Question 1

What is RoomSwapping?

Accepted Answer

RoomSwapping is a platform built for students on exchange programs and solo travelers who want to find accommodation through room exchanges or affordable rentals. Instead of paying expensive short-term rent, you offer your own room to someone else while staying in theirs — at no cost to either party. Alternatively, you can rent a room with secure payment through Stripe.

Question 2

Who is RoomSwapping for?

Accepted Answer

The platform is designed primarily for students going on exchange programs. To make a booking request as a guest, you must be a verified student (student card or enrollment letter required). Non-students can host their rooms and be clearly indicated as such on their listing. Anyone can browse listings and create an account.

Question 3

How do I create an account?

Accepted Answer

Click "Sign in" or "Get started" from any page. You'll be redirected to our secure login. After signing in for the first time, your account is created automatically. Complete your profile and verification steps to unlock full platform access.

Question 4

What are the Guest, Host, and Both roles?

Accepted Answer

You choose your role in Settings → Account : Guest — you are looking for a room to stay in. Host — you are offering your room to others. Both — you can offer your room while looking for one elsewhere. This unlocks the full exchange model and gives you access to both the Matches feed for guests and the guest-matching feed for hosts.

Question 5

Is RoomSwapping free to use?

Accepted Answer

Creating an account, completing your profile, and browsing listings are all free. Room exchanges carry no platform fee. For rental bookings, a 10% service fee is applied to the rental price to cover payment processing and dispute support infrastructure.

Question 6

What's the difference between a room exchange and a room rental?

Accepted Answer

A room exchange (swap) means you trade rooms with another verified student — there's no rent, you simply stay in each other's places, either for the same dates or in two separate windows. A room rental means you pay to stay in a host's room, with the payment handled securely through the platform. You can search for either, or both — many members mix the two depending on the trip.

Question 7

What is a partner code?

Accepted Answer

If you joined RoomSwapping through one of our partners — a student association, university, Erasmus community, or similar — they may give you a partner code. Entering it simply links your account to that partner so we can recognise their community. A partner code does not change any prices or fees — it is used for attribution only. You can enter it when signing up via a partner link, or later under Settings → Account. Each account can have only one partner code, and once it's set it can't be changed.

Question 8

Do I need to be a student to use RoomSwapping?

Accepted Answer

You need to be a verified student to make booking requests as a guest. Non-students can host their rooms and will be clearly identified as "Non-student host" on their listing — giving guests full transparency. Anyone can browse listings and create an account without being a student.

Question 9

What is student verification and why is it required for guests?

Accepted Answer

Student verification confirms that you are enrolled at a recognized educational institution. It is required for guests because RoomSwapping is built around the student-exchange community — a verified student network creates a safer, more compatible environment for both hosts and guests. It is a separate step from identity (Level 3) verification.

Question 10

How do I verify my student status?

Accepted Answer

Go to Profile → Verification and scroll to the Student Verification section (indigo card at the bottom). Enter your university name, optionally your student email, upload your student card or enrollment letter (JPEG, PNG, or PDF), and click "Submit". Our moderation team reviews submissions within 24 hours and you will be notified when approved.

Question 11

What documents are accepted for student verification?

Accepted Answer

Valid student ID card (must show name, university, and academic year) Enrollment certificate / certificate of attendance Acceptance letter from a recognized university

Question 12

I am going on an Erasmus / study abroad program — how does RoomSwapping help?

Accepted Answer

RoomSwapping is designed precisely for this. As an exchange student, you can list your home room and swap it with a student at your destination university — paying nothing for accommodation in either direction. If your situation does not allow a simultaneous exchange, you can use the non-simultaneous exchange mode or rent affordably from a verified host.

Question 13

Can non-students host their rooms?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Non-students can list and host rooms. Their listings are clearly marked with a "Non-student host" badge so guests can make an informed choice. When a guest enables the "student hosts only" filter, non-student listings are hidden from that search. Guests who don't apply the filter still see all listings.

Question 14

Does student verification expire?

Accepted Answer

Student verification does not automatically expire on the platform, but our moderation team may re-request documentation if your enrollment status appears outdated. We recommend keeping your profile up to date with your current university and program.

