1. Prohibited Content
You must not post, upload, list, or transmit any content on HSC that:
Is illegal under UK or applicable law
This includes items that are illegal to sell, offer for sale, or advertise in the United Kingdom — including stolen goods, controlled substances, weapons requiring licensing, and regulated financial products.
Is offensive, hateful, or discriminatory
Content that promotes or incites hatred on grounds of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. This includes listings that use derogatory language or imagery.
Is fraudulent or misleading
Content that makes false claims about an item's condition, provenance, specifications, or price. This includes fake "as seen on TV" claims, fabricated reviews, and misleading before/after photographs.
Infringes intellectual property rights
Counterfeit goods, pirated software, unlicensed reproductions, items bearing copied trademarks or logos, and digital content uploaded without the rights holder's permission.
Contains adult or sexual content
Pornographic or sexually explicit material of any kind. HSC is an all-ages accessible browsing platform — all content must be appropriate for general audiences.
Involves weapons or dangerous items
Firearms, ammunition, explosives, bladed articles prohibited under UK law, crossbows, CS gas, tasers, stun guns, and any item prohibited under the Firearms Act 1968, the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, or any other weapons legislation.
Relates to controlled substances
Illegal drugs, substances classified under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, novel psychoactive substances, drug-taking paraphernalia, and any substance represented as having the effect of a controlled drug.
Involves live animals
Live animals of any species. Pet accessories, food, bedding, and equipment are permitted in the Shop category. Animal-related services (grooming, pet sitting) are permitted in Services.
Spreads malware or is harmful code
Files, downloads, or links containing viruses, trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware, keyloggers, or any other malicious or harmful code.
Violates privacy or data protection
Personal data obtained without consent, databases of private individuals, doxxing content, upskirt or voyeuristic photographs, intimate images shared without consent (an offence under the Online Safety Act 2023), and any content that identifies individuals without their permission.
Is spam or unsolicited commercial content
Duplicate listings created to game search results, keyword stuffing in titles/descriptions, listings with no genuine item to sell, and promotional content unrelated to a specific listing.
2. Prohibited Behaviour
In addition to prohibited content, the following behaviours are strictly prohibited on HSC:
Fake Reviews & Feedback Manipulation
Posting false reviews of your own listings or a competitor's listings, paying for or soliciting fake positive reviews, threatening buyers or sellers into changing legitimate negative feedback, and creating secondary accounts to leave feedback on your own transactions.
Shill Bidding (Where Applicable)
Bidding on your own listings directly or through connected parties, family members, or secondary accounts in order to artificially inflate the price. This is a form of fraud under the Fraud Act 2006.
Price Manipulation
Artificially inflating prices during periods of high demand (price gouging), particularly for essential goods. Coordinating with other sellers to fix prices is a breach of competition law.
Identity Fraud & Impersonation
Impersonating another user, business, celebrity, or public figure. Creating accounts using another person's real name or contact details. Falsely claiming to be a verified business or authorised seller.
Fee Evasion
Directing buyers away from the HSC platform to conduct transactions off-platform in order to avoid commission fees. This includes sharing contact details in listing descriptions for the purpose of off-platform sales.
Spamming & Unsolicited Messaging
Sending mass or unsolicited messages to other users through the HSC messaging system, including promotional messages, referral links, and marketing without the recipient's prior consent.
Abusive Conduct
Harassing, threatening, stalking, or abusing any other user, seller, buyer, or HSC staff member through any channel on or off the platform. This includes threatening legal action as a pressure tactic without genuine basis.
Scraping & Automated Access
Using automated tools, bots, scrapers, or crawlers to access, extract, or aggregate HSC data without our prior written permission. This includes bulk downloading of listing data or user profiles.
Account Manipulation
Creating multiple accounts to circumvent bans, avoid negative feedback, or access restricted features. Operating accounts on behalf of banned users.
Money Laundering
Using HSC transactions to launder money or conceal the proceeds of criminal activity. HSC is legally required to report suspected money laundering to the National Crime Agency.
3. Motors-Specific Rules
The Motors vertical has specific rules in addition to the general AUP. These rules exist because vehicle sales carry significant safety and legal implications for buyers.
Accurate Mileage Required
You must state the accurate current mileage (odometer reading) of any vehicle. Clocking (tampering with or misrepresenting a vehicle's mileage) is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. HSC will cooperate with authorities in any clocking investigation.
