Trust, safety & privacy

Trust starts before anyone checks in. Kindred verifies the identity of every member and the legitimacy of every home on the platform.

ID verification

Every Kindred member must verify their real identity before joining the network. We use Stripe Identity — a leading identity verification platform — to confirm who you are.

How it works:

• You submit a government-issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, or national ID)
• Stripe captures a selfie and matches it against your ID document
• Your verified identity is then cross-referenced against your Kindred profile photo

This means every person you swap with has been confirmed as a real individual — not just a name behind a profile.

Profile verification

In addition to identity verification, Kindred reviews each member's profile to ensure they're representing themselves accurately on the platform.

What we check:

• That your Stripe selfie matches your Kindred profile photo — confirming the person on the platform is the person you'll be swapping with
• That your profile information is complete and accurate
• That you've read and agreed to Kindred's member code of conduct before your first swap

Misrepresenting yourself or your profile is a major code of conduct violation and grounds for immediate removal from Kindred.

Home verification

Every home listed on Kindred goes through a verification process before it can be swapped. This isn't just a photo review — we confirm that the home is real.

Verification includes:

• Reality check: Kindred reviews submitted home photos and runs a verification check to confirm the property exists and matches the listing
• Ownership & authorization: Members must prove they own or are authorized to share the property (via lease, deed, or written landlord authorization)
• Insurance: All hosts must maintain an active homeowners or renters insurance policy — verified at listing and at any time during membership
• Safety standards: Every home must have functioning smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms (where required by law or where gas appliances are present), at least one accessible fire extinguisher, and locking doors on all entry and exit points
• Accurate representation: Listing photos must be current and real — no MLS stock photos, outdated images, or AI-altered photos. All listed amenities must be available and functional at the time of the stay. Pet presence and accessibility limitations must be disclosed
• Whole-home only: Kindred only supports full-home listings — no individual rooms or shared-space arrangements. Every home must have a private entrance, private bathroom, and private kitchen or kitchenette

Ongoing verification: Kindred periodically re-verifies homes to ensure continued compliance. We reserve the right to request updated photos, documentation, or a virtual walkthrough at any time. Listings that fall out of compliance may be paused or removed.

To view all property requirements, visit our property requirements policy

• There must be no known and/or apparent safety or health hazards, including exposed or faulty wiring, structural instability, unsafe staircases or railings, and trip hazards.
• All doors that provide ingress or egress into the unit must lock.
• Homes must be equipped with functioning smoke detectors.
• Carbon monoxide alarms are required where mandated by local law or where gas appliances, heating systems, or attached garages are present.
• Homes must be equipped with at least one accessible fire extinguisher.
• There must be no illicit drugs, biohazards, or exposed dangerous substances on the property.
• All ingress and egress pathways must remain clear and unobstructed.
• Homes must have functioning essential utilities, including water, electricity, and climate control appropriate to the region.
• Broken or non-functioning essential systems (heating, cooling, plumbing) must be repaired prior to hosting a guest.
• Homes must accurately represent and adhere to safe and reasonable occupancy limits; hosts may not knowingly allow more guests than the stated limit.
• Firearms and weapons must be unloaded, disarmed, and stored in a locked container inaccessible to guests or children. Ammunition must be stored separately, also in a locked container.
• Indoor surveillance devices are strictly prohibited during a guest's stay.
• Outdoor surveillance devices must never be positioned to capture interior spaces or any area where a guest has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

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Disclaimer

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You are solely responsible for understanding and complying with all laws, rules, regulations, and third-party agreements that apply to your Home and your participation as a Host, including compliance with the same by the other members of your household (where applicable). This includes any requirements related to permits, licenses, registration, guest disclosure, tenancy rights, rent control, and eviction laws — which vary by jurisdiction and may apply regardless of how Kindred classifies the exchange. While Kindred facilitates a home exchange rather than a short-term property rental, some jurisdictions nevertheless may apply rental, lodging, or short-term accommodation laws to home exchange arrangements. In some places, hosting guests in your home may be restricted or prohibited altogether. You should not rely on Kindred's characterization as a legal determination of how your local laws apply. Any information Kindred provides about legal requirements is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should review local requirements or consult a qualified attorney if you have questions about your obligations. You are also responsible for handling the personal data of Guests in compliance with applicable privacy laws and Kindred's terms of service.

