Trust & Safety

Habita exists to close the gap between a listing and reality. Renters rely on our Scouts to provide honest, structured evidence about a property. Scouts rely on Habita to send them to real bookings with clear expectations.

Trust runs in both directions. Every part of Habita is built so renters can make confident decisions and Scouts can do their work safely.

Every Scout on Habita goes through a multi-step review before they can accept their first tour.

We confirm every Scout's identity as part of our internal verification and screening process. You always know a real, verified person completed your tour.

During onboarding, Scouts complete an eligibility self-attestation confirming they have no disqualifying criminal history. Our team reviews each application individually, and Scouts who do not meet our standards are not approved.

Scouts are briefed on what to look for: structural issues, natural light, noise, neighborhood context. And on how to represent a property accurately. No filters, no spin.

After every tour, renters rate their Scout. Scouts who fall below our quality bar are reviewed and, where necessary, removed from the platform.

You never pay a Scout directly. When you book through Habita, your payment is held securely by us and only released to the Scout after your report is delivered and you confirm receipt. If the Scout cancels, the tour doesn't happen, or the report doesn't meet our standards, Habita reviews the situation and may issue a partial or full refund depending on the circumstances.

Cancellation fees may apply depending on when the cancellation happens. Full details are in our Refund & Cancellation policy.

We use industry-standard SSL encryption on every transaction. Your card details are never stored on our servers.

Habita values the safety of both renters and Scouts. A tour is only worth completing if it can be completed safely.

Scouts should never trespass, misrepresent themselves to gain access, or take unnecessary risks to complete a visit. If a situation feels unsafe or something about a booking seems off, the Scout should leave and document what they observed.

If a tour feels questionable at any point, Scouts are encouraged to stop, step away, and contact Habita immediately via email. Provide any details or photos you have. We will review the situation and take appropriate action.

Scouts are not expected to enter a property where access has not been arranged, where the environment appears unsafe, or where someone on-site creates an uncomfortable situation. Walk away. Habita will handle it from there.

Scouts are paid for the work they complete. When a renter books a tour, Habita holds the payment in escrow. After the Scout submits their report and the renter confirms receipt, the payout is released.

In-app messaging keeps personal contact information private. Scouts and renters communicate through Habita without sharing phone numbers, email addresses, or social profiles.

If a dispute arises about a tour, a report, or a payout, Habita reviews the available evidence, including booking details, timestamps, uploaded media, messages, and access notes. Scouts can reach out to Habita support at any point during or after a tour.

Scout reports are structured evidence. Each report follows a checklist covering the property, its surroundings, and any red flags the Scout observed. Reports include photos, videos, notes, and checklist responses.

Media uploaded during a tour is time-stamped and locked after the report is submitted. Once submitted, neither the Scout nor anyone else can alter the evidence. This protects both the renter (who receives unedited observations) and the Scout (whose work is preserved as delivered).

If a renter believes a report has a quality issue, they can request a review. Habita may ask the Scout to clarify, supplement, or correct the report, or may take other action depending on the situation.

We collect only what's necessary to coordinate tours, process payments, and deliver reports. We don't sell personal information to third parties. We don't share renter contact details with Scouts (or Scout contact details with renters) beyond what's needed to complete the tour.

Full details on what we collect and how we handle it are in our Privacy Policy.

If you have a question about safety, a report, a payment, or anything else, reach out. We respond to every message.

Email: [email protected]