Terms of Service

Welcome to OffCampusReview ("OCR," "we," "our," or "us").

OffCampusReview operates an online platform that allows users to share experiences, reviews, ratings, and information about off-campus housing, rental properties, and landlords.

By accessing or using the OffCampusReview website, mobile applications, or related services (collectively, the "Service"), you agree to these Terms of Service. If you do not agree with these Terms, you must not use the Service.

1. Purpose of the Platform

OffCampusReview exists to promote transparency and informed decision-making in off-campus housing markets.

The Service allows users to:

• Post reviews and ratings regarding rental housing experiences
• Share information about landlords, property managers, and housing conditions
• Read reviews from other users
• Edit posts

Housing conditions and landlord conduct are matters of public interest, and the platform is intended to support the flow of information regarding rental experiences.

2. Eligibility

You may use the Service only if you:

• Have a valid university E-mail address
• Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement
• Provide accurate account information

Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their account credentials. You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account once logged in.

3. User Accounts

By logging in with your school E-mail address, users can:

• Submit reviews (up to 3)
• Edit reviews
• Save landlords to come back to
• See how many reviews they have left

You agree that you will not:

• Create multiple accounts to manipulate ratings
• Impersonate another person
• Create accounts using false identities
• Use automated systems to generate reviews

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

4. User Content

Users may submit reviews, ratings, comments, images, or other materials ("User Content").

You retain ownership of your User Content.

However, by submitting content to OffCampusReview, you grant OCR a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to:

• Display
• Reproduce
• Distribute
• Modify
• Publish

You represent that:

• The content reflects your honest experience or opinion
• The content is accurate to the best of your knowledge
• You have the legal right to post the content
• The content does not knowingly contain false statements of fact

5. Review Guidelines

Reviews should reflect first-hand experiences or genuine interactions with a property or landlord.

Examples of acceptable review topics include, but are not limited to:

• Maintenance responsiveness
• Property cleanliness
• Landlord communication
• Safety concerns
• Move-in or move-out experiences
• Lease practices

Reviews should not contain:

• Harassment or threats
• Discriminatory language
• Personal attacks unrelated to housing
• Private personal information
• Illegal content
• Factually incorrect statements

OCR may remove reviews that violate these guidelines.

6. Review Authenticity Policy

All reviews must be based on genuine experiences.

Users may not submit reviews that are:

• Fabricated
• Written on behalf of someone else
• Posted in exchange for compensation
• Posted due to a threat from a landlord
• Submitted by landlords reviewing their own property
• Submitted by competitors attempting to damage another landlord

OCR may use automated systems and moderation to detect suspicious review activity.

7. Truthful Experience Representation

By submitting a review, rating, comment, or other content to OffCampusReview ("OCR"), you represent and warrant that:

• The content reflects your personal experience, honest opinion, or genuine interaction with the property, landlord, or housing situation described
• You actually resided at, visited, applied to, or otherwise interacted with the property, landlord, or rental process referenced in the review
• The review does not knowingly contain false statements of fact
• The content is not fabricated, misleading, or submitted for the purpose of harassment, retaliation, or manipulation of ratings

You further acknowledge that:

• Reviews are intended to share subjective experiences and opinions, which may vary among individuals
• You are solely responsible for the content you submit, including any statements that may be interpreted as factual assertions

OCR may request additional information from reviewers when investigating suspected violations of these representations.

Submission of a review that knowingly contains false factual statements may result in:

• Removal of the review
• Suspension or termination of the user account
• Other enforcement actions under these Terms

8. Fake Review Enforcement

Submitting fraudulent reviews may result in:

• Removal of the review
• Account suspension
• Permanent account ban
• IP address blocking
• Removal of all associated content

Landlords who attempt to manipulate reviews may face:

• Suspension of landlord accounts
• Inability to claim property listings
• Public notice of policy violations

9. Landlord and Property Manager Accounts

Property owners or managers may create accounts to:

• Claim property listings
• Update property information

Landlords may not:

• Pressure tenants to remove reviews
• Offer incentives for review changes

Violations may result in removal of landlord privileges.

10. Opinion and Experience Disclaimer

Reviews reflect the personal opinions and experiences of users. Statements regarding rental experiences, including cleanliness, responsiveness, value, safety, or satisfaction, are inherently subjective. Many such statements may constitute protected opinion under U.S. law and may not be objectively verifiable. OffCampusReview does not endorse or verify these opinions. Reasonable people may disagree regarding rental experiences.

11. No Verification of Reviews

OffCampusReview does not independently verify every review. The platform relies on users to provide honest feedback. Although moderation systems may identify suspicious activity, OCR does not guarantee that all reviews are accurate or authentic. Users should exercise independent judgment when evaluating reviews.

