# Legal responsibility in direct booking

Vacation rental software. A signed stay offer on the host's own domain.

In direct booking the host is the contractual party, not HemmaBo.

## Who is responsible for what?

When you take direct bookings, the booking agreement is directly between you and the guest, and HemmaBo is never a party to it.

- You as host are the contractual party with the guest: The booking agreement is directly between you and the guest. HemmaBo is not a party to the agreement and does not act as an intermediary.
- HemmaBo delivers the booking website — not the service: HemmaBo gives you a booking system, payment integration (Stripe Connect), calendar sync and communication tools. The legal relationship with the guest is entirely yours.
- HemmaBo is never a party to agreements between host and guest: Regardless of what happens during the stay — damage, complaints, disputes — it is you as the host who handles it directly with the guest.
- GDPR responsibility: You as the host are the data controller for your guests' data. HemmaBo is the data processor. Read more in our privacy policy.

[Read our privacy policy](https://www.hemmabo.com/privacy)

## Cancellations and refunds

You set your own refund schedule, the guest accepts it at booking, and a cancellation is refunded by that schedule through Stripe from your account.

- You set your refund schedule: You decide how much the guest gets back depending on how many hours before check-in they cancel. The guest sees the schedule before booking, and it is locked to the booking when the guest books.
- The guest accepts the policy at time of booking: By completing the booking, the guest agrees to your terms — including cancellation rules, house rules and payment terms.
- Refunds follow your schedule: When a guest cancels, the refund is calculated from the schedule locked to that booking and paid back through Stripe from your account. Cancelled bookings are shown in your dashboard.

## Disputes

Disputes are handled directly between you and the guest; a card dispute follows Stripe's dispute process, and you should always document your booking terms and communication.

- Disputes are handled directly between you and the guest: In a dispute, you and the guest are the parties. HemmaBo is not involved in dispute resolution.
- Stripe handles card disputes: If a guest disputes a card payment, the dispute follows Stripe's dispute process.
- Always document booking terms and communication: Always save booking confirmations, guest communication and terms. That is your strongest evidence in a dispute.

## EU-wide regulations

GDPR applies across the EU/EEA, and EU Regulation 2024/1028 lets a country or region require a registration number for each short-term rental.

- GDPR — General Data Protection Regulation: GDPR applies to all EU/EEA countries. As a host, you are the data controller for your guests' data. You must inform guests about what data you collect, why, and how long it is stored. HemmaBo is the data processor.
- EU Regulation 2024/1028 — short-term rental data: Under this regulation, a country or region can require a registration number for each short-term rental. Where it does, you enter the number in your dashboard and it is included in your booking website's structured data.

## Applicable laws (by property location)

The legal framework that applies depends on where the property is located, not on the guest's nationality or your language.

- Laws depend on property location: The legal framework that applies to your rental depends on where the property is located — not the guest's nationality or your language. A property in Spain follows Spanish law; a property in Germany follows German law.
- Common requirements in many EU countries: Guest registration, tax reporting on rental income and, increasingly, a registration number for short-term rentals. Check the rules of the municipality where the property is located.
- Properties outside the EU/EEA: Local consumer protection and rental laws apply. GDPR can still apply when you offer stays to people in the EU. Always consult a local legal expert.

## HemmaBo's responsibility

HemmaBo is never a party to the agreement between host and guest and is not an intermediary; the information provided is general guidance, not legal advice.

- The host runs the rental — HemmaBo delivers the booking website: HemmaBo is never a party to the agreement between host and guest. We provide booking systems, payment integration, calendar sync, and communication tools — but the legal relationship with the guest is entirely yours.
- HemmaBo is not an intermediary: Unlike OTA platforms, HemmaBo does not act as intermediary or broker. You have your own domain, your own payment solution via Stripe Connect, and direct contact with the guest.
- Booking website system, not legal advice: The information on this page is general guidance — not legal advice. Always consult a local legal expert for questions about your specific situation.
- Disclaimer: This page contains general information about legal responsibility in direct booking. It is not legal advice. Always consult a local legal expert.

## Read our terms and conditions

Review the full terms and conditions that govern use of HemmaBo.

[Go to terms](https://www.hemmabo.com/terms)

## Questions about legal matters?

If you have questions about legal matters, get in touch with us.

[Contact us](https://www.hemmabo.com/contact)

## Related

Related pages with more detail on guest data and what HemmaBo is.

- Guest data and privacy (/data-and-privacy)
- What is HemmaBo? (/what-is-hemmabo)

https://www.hemmabo.com/legal-responsibility