Question 15

What is KYC and why is it required?

Accepted Answer

KYC (Know Your Customer) is an identity verification process that makes the platform safe for everyone. It ensures every active user is a real, verified person before they can message hosts, make bookings, or open disputes. It is the cornerstone of trust on RoomSwapping.

Question 16

What are the verification levels?

Accepted Answer

Level 1 — Account activation: Confirm you agree to the platform terms. Required to create and publish a listing. Takes seconds. Level 2 — Video introduction: Record or upload a short intro video (max 30 seconds). Optional but adds +5 to your trust score and significantly improves your match visibility. Level 3 — Identity verification: Submit a government-issued ID (passport, national ID card, or driver's license) and a selfie. Required to send messages, make booking requests, and open disputes. Student verification: Submit your student card or enrollment letter. Required for guests to make booking requests. Separate from identity verification — complete both for full access.

Question 17

How long does ID verification take?

Accepted Answer

Our moderation team reviews Level 3 submissions (ID + selfie) within 24 hours. You will receive a notification when your verification is approved or if additional information is needed.

Question 18

Is my identity document kept private?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your documents are stored securely and are only used for identity verification by the RoomSwapping moderation team. They are never shared with or visible to other users on the platform.

Question 19

Why does RoomSwapping require a video introduction?

Accepted Answer

Room swapping is fundamentally different from a hotel booking: you are sharing your living space with another person. A written profile tells you where someone is from; a short video tells you who they are. Seeing someone's face, hearing their tone, and watching how they present themselves gives both sides the confidence to say yes — and makes the experience feel like it starts with a proper introduction rather than a leap of faith. It is also a reciprocal signal of seriousness: recording a 30-second clip takes two minutes and shows you have invested in making a good impression. Hosts on RoomSwapping consistently report being more comfortable approving requests from guests who have a video. You can record directly in your browser or upload an existing file from My Profile → Verification (Level 2) . It earns +5 trust score points and is reflected on your public profile.

Question 20

Can a verification be revoked after it's approved?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our moderation team keeps a full history of every verification decision and can re-review one at any time — for example if a document is later found to be invalid or has expired. If a verification is revoked you'll be notified with the reason, and you're welcome to resubmit. While it is revoked, the actions that rely on it are paused: identity verification gates messaging, booking requests, and disputes, and student verification gates booking requests for guests.

Question 21

What information should I put in my profile?

Accepted Answer

A strong profile includes: a bio describing who you are, your city and country, languages you speak, lifestyle preferences (smoking habits, pets), personality traits, interests, and what you're looking for in a housemate. This information directly powers the compatibility matching engine — more detail means better matches.

Question 22

What is the trust score?

Accepted Answer

Your trust score is a number between 0 and 100 derived from several factors: your verification level, ratings from past stays (7 dimensions: communication, accuracy, cleanliness, respect, safety, compatibility, and overall), your response rate, your cancellation rate, and the number of completed stays. A higher trust score boosts your visibility in match recommendations.

Question 23

How do I improve my trust score?

Accepted Answer

Complete all three verification levels Add a video introduction (Level 2) Respond to messages and booking requests promptly Complete stays without cancellations Earn positive reviews across all rating dimensions Fill out your profile fully (bio, lifestyle, interests)

Question 24

Can other users see my profile?

Accepted Answer

Yes, your profile is public by default so that potential hosts and guests can learn about you before accepting a booking. You can control some privacy aspects in Settings → Privacy & Security, such as whether your email and phone number are visible to hosts after a confirmed booking.

Question 25

How do I save other users or listings?

Accepted Answer

Click the heart icon on any listing card or user profile to save it to your Favorites. Access your saved items from the profile dropdown menu → Favorites.

Question 26

How do I search for a room?

Accepted Answer

Go to "Search" in the navigation bar. Enter a city, neighborhood, or university name in the search box. Optionally set check-in and check-out dates. Results appear as a list and on an interactive map. You can sort and filter results to narrow them down.

Question 27

What filters are available?