12. No Duty to Remove Content

OCR has no obligation to remove, edit, investigate, or verify user content. The existence of moderation policies does not create a duty for OCR to monitor or remove specific content. Failure to remove content does not constitute endorsement of that content.

13. Review Ranking and Algorithm Transparency

OCR may use automated systems to determine:

• Review order
• Recommended reviews
• Visibility of reviews
• Property ratings

These systems may evaluate numerous signals related to authenticity and user behavior. The specific algorithms used to rank or filter reviews are proprietary and confidential. OCR has sole discretion in how reviews appear on the platform.

14. Takedown Request Process

OCR may remove content that:

• Violates review guidelines
• Contains private personal information
• Contains harassment or hate speech
• Is demonstrably fabricated

Negative reviews alone are not grounds for removal.

15. Reviewer Privacy and Anonymity

Users may post reviews using display names or pseudonyms. Protecting reviewer anonymity encourages honest feedback. Except as required by law, OCR will not disclose reviewer identities.

If OCR receives a subpoena seeking reviewer information, we may:

• Notify the user when legally permitted
• Challenge the request where appropriate

16. Section 230 Protection

OffCampusReview, LLC ("OCR") is an interactive computer service provider under 47 U.S.C. §230 of the Communications Decency Act ("Section 230").

No Responsibility for User Content

All reviews, comments, ratings, photos, and other materials posted by users ("User Content") are created solely by the users who submit them. OCR does not create, develop, or endorse User Content and does not act as the publisher or speaker of such content.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, OCR disclaims all liability arising from User Content, including but not limited to claims relating to:

• Defamation
• Libel
• Slander
• False statements
• Harassment
• Negligence
• Emotional distress
• Business interference
• Reputational harm

The sole responsibility for User Content rests with the user who posted it.

Protection for Moderation

OCR reserves the right, but has no obligation, to monitor, review, remove, filter, reorder, refuse to publish, or otherwise moderate User Content at its sole discretion.

Under Section 230(c)(2), OCR may take such moderation actions in good faith to:

• Remove or restrict content that violates these Terms
• Remove content believed to be false, abusive, defamatory, or misleading
• Enforce community guidelines
• Maintain the integrity of the platform

Such moderation actions do not create liability for OCR and do not cause OCR to become the publisher or speaker of User Content.

Platform Neutrality

OCR provides a neutral platform for users to share their personal experiences with rental housing and landlords. The presence of reviews, ratings, or commentary on the platform does not constitute endorsement, verification, or adoption of those statements by OCR.

No Duty to Investigate

OCR does not independently verify the accuracy of user-submitted content and has no duty to investigate or confirm the truthfulness of reviews posted by users.

Preservation of Section 230 Rights

Nothing in these Terms shall be interpreted to limit, waive, or reduce the protections afforded to OCR under Section 230 or any other applicable law.

17. Content Moderation Rights

OCR reserves the right to:

• Remove content
• Restrict visibility of reviews
• Suspend user accounts
• Investigate suspicious activity

These actions may be taken in good faith to maintain platform integrity.

18. Anti-SLAPP Policy

OffCampusReview, LLC ("OCR") is committed to protecting the right of individuals to share lawful opinions, experiences, and commentary regarding rental housing, landlords, and housing conditions.

Protection of User Speech

Reviews, ratings, and comments posted on OCR often involve matters of public interest, including housing quality, tenant safety, property conditions, and landlord conduct. OCR supports the right of users to discuss and report on these matters without fear of retaliation or intimidation.

Opposition to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation

OCR does not tolerate attempts to suppress lawful user speech through Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation ("SLAPP") or similar legal threats intended to silence criticism or discourage honest reviews.

If OCR determines that a legal claim or demand is intended primarily to censor, intimidate, or punish protected speech, OCR reserves the right to:

• Seek dismissal of such claims under applicable Anti-SLAPP statutes
• Pursue recovery of attorneys’ fees, court costs, and other damages available under those laws
• Assert all available constitutional and statutory protections, including those under the First Amendment and 47 U.S.C. §230

Protection of the Platform

OCR provides a neutral platform for users to share their experiences and does not author, control, or verify user reviews. Legal claims attempting to hold OCR liable for user-generated content may be subject to early dismissal under applicable law.

Deterrence of Abusive Legal Threats

Parties who attempt to use litigation or legal threats to silence lawful user reviews may be subject to legal defenses, counterclaims, and recovery of costs as permitted by law.

19. Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless OffCampusReview, LLC ("OCR"), its owners, officers, directors, employees, affiliates, contractors, agents, licensors, and partners from and against any and all claims, demands, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs) arising out of or related to:

User Content

Any reviews, comments, ratings, photos, or other content that you post, submit, upload, or otherwise make available through the platform, including claims alleging that such content is:

• Defamatory
• False or misleading
• Invasive of privacy
• Harassing or abusive
• Otherwise unlawful

Disputes with Third Parties

Any disputes, claims, or legal actions between you and any landlord, property owner, property manager, tenant, roommate, or other third party arising from:

• Reviews or content posted on the platform
• Housing conditions or rental experiences
• Communications or interactions related to the platform

Misuse of the Platform

Your misuse of the platform, including attempts to:

• Post fraudulent or misleading reviews
• Manipulate ratings
• Impersonate another person
• Interfere with the operation or security of the platform

Defense and Cooperation

OCR reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification, and you agree to cooperate with OCR in asserting any available defenses. Your indemnification obligations survive the termination of your account or use of the platform.

20. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, OffCampusReview, LLC ("OCR"), including its owners, officers, directors, employees, affiliates, contractors, licensors, and partners, shall not be liable for any claims, damages, or losses arising from or related to the use of the platform or any content posted by users.

No Liability for User Content or Third-Party Disputes

OCR shall not be responsible or liable for:

• Disputes between landlords, property managers, tenants, roommates, or other third parties
• The accuracy, reliability, or completeness of reviews, ratings, or other user-generated content
• Any decisions made by users based on reviews or information found on the platform
• Interactions, communications, or transactions between users and third parties

Users rely on information posted on the platform at their own risk.

No Liability for Indirect or Consequential Damages

To the fullest extent permitted by law, OCR shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages, including but not limited to:

• Loss of profits
• Loss of business opportunities
• Reputational harm
• Loss of data
• Emotional distress
• Property damage
• Interruption of service

This limitation applies even if OCR has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Platform Provided “As Is”

The platform and all content are provided "as is" and "as available." OCR makes no warranties or guarantees regarding the availability, accuracy, or reliability of any information on the platform.

Maximum Liability Cap

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the total aggregate liability of OCR for any claims arising out of or relating to the platform or these Terms shall not exceed the greater of:

• $100 USD
• The total amount paid by you to OCR in the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim

Basis of the Bargain

You acknowledge that these limitations of liability are a fundamental part of the agreement between you and OCR, and that the platform would not be provided without such limitations.

21. Arbitration Agreement

Agreement to Arbitrate

By using OffCampusReview ("OCR"), you agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms, the platform, or your use of the services shall be resolved exclusively through final and binding arbitration, rather than in court, except as otherwise provided in this section.

This arbitration agreement applies to all claims, including but not limited to those arising under:

• Contract law
• Tort law
• Statutory law
• Consumer protection laws
• Defamation or reputational claims
• Disputes involving user-generated content

Arbitration Administrator

Arbitration shall be conducted by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") in accordance with its Consumer Arbitration Rules then in effect.

The arbitration may be conducted:

• In the county where the user resides
• Remotely via video or telephone conference
• In another mutually agreed location

The arbitrator shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, enforceability, or scope of this arbitration provision.

No Jury Trials

By agreeing to arbitration, both you and OCR waive the right to a trial by jury and the right to have disputes resolved in a court of law.

Class Action Waiver

To the fullest extent permitted by law, all claims must be brought on an individual basis.

You agree that:

• Disputes may not be brought as a class action, collective action, or representative action
• You may not act as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding

The arbitrator may only resolve claims between you and OCR individually and may not consolidate claims from multiple users.

Small Claims Exception

Either party may bring an individual claim in small claims court if the claim qualifies and remains on an individual basis.

Severability

If any portion of this arbitration or class action waiver provision is found unenforceable, the remaining portions shall remain fully enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

22. Governing Law

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to the use of the OffCampusReview platform shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

Except where arbitration is required under these Terms, any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the platform or these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located within the State of New Jersey, and the parties hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts.

Users agree that the platform is operated from the State of New Jersey, and that use of the platform constitutes acceptance of the application of New Jersey law to any disputes arising from such use.

Nothing in this section shall limit the enforceability of the mandatory arbitration and class action waiver provisions contained in these Terms.

23. Termination

OCR may suspend or terminate accounts that:

• Violate these Terms
• Manipulate reviews
• Misuse the platform

24. Electronic Communication

By using the Service, you consent to receive communications from OCR electronically, including notices, disclosures, and updates.

25. Changes to Terms

OCR may update these Terms periodically. Continued use of the Service after updates constitutes acceptance of revised Terms.

26. Entire Agreement

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and OffCampusReview regarding use of the Service and supersede any prior agreements or understandings.

27. Contact Information

OffCampusReview

Contact@OffCampusReview.com