Terms of Service

By creating an account or using the Ndolula platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the platform.

You must be at least 18 years of age to create an account and use Ndolula. By using the platform, you represent that you meet this requirement.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to keep your account information up to date.

You must not create multiple accounts, share your account with others, or transfer your account without our consent. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or our Community Guidelines.

Ndolula facilitates peer-to-peer rental transactions between item owners (“Owners”) and renters (“Renters”). When a Renter books an item, a rental agreement is formed between the Renter and the Owner. Ndolula acts as the platform facilitating the transaction and is not a party to the rental agreement itself.

Each rental booking constitutes an agreement by the Renter to:

• Return the item in the same condition it was received, allowing for normal wear and tear
• Accept financial responsibility for any damage, loss, or theft during the rental period
• Return the item by the agreed end date
• Not sub-rent, lend, or transfer the item to any third party

Each rental booking constitutes an agreement by the Owner to:

• Provide the item as described in the listing
• Be available for handover at the agreed time
• Confirm return and item condition within 24 hours of the Renter recording the return
• Only claim the bond for damage beyond normal wear and tear

Owners are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their listings. All listings must comply with our Community Guidelines and applicable Australian law. Listings must:

• Accurately describe the item's condition, features, and any existing wear or defects
• Include genuine photographs of the actual item being rented
• Set fair and transparent rental rates
• Set a bond amount that reasonably reflects the item's value and potential repair costs
• Not contain prohibited items as defined in our Community Guidelines
• Not infringe on any third party's intellectual property rights

Ndolula reserves the right to remove any listing that violates these Terms at any time without prior notice.

Every rental includes a refundable bond (security deposit) set by the Owner. Ndolula secures the bond in one of two ways, chosen per booking and disclosed to the Renter before they confirm:

• Authorisation: a hold is placed on the Renter's card and no payment is taken. The hold is released when the rental is resolved.
• Payment: where an authorisation would expire before the rental is resolved, the bond is charged to the Renter's card at booking time and refunded when the rental is resolved.

Hold ending during a hire: A card hold lasts a limited time, set by the card networks. Ndolula renews the hold before it ends where it can. If the hold ends during the hire and cannot be renewed, the hire carries on, and the Renter authorises Ndolula to charge to the card saved at booking, up to the value of the bond, a claim made under this section or the bond for an item that is not returned. The amount charged is then held and determined in the same way as a claim against the bond. Both parties are told when the hold ends.

No payout during hire: the bond is never paid out to the Owner during the rental period, and is not income to either party.

Release conditions: The full bond is released to the Renter when:

• The Owner confirms the item has been returned in good condition, or
• The Owner does not confirm the return within 24 hours of the Renter recording it in the app, in which case the return is accepted automatically

Claim process: An Owner may claim against the bond only while a return is awaiting their confirmation, and only up to the value of the bond. The claimed amount is held and the remainder of the bond is released to the Renter. The Renter is notified. Ndolula then reviews the claim against the condition report recorded at booking, any amendment made at handover, the Renter's return record and the Owner's inspection, and determines what portion of the bond is awarded to the Owner. Any portion not awarded is returned to the Renter. A claim is determined once and that determination is final.

All payments on Ndolula are processed through Stripe. By making or receiving payments through the platform, you agree to comply with Stripe's terms of service.

Ndolula charges a commission of 7.5% on the rental fee, including any weekend loading, and not on the bond or any delivery fee. This commission is deducted from the Owner's payout before it is transferred to their Stripe account. The Owner receives the rental fee minus the 7.5% commission after the rental is completed and a 48-hour claim window has elapsed, typically the next business day thereafter. Payment is deliberately not released at the start of a rental, so that a damaged or unreturned item can still be resolved.

Ndolula also charges the Renter a service fee of $0.99 plus 6% of the rental fee, reducing to 3% on any portion of the rental fee above $500. The service fee is charged on the same amounts as the commission, is displayed in full before the Renter confirms a booking, and does not form part of the Owner's payout.

All prices on Ndolula are displayed in Australian Dollars (AUD). Stripe processing fees are borne by Ndolula and are not deducted from Owner payouts.

Renters must return items by the agreed rental end date and time. A 24-hour grace period applies after the scheduled end time.

After the grace period: Returning an item late is a breach of these Terms. Ndolula does not currently charge an automatic late fee. A Renter who needs longer should agree an extension with the Owner before the end date; an Owner whose item is overdue should contact support@okonomi.com.au.