Accepted Answer

Listing type: Exchange only, Rental only, or Both Room type: Private room or Shared room Bed type: Single, Double, Sofa bed, Bunk bed Bathroom: Private or Shared Price: Min/max nightly rate (€) Stay length: Minimum number of nights Workspace: Private, Shared, or None Noise level: Quiet, Moderate, or Lively Smoking policy: No smoking, Outside only, Allowed Amenities: Wi-Fi, Kitchen, Storage, Elevator, Accessible, Pets allowed

Question 28

What does "Best match" sorting mean?

Accepted Answer

When you sort by "Best match", listings are ranked by their compatibility score with your profile. The algorithm weighs date overlap, your location relative to the listing, lifestyle compatibility, shared interests, personality alignment, and trust/review scores. You need a completed profile and set travel preferences to get the most relevant results.

Question 29

How do I use the map?

Accepted Answer

The map shows all matching listings as pins. Click a pin to see a listing preview. Zoom and pan the map to explore different neighborhoods. The list and map update together when you apply filters.

Question 30

Can I save my search preferences?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your search preferences (destination, dates, room type, and other filters) can be saved in Settings → Search preferences. These saved preferences are also used by the matching algorithm to recommend the most relevant listings.

Question 31

Which cities can I find student rooms in?

Accepted Answer

You can search any city worldwide, and we publish dedicated guides for popular student destinations including Paris, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan and Montreal — plus city-to-city room swap routes between them. New cities are added as demand grows.

Question 32

How does the matching algorithm work?

Accepted Answer

The algorithm computes a compatibility score (0–100) between you and each listing or potential guest. It weighs 8 factors: date overlap, location proximity, lifestyle compatibility (smoking, pets, noise), shared interests, personality alignment, trust/review scores, response rate, and video intro presence. Guests see recommended rooms; hosts see recommended guests.

Question 33

What is a match score and where do I see it?

Accepted Answer

Each match between you and a listing or user gets a score from 0 to 100. The score badge appears on listing cards in the Search and Matches pages. On a listing detail page, scroll to "Why you match" to see a breakdown of how each factor contributes.

Question 34

How do I get better matches?

Accepted Answer

Complete your profile: bio, lifestyle preferences, personality traits, interests Set your travel preferences: destination, dates, room type requirements Reach a high trust score through positive reviews and verified identity Add a video introduction (Level 2 verification) Set your preferred languages so the algorithm prioritizes compatible speakers

Question 35

What is the Matches page?

Accepted Answer

The Matches page is your personalised match tuner. On one side, sliders let you adjust how much each of the 8 compatibility factors matters to you (date overlap, location, lifestyle, interests, personality, trust, response rate, video intro). On the other, a live preview of your top matches updates instantly as you slide. As a guest, the preview shows recommended listings; as a host, recommended guests. Click any card to open the full listing or profile. Hit Save to lock in your weights — your saved configuration is then used everywhere your match score appears across the platform. If your role is set to Both (guest and host), a toggle at the top lets you tune the two directions independently — separate weights for finding a room vs. finding a guest. Destination and travel dates live in Settings → Search preferences ; they feed into the Date overlap and Location factor scoring.

Question 36

Can I dismiss or save match recommendations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. From the Matches page, click the dismiss button on any card to remove that recommendation permanently (it won't appear again). Click the heart to save a listing or user to your Favorites for later.

Question 37

How do I list my room?

Accepted Answer

First, set your role to "Host" or "Both" in Settings → Account. Then go to "My Room" in the navigation and click "Add listing". Complete all sections: title, description, location, room type, bed, bathroom, amenities, house rules, availability dates, and pricing mode. Click "Publish" when ready.

Question 38

Can I import an existing listing from another platform?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Open the avatar menu and click Quick Listing Import . Paste the public URL of your room from Airbnb, SpareRoom, HousingAnywhere, WG-Gesucht, Leboncoin, Idealista, or Facebook Marketplace , confirm that you own the listing, then click Import . We extract the title, description, photos, location, amenities, and (when available) price, and pre-fill the New Listing form so you only have to review and publish. Photos are copied to RoomSwapping's storage — the source platform's URLs are never re-used. Some fields may not be extractable from every listing — you'll always be able to review and edit before publishing. You must be the owner of the source listing — copying someone else's photos or copy is not allowed.

Question 39

What verification level is required to list a room?