Roadworthiness
Vehicles listed for sale must be described accurately with regard to their roadworthiness. If a vehicle has an expired or advisory MOT, known mechanical faults, or structural damage, these must be disclosed clearly in the listing. You must not describe an unroadworthy vehicle as "drives well" or similar unless it genuinely does.
Ownership & Finance
You must be the legal owner of the vehicle or authorised to sell it. If the vehicle is subject to outstanding finance, you must disclose this. Selling a vehicle with outstanding finance without the lender's consent may constitute fraud. Buyers have the right to check HPI / vehicle history.
Accurate Photographs
Photographs must be of the actual vehicle being sold, taken within the past 30 days. Using stock images or photographs from previous adverts without clear disclosure is prohibited.
V5C & Documentation
The listing should accurately state whether a V5C (logbook), service history, and MOT certificate are available. Do not claim a V5C is present if it is not.
No Write-Offs Disguised as Clean
Category A and Category B write-off vehicles may not be listed without clear disclosure of the category. Category S and Category N write-offs must be clearly labelled as such in both the listing title and description.
4. Property-Specific Rules
Property listings on HSC are advertising services. The following rules apply to all property listings (for sale, to let, and short stay):
Legal Entitlement to List
You must have legal authority to sell or let the property you are advertising. For sales, you must be the owner or an authorised agent. For lets, you must be the freeholder, leaseholder with subletting rights, or an authorised letting agent. Listing a property you do not have rights over is fraudulent.
No Misleading Descriptions
Property descriptions must be accurate and not misleading in any material respect. This includes square footage, number of bedrooms, council tax band, EPC rating, tenure (freehold/leasehold), and service charge information for leasehold properties. The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 applies.
EPC Requirement
Where legally required, properties advertised for sale or let must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). You are responsible for ensuring compliance with EPC regulations. Properties with an EPC rating below E cannot lawfully be let to new tenants under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).
No Discriminatory Lettings
You must not refuse to let a property on grounds of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. The "No DSS" policy (refusing Housing Benefit recipients) has been held unlawful by UK courts.
Short Stay Compliance
Short stay (holiday let) listings must comply with local planning permissions and any applicable licencing requirements. In London, residential properties may only be let as short stays for up to 90 nights per calendar year without planning permission.
Accurate Photography
Property photographs must accurately represent the property. Digitally altered images that misrepresent size, natural light, or condition are prohibited. Virtual staging must be clearly labelled.
5. Jobs-Specific Rules
Job listings on HSC must be genuine vacancies. The following rules apply:
Genuine Vacancies Only
You may only list roles that represent genuine, current vacancies in a real organisation. Speculative CV collection, fake job listings, and listings placed to harvest personal data are prohibited and may constitute an offence under data protection law.
No Discriminatory Job Adverts
Job listings must not discriminate on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation — as protected by the Equality Act 2010. Stating age preferences ("young and dynamic team") or gender preferences is prohibited.
Salary Transparency
We strongly encourage salary disclosure in all job listings. While not currently legally mandated across all sectors in the UK, listings describing salary as "competitive" with no range may be flagged. Misrepresenting salary or benefits is a breach of this AUP.
Accurate Job Titles & Descriptions
Job titles must accurately reflect the role being offered. Clickbait titles ("Business Owner Opportunity" for a sales job) are prohibited. The description must clearly state: role responsibilities, required qualifications and experience, location (including remote working policy), and employment type (permanent, fixed-term, freelance).
No Pyramid Schemes or MLM
Multi-level marketing opportunities, pyramid schemes, and any arrangement where earnings are primarily dependent on recruiting others rather than selling a legitimate product or service are prohibited as job listings.
Right to Work
Employers are reminded that they are legally obligated to verify the right to work of all employees in the UK. Job listings should not state that right to work checks are not required.
6. Digital Goods Rules
Digital products (downloads, software, licences, templates, e-books, courses, and similar) are subject to the following rules in addition to the general AUP:
You Must Own the Rights
You must own the intellectual property rights in any digital product you sell, or have an appropriate licence permitting resale. Uploading and selling ebooks, software, courses, images, music, or any other content created by someone else without authorisation is copyright infringement.
No Malware or Harmful Code
Digital downloads must not contain viruses, trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware, keyloggers, or any other malicious or harmful code. All digital products are subject to automated and manual security scanning. HSC reserves the right to scan and quarantine any file at any time.
