The 2% contact fee is not charged the moment you express interest — it's only triggered once property availability is confirmed. Here's how the full process works.
Step 1 — You Initiate Contact
When you express interest in a property, the landlord or property manager receives a notification that a verified renter would like to connect. No payment is taken at this point.
Step 2 — The Landlord Confirms Availability
The landlord is asked to confirm the current status of the property:
If the property is available:
- You are charged the 2% contact fee
- The direct chat is unlocked immediately
- You can begin communicating with the landlord right away
If the property is not yet available:
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You are notified that the property is currently unavailable
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The landlord will provide an estimated date for when the property is expected to become available
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You are given a choice:
- Cancel — Walk away at no cost. No fee is charged.
- Proceed anyway — Pay the 2% fee and unlock the chat now. This can be useful if the availability date works with your timeline and you want to get ahead of other interested renters.
Step 3 — Making First Contact
Once the chat is unlocked, reach out directly. A few tips for your first message:
- Introduce yourself and briefly outline your situation (move-in date, number of occupants, any key requirements)
- Confirm the availability date if the property isn't ready yet
- Keep it professional — first impressions matter
What Squarelly Does Not Control
Once the chat is unlocked, any agreements made are between you and the landlord directly. Squarelly does not manage or monitor private communications, negotiate on your behalf, or guarantee any outcome.
Reporting Abuse
Squarelly is built on verified identities and direct connections. If you encounter behaviour that undermines that trust, please report it.
Renters can report:
- A landlord or property manager who appears to be operating as an unlicensed agent — for example, listing properties on behalf of others without being the registered owner or authorised manager
Landlords can report:
- A renter who appears to be using another person's verified account or identity details — for example, if the person you're communicating with does not match the registered profile
All reports are reviewed by the Squarelly team. Accounts found to be in violation of platform rules are subject to suspension or permanent removal. Keeping the platform trustworthy depends on both sides playing fair — and we take every report seriously.
To report abuse, use the Report option within the chat, or contact our support team via our support form.
Note: Contact fees are non-refundable in standard circumstances once the chat has been unlocked. See our Payments and Fees section for the full refund policy.