Legal

Community Guidelines

Effective: 2026-07-13 · MJQM Pty Ltd trading as DogsWelcome · ABN 39 694 692 003

DogsWelcome

Last updated: July 2026

1. Introduction

DogsWelcome is built on trust, respect, and a shared love of travelling with dogs. These Community Guidelines explain the standards of behaviour expected from everyone using the platform — Hosts, Guests, and their dogs. By using DogsWelcome, you agree to follow these Guidelines. For questions, contact support@dogswelcome.co.

DogsWelcome Pty Ltd (ABN 39 694 692 003) (DogsWelcome, we, us or our) operates a peer-to-peer online platform connecting dog-friendly property hosts with travelling guests (the Platform). These Community Guidelines (Guidelines) set out the standards of conduct required of all users of the Platform, including property hosts (Hosts) and guests making bookings (Guests).

These Guidelines form part of the DogsWelcome document suite and must be read together with the Guest Terms of Service, Host Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Refunds, Cancellations and Payout Policy, Damage & Claims Policy, Platform Fee Disclosure Statement, Cookie Notice, and Compliance Disclaimer. In the event of any inconsistency, the relevant Terms of Service for the applicable user type will prevail.

By creating an account, listing a property, or making a booking on the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Guidelines. If you do not agree, you must not use the Platform.

These Guidelines are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia, and must be read in the context of the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)) (ACL) and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

2. Definitions

In these Guidelines:

Booking means a confirmed reservation made through the Platform by a Guest.

Companion Animal means any dog brought to a Host Property by a Guest pursuant to a Booking.

Guest means a registered user of the Platform who makes or seeks to make a Booking.

Host means a registered user who lists a Host Property on the Platform.

Host Property means a property listed by a Host on the Platform.

Prohibited Conduct has the meaning given in clause 9.

STRA means short-term rental accommodation.

User means any Host, Guest, or other person accessing the Platform.

3. Standards of Conduct

All Users must:

communicate honestly and respectfully with other Users, DogsWelcome staff, and neighbours;

treat all persons with respect and without discrimination on the basis of any protected attribute under applicable Australian anti-discrimination legislation, including the Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth), the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), and the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth);

not engage in harassment, bullying, intimidation, or abusive conduct in connection with any Booking or use of the Platform;

seek to resolve disputes in accordance with clause 11.

4. Accuracy of Information

Users must ensure that all information provided to DogsWelcome and to other Users is accurate, complete, and not misleading. Users must not:

provide false or misleading information in their account profile, listing, or booking request;

misrepresent the nature, temperament, vaccination status, or behaviour of any Companion Animal;

omit material information that would reasonably affect another User's decision to enter into a Booking.

These obligations reflect the prohibition on misleading or deceptive conduct under the ACL. DogsWelcome is not responsible for the accuracy of User-provided information and does not verify User representations.

5. Responsible Dog Ownership and Pet Conditions

Guest obligations. Guests must:

ensure all Companion Animals are vaccinated, microchipped, and registered in accordance with applicable state, territory, and local government legislation;

supervise Companion Animals at all times during a Booking;

prevent damage to the Host Property and clean up after Companion Animals;

not bring a Companion Animal that has displayed aggressive behaviour towards humans or other animals;

not bring a breed prohibited under applicable dangerous dog legislation, including the Companion Animals Act 1998 (NSW) and equivalent legislation in other jurisdictions;

comply with all pet conditions stated in the Host's listing and house rules.

Host obligations. Hosts must:

accurately disclose all pet conditions, restrictions, and additional charges in their listing before a Booking is confirmed;

ensure the Host Property is reasonably safe for dogs, including by securing hazardous materials and any fencing breaches.

The Damage & Claims Policy governs the process for claims arising from damage caused by a Companion Animal.

6. Care of Property and Neighbourhood

Guest obligations. Guests must:

treat the Host Property and its contents with reasonable care;

comply with the Host's check-in and check-out times and procedures;

not cause noise or nuisance to neighbours in breach of applicable noise standards;

leave the Host Property clean and tidy at check-out;

not permit persons other than those declared in the Booking to occupy the property overnight.