Any amount released to an Owner from a bond requires a claim reviewed and determined by Ndolula. An Owner cannot draw on a bond directly, and a bond is not applied to a late return automatically.

The Renter is financially responsible for any damage to the item beyond normal wear and tear during the rental period. This includes damage caused by misuse, negligence, or failure to follow the Owner's care instructions.

Damage claims are resolved through the bond claim process described in Section 5. If the cost of damage exceeds the bond amount, the Renter may be liable for the additional amount.

Normal wear and tear is expected when renting items and is not grounds for a bond claim. Owners must accept that rented items will show reasonable signs of use.

Normal wear and tear includes: minor scuffs or surface marks from ordinary use, dust or dirt that can be cleaned, battery depletion or consumable use, tyre wear on wheeled equipment, fading from outdoor use, and normal loosening of bolts or fittings.

Damage beyond normal wear includes: broken or cracked components, water damage to non-waterproof items, missing parts or accessories, permanent stains, structural damage affecting function, mechanical failure caused by misuse, and unauthorised modifications.

In disputes, Ndolula mediators assess whether reported damage falls within normal wear and tear using photo evidence from before and after the rental. Owners who repeatedly claim bonds for normal wear may have their accounts reviewed.

Disputes between Renters and Owners should first be addressed through direct communication via Ndolula messaging. If direct resolution fails:

• An Owner may raise a claim against the bond while a return is awaiting their confirmation; for anything else, contact support@okonomi.com.au
• Ndolula reviews the condition report recorded at booking, any amendment made at handover, both parties' photographs and the message history
• Ndolula determines what portion of the bond, if any, is awarded to the Owner, and that determination is final
• Ndolula does not undertake to resolve a claim within a fixed period
• As a last resort, either party may escalate to a Stripe dispute

A Renter must return the item by the end date of the booking. Retaining an item beyond that date without the Owner's agreement is a breach of these Terms, and the Renter remains financially responsible for the item under section 4.

• Raising it: An Owner whose item is overdue should contact Ndolula at support@okonomi.com.au. The in-app claim process operates only once a return has been recorded, so a non-return is handled by Ndolula directly.
• What Ndolula may do: We may suspend the Renter's account, and we will provide the Owner with the booking record, the condition report and the message history for the booking.
• Recovery: Ndolula is not a party to the hire agreement and does not indemnify Owners against loss. Recovering an unreturned item, or its value, is a matter between the Owner and the Renter, and the Owner may report it to police.

Ndolula is a local rental platform. Items are exchanged via in-person pickup at the Owner's location or via Owner delivery within a specified radius.

Both parties are strongly encouraged to hand items over in person. Ndolula cannot verify item condition for unattended exchanges. For your protection, always meet face-to-face at pickup and return.

You must not list items that are prohibited by our Community Guidelines or Australian law. This includes but is not limited to:

• Stolen property or items you do not own
• Weapons, ammunition, and explosives
• Drugs and drug paraphernalia
• Hazardous materials
• Recalled or banned products
• Items that infringe intellectual property rights
• Any item illegal to own, use, or rent under Australian law

The Ndolula platform, including its design, features, content, and technology, is owned by Ndolula Pty Ltd and protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws.

By posting content on Ndolula (including listings, reviews, and messages), you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, display, and distribute that content in connection with operating the platform. You retain ownership of your content.

If you believe your intellectual property rights have been infringed, please contact us at support@okonomi.com.au.

Ndolula uses artificial intelligence to provide features such as listing description generation, rental rate suggestions, bond amount recommendations, content moderation, and search recommendations. These AI features are provided as tools to assist you and their output should be reviewed before use.

We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of AI-generated content. You are responsible for reviewing and editing any AI-generated content before publishing.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Ndolula shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the platform, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, or goodwill.

Ndolula acts as a rental platform and does not guarantee the quality, safety, legality, or accuracy of any listing, user, or transaction. We are not liable for damage to or loss of rented items, personal injury, or actions taken by renters or owners on the platform.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot be excluded or limited under Australian Consumer Law.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Ndolula, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from your use of the platform, violation of these Terms, or infringement of any third party's rights.

We may modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated Terms on this page and updating the “Last updated” date. Your continued use of Ndolula after the updated Terms are posted constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of New South Wales. You agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales, Australia, for any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the platform.

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

• Email: support@okonomi.com.au