We take member privacy very seriously. The Kindred app is only accessible to approved members. On the app, home profiles include interior photos, the city and neighborhood, your first name, and any profile information you add when setting up your account (this typically includes a profile picture and a short written bio). On the app, you can click on your home profile to preview how your home will appear to others on the app.

We ONLY share your home address, home guide, and access information with a member you have agreed to host after the booking has been confirmed and approved by all parties.

No. Any form of off-platform solicitation, such as booking requests or payments, is not allowed. All stays, payments, and coordination must be conducted on the Kindred platform to ensure safety, transparency, and a seamless experience for all members.

💡 Please read about damage protection and our conflict resolution policies in our terms of service.

Because Kindred is based on reciprocity, it fosters a community with a higher level of trust & mutual respect for one another's home than a rental platform. That said, we know that accidents happen – and we are dedicated to supporting all members in the event of accidental damage.

If something comes up on a trip or you find something has been damaged, we ask that you let us know as soon as possible via our claims process, which you can read in our Kindred Damage Protection Program page. Our dedicated team will work with you to make things right.

In addition to our Damage Protection Program, we also require that all members have an active renters or homeowners insurance policy for additional coverage.

To ensure our hosts feel completely secure when sharing their homes, Kindred provides two distinct layers of protection:

1. Liability insurance — Third-party insurance that protects you if a guest gets hurt or their personal property is damaged during a stay.

2. The Damage Protection Program — A Kindred-run reimbursement program that covers damage to your home or belongings caused by a guest or cleaner.

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Liability insurance

Our Liability Insurance is real insurance underwritten by The Hartford and offers up to $1,000,000 per incident with no deductible.

It covers:

• Medical payments, judgments, settlements, and defense costs if a guest is injured at your property (e.g., a slip and fall).
• Damage to a guest's personal belongings caused by an incident at your home.
• Accidents involving equipment guests use with your permission, such as a provided bicycle or kayak.
• Family members living at the property.

Note: This is excess coverage, meaning your primary homeowners or renters insurance pays first. You must report any liability incidents to all of your active insurance policies.

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Damage Protection Program

Unlike the Liability policy, this is a reimbursement program managed directly by Kindred, not an insurance policy. It reimburses you for damage to your own home or belongings caused by a guest or a Kindred-coordinated cleaner, up to $100,000 per stay.

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To learn more about the coverage, reporting, and exclusions, view Kindred's Damage Protection Program.

We aim to make every Kindred experience excellent and seamless, but we know that sometimes things don’t go as expected. If an issue arises while on a trip, go to your trip's group chat, tap "I need help with this trip", then "I have an urgent issue". Our Concierge team looks into every issue thoroughly and collaborates with members directly to find a solution. 

If anyone is in danger, contact local emergency services first. Kindred's team can help with a trip, but cannot send emergency responders.

For an urgent problem with the home or your stay, use the urgent menu in the Kindred app. A banner linking to it appears at the top of your Concierge chat and group chat about 48 hours before the trip starts and stays there throughout the stay. Choose the option that matches your situation, whether you are the guest or the host. Our team aims to respond within 5 minutes to issues that affect safety or access, such as a lockout, no entry to the building, a fire alarm, a water leak or a smell of gas. For urgent issues that are less immediate, such as damage in the home, major cleanliness problems or a broken amenity that affects your stay, we aim to respond within 20 minutes.

Kindred cannot guarantee the safety of a neighborhood, and incidents outside the home, such as theft from a parked car, are outside our policy coverage. If the home itself is unsafe or differs materially from its listing, tell us right away so our team can review it.

