Frequently Asked Questions

Estayo is a community living platform connecting immigrants and locals across Australia with safe, verified share housing. We help people find rooms and sublets with built-in safety features, bond protection, and community support.

Yes! Browsing listings, messaging hosts, and joining communities is completely free. We only charge a small service fee when a booking is confirmed to cover payment processing and support.

Click 'Get Started' in the top navigation. You can sign up with your email and password, or use Google/GitHub login for quick access. We recommend adding a profile photo and bio to build trust.

While not required, ID verification earns you a verified badge that significantly increases trust. Verified users get more booking acceptances and appear higher in search results.

Use the Browse page to search by city, price range, property type, and number of bedrooms. You can save favorites and sort results by price or date. Each listing shows detailed information, photos, amenities, and host reviews.

When you find a listing you like, click 'Request to Book' and submit your preferred dates. The host receives your request and can accept or decline within 48 hours. You can also message the host first to ask questions.

Yes. All payments are held as a secure holding fee until you check in and confirm the space matches the listing. If something is wrong, you can raise a dispute and our team will investigate.

Absolutely! We encourage it. Click 'Message Host' on any listing to start a conversation. Ask about the space, suburb, house rules, or anything else.

Use the 'Report Listing' button on any listing page. Our team reviews every report within 24 hours. If a listing is found to violate our policies, it will be removed and the host may be suspended.

Click 'List a Sublet' in the navigation. Fill in the details: title, description, location, price, dates, photos, amenities, and house rules. Your listing goes live immediately after submission.

Estayo charges a small service fee on confirmed bookings. The exact fee is displayed transparently before you accept any booking. There are no hidden charges or listing fees.

Yes. You receive booking requests and can review each guest's profile, verification status, and reviews before accepting or declining. You have full control over who stays in your space.

We recommend documenting the condition of your space before and after each stay. In case of damage, contact our support team with evidence and we'll help mediate a resolution.

Community Groups are city-based forums where members share advice, post roommate searches, discuss suburbs, and connect with fellow Filipinos in Australia. It's a great way to get local tips before moving.

We use multiple safety layers: optional ID verification, community reviews, secure bond holding, in-app messaging (so you don't need to share personal contact info), and a dedicated report/review system.

Yes. Every listing has a 'Report' button, and you can also contact our support team directly. We take reports seriously and investigate every one within 24 hours.

We follow industry-standard security practices. Your personal data is encrypted, payment information is handled by secure payment processors, and we never share your contact details without your consent.