Host obligations. Hosts must:

ensure the Host Property is clean, safe, and as represented in the listing at Guest arrival;

maintain all amenities and safety equipment, including smoke alarms, in proper working order and in compliance with applicable safety standards;

communicate promptly with Guests regarding any issue affecting the condition or accessibility of the property.

DogsWelcome does not provide insurance for property damage. Users are responsible for obtaining their own appropriate insurance.

7. Compliance with Laws

All Users must comply with all applicable laws and regulations in connection with their use of the Platform, including:

applicable STRA legislation and registration requirements, including the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), the Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW), and equivalent legislation in other jurisdictions;

local government zoning and planning requirements applicable to short-term rental accommodation;

fire safety requirements applicable to the Host Property;

noise standards and anti-social behaviour regulations;

companion animal and dog registration legislation;

the ACL and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

Hosts are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary approvals, registrations, and licences to operate STRA in the relevant jurisdiction. DogsWelcome does not verify regulatory compliance and accepts no liability for any enforcement action arising from a Host's non-compliance.

8. Platform Communications and Payments

All Bookings, payments, and booking-related communications must be conducted through the Platform. Users must not:

solicit or enter into a booking arrangement with another User outside of the Platform;

request or accept payment for accommodation other than through the Platform's payment system;

share personal contact details with the intent of circumventing the Platform's booking or payment systems.

A breach of this clause constitutes a breach of an essential term of these Guidelines and the applicable Terms of Service and will constitute grounds for immediate suspension or permanent removal of the offending account.

9. Reviews and User-Generated Content

All reviews posted on the Platform must be based on the reviewer's genuine experience, be truthful and not misleading (in compliance with section 18 ACL), and be respectful. Users must not post retaliatory reviews or offer or accept any incentive in exchange for a positive review.

DogsWelcome reserves the right to moderate, edit, or remove any review that it considers to be in breach of these Guidelines, misleading, defamatory, or otherwise contrary to applicable law, including the ACL and the Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth).

10. Prohibited Conduct and Enforcement

The following conduct constitutes Prohibited Conduct:

harassment, bullying, discrimination, or threatening behaviour towards any person in connection with the Platform;

fraud, deception, or misleading conduct, including fraudulent Booking requests, false damage claims, or the creation of false profiles or reviews;

intentional or reckless damage to a Host Property;

bringing a breed prohibited under applicable dangerous dog legislation to a Host Property;

failing to disclose to the Host, before a Booking is confirmed, that a Companion Animal is of a restricted breed under applicable dangerous dog legislation;

breaching applicable STRA legislation or fire safety requirements;

circumventing the Platform's booking, payment, or communication systems;

using the Platform for any unlawful purpose;

repeated or material breaches of these Guidelines or the applicable Terms of Service.

Where DogsWelcome reasonably believes a User has engaged in Prohibited Conduct, it may, without prior notice, issue a warning, suspend the User's account, or permanently remove the account.

11. Dispute Resolution

Users are encouraged to resolve disputes arising from a Booking by communicating directly through the Platform in the first instance. If direct resolution is not achieved within 7 days, either party may submit a formal dispute to DogsWelcome at support@dogswelcome.co. DogsWelcome will use reasonable endeavours to facilitate resolution within 14 days.

Where a dispute cannot be resolved through this process, the parties agree to attempt mediation before commencing court proceedings, with the mediator to be agreed between the parties or, failing agreement within 10 days, appointed by the Law Society of New South Wales.

These Guidelines are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. The parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales.

12. Limitation of DogsWelcome's Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law (including sections 64 and 64A of the ACL), DogsWelcome's liability in connection with the Platform is excluded or, where exclusion is not permitted, limited to the re-supply of the relevant service or the cost of re-supply. This exclusion does not apply to liability arising from DogsWelcome's own fraud or wilful misconduct.

13. Amendments to these Guidelines

DogsWelcome may amend these Guidelines at any time. Where any amendment materially affects a User's rights or obligations, DogsWelcome will provide no less than 14 days' prior written notice to affected Users by email before the amendment takes effect. Continued use of the Platform following the notice period constitutes acceptance of the amended Guidelines.

14. Contact

DogsWelcome Pty Ltd (ABN 39 694 692 003)

Email: support@dogswelcome.co