Accepted Answer

Level 1 verification (account activation) is required to publish a listing. This is the minimum step — it confirms you have agreed to the platform terms.

Question 40

What is the difference between Exchange, Rental, and Both mode?

Accepted Answer

Exchange: You offer your room in return for the guest's room. No money changes hands. Can be simultaneous (both parties stay at the same time) or non-simultaneous (staggered stays). Rental: Guests pay a nightly rate via Stripe. A 10% platform fee is deducted. Both: Your listing accepts either mode. Guests choose when sending a request.

Question 41

How do I manage my availability calendar?

Accepted Answer

Go to My Room, click on your listing, then click "Availability". Add date ranges when your room is available. When a booking is confirmed, those dates are automatically marked as booked and blocked for other requests. To change or remove a period, open Availability and use the edit (pencil) or delete (trash) button on that period — booked periods can't be edited or deleted, and a new period can't overlap an existing one.

Question 42

Can I have multiple listings?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can create multiple room listings under My Room. Each listing has its own availability calendar, pricing, and settings.

Question 43

What is a security deposit?

Accepted Answer

When creating a listing, you can optionally require a security deposit. The deposit amount is captured via Stripe when a booking is confirmed and held until after checkout. It is fully refunded if there are no issues. If a damage claim is filed and upheld, the deposit may be partially or fully retained.

Question 44

Can I add videos to my listing?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when this feature is enabled you can add up to 3 short videos (MP4, WebM or MOV, max 50 MB and 60 seconds each) when creating or editing your listing. Videos are optional — they are not required to publish — and appear on your room's detail page below the photos.

Question 45

How do I send a booking request?

Accepted Answer

Open a listing page, select your check-in and check-out dates, choose the request type (rental or exchange), write a message to the host introducing yourself, agree to the house rules, and click "Send request". You must be verified at Level 3 (identity) and have completed student verification to send requests.

Question 46

What is the booking flow from request to stay?

Accepted Answer

Request sent — guest sends the request Pending host — host reviews and approves or declines Payment pending (rental only) — guest completes Stripe payment Confirmed — booking is confirmed for both parties Active — stay is in progress Completed — stay has ended; reviews and disputes become available

Question 47

What is the difference between simultaneous and non-simultaneous exchange?

Accepted Answer

In a simultaneous exchange, both parties stay in each other's rooms at exactly the same time. In a non-simultaneous exchange, stays happen at different times — for example, you stay at their place in February and they stay at yours in April. Both require mutual agreement from both parties through the exchange agreement flow.

Question 48

What happens if the host declines my request?

Accepted Answer

You are notified immediately and can send a request to another listing. A declined request has no impact on your trust score. The host may optionally include a reason for declining.

Question 49

Can I cancel a booking?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Go to My Trips, open the booking, and click "Cancel booking". Cancellation rates are tracked on your profile and affect your trust score. Refund eligibility depends on the listing's cancellation policy. Frequent cancellations may reduce your match visibility.

Question 50

As a host, how do I respond to a booking request?

Accepted Answer

Go to My Trips and find the pending request. You can Approve or Decline. When declining, you can optionally add a reason. Once approved, the guest receives a notification and (for rentals) proceeds to payment.

Question 51

Who can I message?

Accepted Answer

You can start a conversation with any user whose listing you are interested in by clicking "Message host" on their listing page. You must have completed Level 3 verification to send and receive messages.

Question 52

Are messages private?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All conversations are private, 1:1 exchanges between you and the other party. Messages are not visible to other users. Platform administrators may access messages only if required for dispute resolution.

Question 53

Can I see when my message has been read?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each message shows a delivery status: Sent, Delivered, and Read.

Question 54

Is there a connection between bookings and messages?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When a booking is created between two users, the existing conversation (or a new one) is linked to that booking. A "View booking" button appears in the conversation so both parties can access booking details directly from the chat.

Question 55

What verification level is needed to message?

Accepted Answer

Level 2 verification (video introduction) is required to access the messaging section. Level 3 (ID verification) is required to send a booking request.

Question 56

How does payment work for a rental booking?