You can flag a member's profile or home at the very bottom of a profile. Alternatively, you can message the Concierge team in the Kindred app, or email hello@livekindred.com. Include the member's profile link, the trip, what happened, and any photos or screenshots. If you are a host reporting damage or missing items, report within 7 days of your guest's departure.

When someone reports a possible violation of the Member Code of Conduct, Kindred records it in a confidential Issue Report and investigates. The team may contact the members involved for more detail. While the investigation is open, the accounts of the members involved can be paused, which prevents new bookings and new hosting until we understand what happened. Honest mistakes are not usually grounds for removal. A pattern of violations, or one that is serious or dangerous, can lead to a membership being revoked.

You can also report a listing that does not match what you found, for example photos, amenities or location that differ from the home's profile, or a home that does not meet our Property Requirements. Every home must be whole-home, accurately described, safe and free of indoor cameras and recording devices.

The updates to our Terms and Privacy Policy discussed below are effective immediately for all new users beginning March 27, 2026. The updated Terms and Privacy Policy will go into effect for existing users on May 1, 2026. 

Capitalized terms not defined on this page have the same meanings given to them in the Terms and Privacy Policy. You can read the full terms in the links below, along with key changes and other important information:

Updates to the terms of service

• We added terms for new products and features, such as Kindred Circles and the Kindred Marketplace. 
• We clarified how the credit system already works, including addressing how and when Credits can be used. 
• We updated the arbitration agreement to allow for more consumer-friendly terms, such as videoconferencing. 
• We clarified what types of damages are included under the limitation of liability.
• We made other updates to reflect changes to Kindred’s business and for clarification purposes.

Updates to the privacy policy

• We incorporated the updates we made to the Terms where applicable, such as with respect to Kindred Circles.
• We updated terms regarding the use of cookie and tracking technologies.
• We added references to our use of artificial intelligence technology for increased transparency.
• We tied the definition of “personal information” to include all definitions under applicable law, so it’s clear what is protected.
• We clarified what information we collect as part of the account creation process, as well as from job applicants and during job application processing.
• We clarified what data we touch during the identity verification process.
• We included instructions for opting out of certain types of processing.

Last updated: August 19, 2026

We’ve updated our Terms of Service (the “Terms”), Privacy Policy, and Code of Conduct.

The updates discussed below are effective immediately for all new users beginning August 19, 2026. For existing users, the updated Code of Conduct will go into effect on August 19, 2026, and the updated Terms and Privacy Policy will go into effect on September 3, 2026. Any use after the effective dates is considered acceptance of the updates.

Capitalized terms not defined on this page have the same meanings given to them in the Terms, Privacy Policy, or Code of Conduct. You can read the full terms in the links below, along with key changes and other important information:

Updates to the terms of service

• We added terms for new features on the Kindred Platform, such as Show Us Your Home, and how you interact with them.

Updates to the privacy policy

• We updated the Privacy Policy to reflect how we will use AI in processing certain information, such as profile authentication and job applications. 

Updates to the code of conduct

• We added clearer standards prohibiting discrimination and harassment across the Kindred community.
• We added new Marketplace Integrity guidelines that prohibit manipulating bookings, Credits, referrals, accounts, or other Platform activity for improper benefit.
• We clarified expectations for Member communications and community spaces, including privacy, off-Platform solicitation, appropriate content, and sharing messages or screenshots.
• We expanded Guest guidelines around Home privacy and security, including new standards for photographing or sharing content from a Host’s Home and protecting Home access information.
• We clarified expectations for Guests around overnight Guests, pets, gatherings, smoking, check-in and check-out, and booking a Kindred Home on behalf of immediate family members.
• We expanded Host guidelines around Home preparation, pets, smoking, security cameras and recording devices, Guest privacy, and accurate disclosure of Home conditions.
• We clarified emergency guidance for situations involving an immediate risk to life or safety.
• We updated our Code of Conduct enforcement process to better explain how Kindred investigates potential violations and applies graduated enforcement based on the nature, severity, and pattern of conduct.
• We clarified how repeated and major violations may affect membership and added an appeals process for Members whose membership is revoked.