Terms of service

These terms apply when you use the Backstory website at backstory.homes (the “Service”). By using the Service you agree to them. If you don't, please don't use the Service.

1. What Backstory is

Backstory helps UK property buyers spot risks before they exchange. You enter a property address; we use AI to read public records, assemble a draft report, and have a human reviewer check it before we send it to you by email.

2. Not legal, financial or surveying advice

A Backstory report is an information tool. It is not legal advice, financial advice, mortgage advice, a property survey, a structural survey or a substitute for due diligence by a qualified solicitor or surveyor. You should not rely on it as the sole basis for any decision to buy, offer on, exchange contracts on or otherwise transact in any property.

Always instruct a regulated solicitor and a qualified surveyor for the formal due diligence on any property you intend to buy.

3. Accuracy

We work hard to make Backstory reports accurate, including a human review step. But:

• Public records can be out of date, incomplete or contradictory.
• Our AI can be wrong. Our reviewer can be wrong. Together they are less wrong, but not infallible.
• We do not guarantee that the report is complete, error-free or up-to-the-minute.

4. Acceptable use

You agree not to use the Service to:

• infringe anyone's rights or break any applicable law;
• submit personal information that isn't yours, or addresses you don't have a legitimate interest in;
• attempt to scrape, reverse-engineer or otherwise circumvent the Service;
• interfere with the Service, our infrastructure or our other users.

5. Your account and contact details

We do not require an account. To request a report we ask for an email address (and optionally a phone number). You're responsible for keeping those accurate and for any activity carried out using them.

6. Intellectual property

The Service, including the report you receive, is protected by intellectual property rights. We grant you a personal, non-transferable, non-exclusive licence to use a report we send you for your own decision-making on the property it concerns. You may share it with your solicitor, surveyor and immediate family. Republishing or selling a Backstory report is not allowed.

7. Liability

To the extent permitted by law:

• The Service is provided “as is”, without warranties of any kind.
• We are not liable for any loss, damage or expense you suffer as a result of relying on the Service, except where this is caused by our gross negligence, wilful misconduct, or where liability cannot be excluded by law (e.g. death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud).
• Our total liability to you in connection with the Service is limited to the amount you have paid us in the 12 months before the claim, or £100, whichever is greater.

Nothing in these terms limits any liability that cannot be limited by English law.

8. Changes to the Service and these terms

We may change, suspend or discontinue parts of the Service at any time. We may also update these terms. When we do we'll change the “last updated” date at the top. Continuing to use the Service after a material change counts as acceptance of the new terms.

9. Governing law and jurisdiction

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with them is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

10. Contact

Questions? Email hello@backstory.homes.