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Trust, safety & compliance

Built on trust

SpotShelf operates transparently, securely, and fully in line with Dutch and European law. Here we explain how we protect you — from first contact to regulation.

PCI DSS L1

Payment security

AVG/GDPR

Compliant data storage

PSD2

Certified payment service

DAC7

Income reporting

How we protect you as a user

Verified identities

Every user registers with a valid email address. Brands confirm their KvK number no later than their first booking. Store owners complete Stripe identity checks (KYC) before receiving payouts.

Secure payments via Stripe

All payments go through Stripe — PCI DSS Level 1 certified. Your bank details are never visible to us or the other party.

Bilateral review system

After a booking ends, both the tenant and store owner review each other. Reviews can only be placed via verified bookings — no fake reviews.

GDPR-compliant data storage

Your data is stored on European servers and never sold. We share only what is necessary with our processors (such as Stripe for payments and Resend for email) — see the privacy statement for the full list. You can have your account and data deleted at any time.

Rental agreement with every booking

When a booking is activated, a digital rental agreement is generated that is binding on both parties.

Documented communication

All communication goes through the built-in messaging system — traceable and documented in case of a dispute.

Legal & regulatory compliance

Our role as intermediary

SpotShelf B.V. is a mediation platform. We bring landlords and tenants together, but are not a party to individual rental agreements. The rental agreement exists directly between landlord and tenant.

SpotShelf

  • Platform & technology
  • Payment processing
  • Contract documentation
  • DAC7 reporting

Landlord

  • Listing accuracy
  • VAT declaration on rent
  • Compliance with tenancy law
  • Safety of premises

Tenant

  • Product information accuracy
  • Own tax declaration
  • Product liability
  • Compliance with law

Payments & PSD2

All payments are processed by Stripe Payments Europe, Ltd., a recognised payment service provider under the European Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) — implemented in the Netherlands via the Financial Supervision Act (Wft). SpotShelf never holds customer funds at any time.

Data protection & GDPR

We process personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Dutch GDPR Implementation Act (UAVG). The supervisory authority is the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP). See our full privacy policy for details.

No sale of personal data to third parties
Storage on secured EU servers (Supabase/Stripe)
Right to erasure within 30 days
Data breaches reported to AP within 72 hours
Cookie consent for non-essential cookies
Processing always on a lawful basis

Tax & DAC7 reporting

SpotShelf is VAT-registered with the Dutch Tax Authority. Platform services are taxed at the standard VAT rate of 21%. All invoices comply with the requirements of Article 35 of the VAT Act 1968.

DAC7: Under EU Directive 2021/514, we are required to report the rental income of all landlords annually to the Dutch Tax Authority. This is a statutory obligation for all platform operators facilitating rental income.

Consumer protection

Our platform primarily serves businesses (B2B). The extensive consumer rights for private individuals (such as the 14-day rule for distance selling) do not in principle apply to rental agreements on our platform. Disputes can be submitted to the Geschillencommissie (Dispute Resolution Committee).

Foreign businesses

Do you want to operate in the Netherlands via our platform as a foreign company? The same rules apply as for Dutch businesses. Key points to note:

VAT registration: Sales in the Netherlands may trigger a Dutch VAT registration requirement. EU businesses can make use of the OSS scheme.
Product regulations: Products must comply with Dutch and EU product safety requirements (CE marking where applicable).
Chamber of Commerce registration: For structural business activities in the Netherlands, registration in the Trade Register is recommended.

What if something goes wrong?

What if a store owner doesn't honour a booking?

Contact us via the messaging platform and report the incident to trust@spotshelf.com. We investigate every case and can suspend accounts.

Can I get a payment refunded?

Refunds are assessed on a case-by-case basis. In the case of demonstrable misconduct, we work with Stripe to facilitate a refund.

Are my payment details safe?

Yes. We never store payment details. All transactions are processed by Stripe, PCI DSS Level 1 certified.

How do I report a problem?

Email trust@spotshelf.com with your booking number. We respond within 2 business days. You can also submit disputes to the Geschillencommissie (Dispute Resolution Committee).

Still have a question?

Questions about compliance, legal matters, or your rights? Our team responds within 2 business days.