Trust & Safety on Ethiolet

Verification tiers (GOLD, SILVER, PENDING, NONE)

Some listings show a badge that reflects how far checks have progressed. These checks are not a guarantee, but they are extra signals to help you decide who to trust.

• GOLD — Strong evidence of legitimacy. For example, we may have seen proof of ownership or authority to rent, and the listing may be supported by recent photos or media.
• SILVER — Positive signals, but not the full GOLD set. For example, the listing may look consistent and active, but fewer documents or external proofs are available.
• PENDING — Checks are in progress. Treat details carefully and follow the safety tips below until verification is complete.
• NONE — No verification yet. This does not mean the listing is fake, but you should be extra cautious and follow all safety steps.

Important: Ethiolet does not act as a legal guarantor. You should still verify the property, the landlord/agent, and any payment requests before committing.

“Diaspora ready” indicator

Many renters interested in Ethiopian properties live abroad or are expats moving into the country. Some listings are explicitly marked as diaspora ready.

• These owners or agents are prepared to communicate across time zones, and may be open to sharing extra details for renters who cannot visit immediately.
• Being marked diaspora ready does not mean the owner will accept any specific arrangement (for example, remote payment terms). It simply signals that they expect interest from abroad.

As a diaspora or expat renter, you should still treat all payments and agreements with caution and avoid sending money to people you have not properly verified.

Freshness of checks

A listing can change over time — landlords can update prices, remove properties, or change conditions. That's why we care about when a listing was last checked.

On some listings you may see information about how recently their trust signals were updated (for example, in the last few days vs. much older). Recent checks generally mean the listing is more likely to be accurate right now.

A listing without a recent check is not automatically bad — it just means you should ask more questions and be extra careful before committing.

Privacy-safe maps

On the main feed and many listing views, maps are designed to show the general area or neighborhood, not the exact address. This reduces the risk of harassment, scams, and misuse of location data.

In some cases, we may show a more precise location on the detail page for stronger (for example, GOLD) listings or when the owner explicitly agrees. Even then, you should not visit a property alone in unsafe conditions or outside reasonable hours.

How verification works (high level)

1. Owner or agent provides basic property and contact details.
2. We may request supporting signals, such as documents, media, or extra information about the property.
3. Automated checks and basic consistency checks run in the background; manual review is sometimes used for stronger tiers like GOLD.
4. The listing's badge and freshness information are updated over time as new data or reports arrive.

Exact checks vary by region and by what data is realistically available. We're improving coverage and quality over time, but verification should always be seen as a signal, not a guarantee.

Safety tips

• Never pay a deposit or send large payments before viewing the property or verifying the owner/agent through reliable channels.
• Use the in-app contact flow where possible; avoid sharing sensitive personal or financial information over unsecured channels.
• Report suspicious listings or behaviour — our team reviews reports and may adjust badges, hide listings, or remove content.

Questions or concerns?

If something doesn't feel right on Ethiolet, we want to hear about it. You can reach out through our help page or report a listing directly from its detail page.

Ethiolet does not replace your own judgment. Always verify people, properties, and agreements carefully — especially for long-term rentals or high-value payments.