Accepted Answer

After a host approves your request, you complete payment via Stripe directly on the booking page (My Trips → booking). For short stays (under 28 nights), the full rent + deposit is charged once at booking. For long stays (28 nights or more), see the next question — only the first month's rent is charged upfront, with the rest spread across monthly installments.

Question 57

How does payment work for long stays (1 month or more)?

Accepted Answer

Long-stay bookings are billed monthly. At checkout you pay: The first month's rent The security deposit (refundable) The full platform service fee for the entire stay (one-time) Every month after that, your saved card is charged automatically for that month's rent — no further service fee. We charge 3 days before each new period begins, so you always know what's coming. The schedule is shown on your booking page (My Trips → booking) before you confirm payment. Example: 6-month booking at €600/month. Upfront: €600 (month 1) + €600 (deposit) + €360 (10% service fee on €3,600 total) = €1,560. Then €600 charged on the same day each of the next 5 months. Total paid: €4,200, of which €600 is refunded as deposit at the end.

Question 58

Why monthly installments instead of one big payment? Who benefits?

Accepted Answer

This model is designed to work for everyone — guests, hosts, and the platform. For guests (you): Lower upfront cost. A 6-month student stay no longer requires €3,600+ in one shot. You pay roughly one month + deposit + the service fee at booking, and budget the rest month by month. Cancellation protection. If you cancel mid-stay (subject to the listing's cancellation policy), future months aren't charged — you're never locked into payments for time you didn't use. Full chargeback rights every month. Each monthly charge is a separate Stripe transaction with the same dispute and refund protections as month 1. For hosts: Steady monthly cash flow. Hosts get paid month by month after each charge clears, instead of one lump sum after check-in. Lower default risk for the host. If a guest's card fails month 3, the platform handles the recovery — the host has already been paid for months 1 and 2 and doesn't lose them. For RoomSwapping: We collect the full 10% service fee at booking time, so we're paid regardless of what happens later — which means we can offer this model without raising prices. Transparency commitment: the full schedule (every charge date and amount) is shown on your booking page before checkout. You'll receive an email reminder 3 days before each monthly charge, with a link to update your card if needed.

Question 59

What happens if a monthly installment payment fails?

Accepted Answer

We automatically retry the charge a few times over the following days. If it still can't go through — usually an expired or declined card — we email and notify you, and your booking page shows an "Update payment card" button. Adding a new card there takes you through a secure Stripe page; once saved, we retry that month's charge against the new card automatically. Your earlier months and the rest of your booking are unaffected while you sort it out.

Question 60

What is the platform fee?

Accepted Answer

A 10% service fee applies to rental payments. This covers Stripe payment processing, platform infrastructure, dispute support, and refund protection. For long stays, the fee is calculated on the full contract value and charged once at booking — monthly installments after that carry no additional fee. Room exchanges are completely free — no platform fee applies.

Question 61

How do hosts receive payouts?

Accepted Answer

Hosts must complete Stripe Connect onboarding under Payments in the navigation menu. Once set up, the rent (minus the service fee) is automatically paid out to their connected Stripe account after check-in. Once a payout is sent it usually arrives within 1–2 business days; a host's very first payout can take several days longer while the funds settle and the payment provider completes a one-time verification. Stripe Connect supports bank accounts in most countries.

Question 62

How does the security deposit work?

Accepted Answer

If a host requires a deposit, it is captured via Stripe at booking confirmation and held until after checkout. If there are no issues, it is automatically refunded in full. If a damage claim is filed and upheld through the dispute process, the deposit may be partially or fully retained.

Question 63

What currency does the platform use?

Accepted Answer

The default currency is EUR (€). Prices are set per listing by the host. All payment amounts are displayed in euros.

Question 64

Where can I see my payment history?

Accepted Answer

Go to Payments in the navigation menu (accessible from your profile dropdown). You will see all payments sent and received, with links to the associated bookings. Each booking shows the rent and the security deposit as separate lines, each with its own status — so when your deposit is refunded after a clean checkout, your rent still correctly shows as paid.

Frequently asked questions

Getting started

Students & exchanges

Verification & identity

Profile & trust score

Search & discovery

Compatibility matching

Listings & hosting

Booking & exchanges

Messaging

Payments & deposits

Reviews & ratings

Disputes

Safety & trust

Still have questions?