Bahama Homes – Refunds & Cancellations Policy
Last Updated: October 2025
This Refunds & Cancellations Policy (“Policy”) outlines how cancellations, refunds, early terminations, and reservation disputes are handled on the Bahama Homes Platform for both long-term and short-term rentals. This Policy forms part of the Bahama Homes Terms & Conditions and explains responsibilities under two scenarios:
When Bahama Homes acts as a facilitator, and
When Bahama Homes acts as a property manager under a formal management agreement.
1. Purpose
This Policy clarifies cancellation rules, refund processes, deposit handling, payment responsibilities, and dispute procedures depending on:
The type of rental (long-term or short-term)
The stage of the rental process (application, reservation, lease signing, move-in)
Bahama Homes’ relationship to the property (facilitator vs. property manager)
2. Roles and Responsibilities
2.1 Bahama Homes as a Facilitator (Most Listings)
For most listings on the Platform, Bahama Homes acts only as a digital facilitator.
In this role:
Bahama Homes is not a party to any booking, application, lease, or rental agreement
Vendors set their own refund, deposit, and cancellation terms
Vendors handle all refund decisions and payments
Vendors are responsible for returning refundable deposits
Bahama Homes does not decide disputes or enforce Vendor obligations
Bahama Homes only refunds Bahama Homes service fees when required by this Policy
2.2 Bahama Homes as Property Manager (Managed Properties Only)
For properties under a formal Property Management Agreement, Bahama Homes:
Collects rent, deposits, and payments
Holds and manages security deposits
Issues refunds and lawful deductions
Processes cancellations under this Policy and the management contract
Handles deposit disputes in accordance with Bahamian landlord-tenant law
Only listings explicitly marked as Managed by Bahama Homes fall under this category.
2.3 Lease Agreements (All Property Types)
For all long-term, short-term, and commercial listings:
Vendors and Users enter their own rental or lease agreements
Bahama Homes is not a party to the agreement unless acting as property manager
Vendors are responsible for defining cancellation windows, penalties, and deposit rules
3. Non-Refundable Fees
The following fees are strictly non-refundable, except in cases of duplicate or unauthorized charges or where required by law:
Application fees
Tenant-screening fees
Bahama Homes subscription or advertising fees
Administrative and processing fees once work has begun
These fees support operational and verification processes and cannot be recovered once initiated.
4. Long-Term Rentals (Applications & Leases)
4.1 Cancellation Before Signing (Long-Term)
“Before signing” refers to canceling after submitting an application but before executing the lease.
Facilitator Role
Refunds follow the Vendor’s posted policy
Bahama Homes does not issue refunds except for Bahama Homes service-fee refunds where required
Property Manager Role
Bahama Homes may refund prepaid amounts minus:
Completed screening or verification costs
Administrative work already performed
Third-party processor fees
Application and screening fees remain non-refundable under Section 3.
4.2 Cancellation After Signing (Before Move-In)
Cancellation after signing a lease is considered a lease withdrawal.
Facilitator
Refunds follow the Vendor’s lease terms.
Property Manager
A portion of prepaid rent may be refunded only if the unit is successfully re-rented before the intended move-in date.
Deposits may be forfeited based on lease provisions.
4.3 Early Termination After Move-In
Early termination follows:
The signed lease
Bahamian landlord-tenant law
Any penalties or notice requirements included in the lease
Facilitator
The Vendor handles all deposit deductions and refunds.
Property Manager
Bahama Homes returns refundable deposits within 30 days of move-out, less lawful deductions including:
Unpaid rent
Damages
Cleaning or restoration charges
Other lease-permitted deductions
4.4 Vendor-Initiated Cancellations (Long-Term)
If a Vendor cancels before signing:
User receives a full refund of all prepaid amounts
Bahama Homes service fees are refunded
If a Vendor cancels after signing, refunds follow Bahamian landlord-tenant rules.
5. Short-Term Rentals (Reservations & Stays)
5.1 Reservation Rules (Advance Bookings & Payment Timing)
Unless the Vendor provides different terms:
Short-term stays may be reserved up to 6 months in advance
Reservations made more than 30 days ahead are considered holds
Full payment is required to confirm the reservation
Payment is accepted within 30 days of check-in
If payment is not made within the Vendor’s payment window, the reservation may be cancelled
5.2 Default Cancellation Policy (If the Vendor Has No Policy)
Unless the Vendor provides different cancellation terms, the following apply:
Full refund if cancelled 2 days (48 hours) or more before check-in
If cancelled less than 48 hours before check-in, the User is charged the first night’s stay
Cleaning fees are refundable only if cleaning has not occurred or been irreversibly scheduled
Application or screening fees remain non-refundable
5.3 Vendor Policies Override Defaults
Vendor-provided cancellation rules always take priority over default Platform rules.
5.4 Vendor-Initiated Cancellations (Short-Term)
If the Vendor cancels a confirmed reservation:
User receives a full refund of all amounts paid
Bahama Homes service fees are refunded if the stay has not begun
If the reservation had already commenced, refunds follow Bahamian rental law.
5.5 Exceptional Circumstances (Short-Term)
Full or partial refunds may be granted when:
The property becomes uninhabitable
Government restrictions prevent travel or occupancy
A natural disaster occurs
The Vendor materially misrepresented the property
6. Exceptional Circumstances (Universal)
The following apply to both long-term and short-term rentals:
Full or partial refunds may be issued if:
Government-declared emergencies prevent occupancy
Natural disasters make the property or area unsafe
The property becomes uninhabitable before move-in or check-in
The Vendor materially misrepresented the property
Bahama Homes may provide dispute assistance as a courtesy, but is not required to mediate when acting solely as facilitator.
7. Refund Process & Timelines
Refund requests must be submitted through the Platform or emailed to [email protected].
Timeframes:
Deposits (managed properties only): refunded within 30 days
Other refunds processed by Bahama Homes: 10–15 business days
Vendor-issued refunds: timeline determined by the Vendor
Bahama Homes is not responsible for delays caused by banks, payment processors, or Vendor inaction.
8. Liability & Dispute Resolution
8.1 Facilitator Listings
Vendors and Users are responsible for their own disputes
Bahama Homes does not decide refund outcomes
Bahama Homes is not responsible for listing accuracy or the conduct of Vendors or Users
Bahama Homes does not enforce Vendor obligations
8.2 Managed Properties
For properties managed by Bahama Homes:
Bahama Homes handles payment-related disputes it administers
All refunds follow this Policy and the management agreement
9. Updates to This Policy
Bahama Homes may update or revise this Refunds & Cancellations Policy at any time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or operational processes.
When changes are made:
The “Last Updated” date at the top of this page will be revised, and
Significant or material changes may be communicated through email or platform notifications.
Your continued use of the Platform after any update constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.
Bahama Homes encourages all users to review this Policy periodically to stay informed of how cancellations, refunds, and rental obligations are handled.
10. Contact Information
Bahama Homes
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 242-805-0423