation:
- Punjab — Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Act, 2015 (Punjab Act VIII of 2015): Applies to properties located in Punjab. Under Section 4, the owner or manager of a hostel, hotel, or guest house has a mandatory statutory duty to obtain CNIC/passport particulars of every guest/resident, record arrival and departure times, maintain a guest register, and provide information to the local police station within three hours of arrival. Under Section 5, managers must preserve these records and make them accessible to authorized police officers upon demand.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Restriction of Rented Buildings (Security) Act, 2014 (KP Act No. I of 2014): Applies to properties located in KP. Under Section 5 (Private and student hostels), the owner or manager of every private or student hostel must maintain complete records of residents, obtain CNIC and student card copies, and produce such records on demand to police or authorized inspection officers.
- Sindh, Balochistan & ICT: Operators must comply with respective local tenancy registration directives and executive notifications issued by district administration authorities.
Independent Reporting Clarification: Hostel Cloud may provide administrative records or printable/exportable registers to assist hostel operators with their own lawful recordkeeping and reporting responsibilities. However, the legal obligation to verify, report, and formally submit resident records to local police authorities rests entirely upon the individual hostel owner and manager. Hostel Cloud does not act as a police reporting agent or regulatory guarantor.
6. Scope & Limitations of the "Hostel Cloud Verified" Badge
Where a hostel displays the "Hostel Cloud Verified" badge:
- Meaning: Signifies that Hostel Cloud has conducted a review confirming the physical existence of the building, validated the administrator's identity documents, and verified photographic alignment at the time of audit.
- Limitations: The badge is not a government license, building safety certification, or municipal occupancy permit. It does not guarantee future conduct, cleanliness, or ongoing security.
- Revocation: Hostel Cloud reserves the right to immediately revoke the verification badge and suspend listings upon discovering safety breaches or deceptive conduct.
7. Operator Liability & Indemnification
Hostel Owners agree to indemnify and hold harmless Staurax, Hostel Cloud, and their directors against any claims, regulatory penalties, or damages resulting from:
- Accidents, building defects, structural failures, or physical incidents occurring on the hostel premises.
- Deceptive listing information, pricing discrepancies, or unreturned security deposits.
- Any unauthorized dissemination, commercial misuse, or leak of resident identity documentation (CNIC/student cards) under PECA 2016.
- Failure to report temporary residents to local police under provincial security enactments.
8. Termination & Contact
Hostel Cloud reserves the right to suspend or terminate administrative accounts, delist properties, and revoke SaaS access for listing fraud, safety non-compliance, or document abuse.