Terms and Conditions for Homesharers
These Terms and Conditions govern your application for Supportmatch Homeshare and Support&Match CIC Services (Supportmatch Homeshare Group). Please review them carefully. By submitting your application, you agree to these Terms.
1. Definitions
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- Householder: An individual introduced by Supportmatch Homeshare Ltd who offers accommodation in exchange for an agreed level of domestic help (e.g., light cooking, cleaning, shopping) and companionship. This includes any legally appointed representative if applicable.
- Homesharer: An individual willing to provide domestic help and companionship in exchange for accommodation and participation in the family life of the Householder.
- Property: The residence of the Householder that is shared with the Homesharer.
- Homeshare: The arrangement between the Householder and the Homesharer.
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2. General Terms of the Homeshare Arrangement
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- The Homesharer will not pay any accommodation fees, and the Householder will not pay for any help provided. The arrangement is mutually beneficial and entirely voluntary.
- The Homesharer agrees to pay a monthly monitoring and advice fee to Supportmatch Homeshare as a contribution to service costs. This fee must be paid on time for the duration of the Homeshare until the Homesharer vacates the Property.
- Late payments may result in additional recovery costs charged by Supportmatch.
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3. Duties and Responsibilities
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- The Homesharer is not required to provide professional care.
- The Homesharer is responsible for personal food and expenses and may contribute up to £60 per month for increased utility and council tax costs due to their presence. If placed in self-contained accommodation, the Homesharer is fully responsible for utility bills and council tax for that unit.
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4. Cancellation and Refund Policy
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- If the Homesharer cancels after engaging the Householder but before moving in, one monthly fee is payable to cover Supportmatch’s administration work.
- The first monthly fee is non-refundable, regardless of cancellation date.
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5. Fees
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- 5.1 Supportmatch Homeshare provides its services at the lowest feasible cost. A monthly fee of £190 (£360 per couple) is charged to the Homesharer. This is payable monthly via standing order or direct debit, or in advance for 3, 6, or 12 months by bank transfer or cheque. The current monthly fee will be stated in the cover letter. Fees are payable from the Homeshare Joint Agreement’s Commencement Date (i.e. Move-In Date).
- 5.2 A one-time, non-refundable registration fee of £60 is charged to each Homesharer.
- 5.3 Late payments may incur interest at a rate of 1.5% over the Bank of England Base Rate per month, compounded monthly on unpaid invoices.
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6. Householder and Property Suitability
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- Supportmatch will conduct interviews with potential Householders. However, it remains the Homesharer’s responsibility to ensure that the Householder and Property meet their personal requirements.
- While Supportmatch will gather as much information as possible about potential Householders, it does not guarantee accuracy or completeness.
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7. Confidentiality
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- Information shared between the Homesharer and Supportmatch that is marked as confidential or understood as confidential will be treated as such by both parties.
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8. Data Protection
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- Supportmatch processes personal information per applicable data protection laws, including the EU GDPR. Please review the Privacy Policy for details on personal data management.
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9. Support and Liability
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- Supportmatch provides ongoing support via phone and email but is not obligated to perform face-to-face meetings to monitor the Homeshare.
- Supportmatch and its staff assume no responsibility for damages, claims, or costs arising from the Homeshare.
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10. Non-Circumvention
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- 10.1 To maintain Supportmatch’s services, the Homesharer and Householder must refrain from circumventing the fees or services provided by Supportmatch at any time during the Homeshare. It is strictly prohibited for the Homesharer to propose or accept any direct arrangement with the Householder without Supportmatch’s written consent.
- 10.2 Any breach of clause 10.1 causes irreparable harm to Supportmatch. In such cases, the Homesharer agrees to pay damages equivalent to 3–12 months’ fees under this Agreement.
- 10.3 During the Homeshare and for at least three (3) years post-termination, the Homesharer must not enter into any private arrangement with any party (Householder or Homesharer) introduced by Supportmatch Homeshare Ltd or Support&Match CIC.
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11. Changes to Terms and Conditions
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- Supportmatch reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time.
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12. Leave of Absence
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- The Homesharer may take up to two weeks’ holiday at a time, totalling a maximum of four weeks per year, with at least four weeks’ notice provided to both the Householder and Supportmatch.
- If a leave of absence is necessary due to illness or personal reasons, the Homesharer must inform both the Householder and Supportmatch immediately. A medical certificate is required for absences longer than two weeks. If the absence extends beyond four weeks, the Homesharer may need to vacate the Property to allow a replacement.
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13. Absence of Householder
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- In cases where the Householder is hospitalized or on holiday, the Homesharer will remain in the Property to care for it as agreed.
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14. Supportmatch Coordination
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- The Supportmatch Coordinator will outline the agreed tasks and timings and update them as necessary.
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