Accurate Previews & Descriptions
Listings for digital products must include accurate previews (screenshots, sample pages, demo videos) that genuinely represent the product. The description must state: file format(s), file size(s), compatibility requirements, and any limitations on use (personal use only, commercial licence, etc.).
Licence Terms Must Be Stated
If your digital product comes with a licence restricting how the buyer may use it (e.g. personal use only, no resale, limited number of end-users), these terms must be clearly stated in the listing.
No Cracked or Circumvented Software
Software with copy protection removed, licence key generators, activation patches for paid software, and tools designed to circumvent digital rights management (DRM) are prohibited.
Accurate "Instant Download" Claims
If a listing is described as an instant download, the file must be immediately available after payment. If there is any manual delivery element, this must be stated and the expected delivery time disclosed.
7. Services Rules
The Services vertical covers local and remote service providers. The following rules apply:
Genuine Services Only
You must be genuinely able and qualified to deliver the service you advertise. Do not list services you are not in a position to provide.
Regulated Services Require Credentials
Services in regulated professions — including legal advice, financial advice, medical or dental services, electrical work (Part P), gas work (Gas Safe Register required), structural engineering, and childcare — must comply with all applicable licensing and registration requirements. You must state your registration number(s) in the listing.
No Deceptive Pricing
Advertised prices must be inclusive of VAT (where applicable) and must not omit obligatory charges. "Hidden fees" revealed only after the service is agreed constitute an unfair commercial practice.
Insurance
Where relevant (e.g. tradespeople, drivers, event organizers), you are strongly encouraged to hold and disclose appropriate public liability insurance. Misrepresenting your insurance status is prohibited.
8. Events Rules
Events listings on HSC must comply with the following:
Genuine Events Only
You must be the organiser of, or authorised to promote, the event you list. Fake events created to collect ticket revenue are fraud.
Accurate Event Details
Date, time, venue address, ticket price, and age restrictions must be accurate and kept up to date. If an event is cancelled or postponed, you must update the listing and notify ticket holders promptly.
Refund Policy Must Be Stated
You must clearly state your refund policy for ticket purchases in the listing. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, tickets for events that are cancelled must be refunded.
Venue Permissions
You must have the necessary permissions, licences, and insurance to hold the event at the stated venue. HSC is not responsible for events that are shut down due to licensing non-compliance.
9. Reporting Violations
If you come across content or behaviour on HSC that you believe violates this Acceptable Use Policy or our Terms & Conditions, please report it to us. We take all reports seriously and investigate promptly.
How to Report
- Report a listing:Use the “Report this listing” button on any listing page. Select the reason from the list and optionally add a brief description.
- Report a user:Visit the user’s profile and click “Report user”.
- Report a message: In the messaging centre, use the flag icon on any individual message.
- Email us directly: legal@homeshoppingcentre.co.uk — for complex or urgent reports, or if the in-app reporting is not available.
Urgent Reports
If you believe a listing or content involves an immediate risk to safety, CSAM (child sexual abuse material), or imminent criminal activity, please contact the relevant authorities (999 for emergencies; Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 for online fraud) in addition to reporting to us.
Confidentiality
Reports are handled confidentially. We will not disclose the identity of the person who made a report to the reported user unless required by law.
10. Consequences of Violations
Violations of this Acceptable Use Policy will be dealt with proportionately, taking into account the severity of the breach, whether it is a first offence, and any harm caused to other users or to HSC.
Warning
Enforcement actionFor minor or first-time violations, we may issue a formal written warning via email. The warning will specify the breach, what must be changed, and the timeframe for compliance. The relevant listing may be removed or amended.
Listing Removal
Enforcement actionListings that violate this AUP will be removed without refund of listing fees. Repeat listing removals for the same category of violation will escalate to account suspension.
Temporary Suspension
Enforcement actionFor more serious breaches or repeated warnings, we may suspend your account for a defined period (typically 7–30 days). During suspension, you cannot list, buy, or access your wallet. Existing orders and payouts may be frozen pending review.
Permanent Ban
Enforcement actionFor serious, persistent, or criminal violations we will permanently ban your account and all associated accounts. All active listings will be removed. Any wallet balance will be held pending dispute resolution. A permanent ban cannot be appealed except in limited circumstances where new evidence is presented.
Legal Action
Enforcement actionFor violations involving fraud, criminal activity, or significant harm to users or HSC, we reserve the right to pursue civil and criminal legal action, including reporting to Action Fraud, the police, HMRC, the FCA, Trading Standards, or other relevant authorities. We will seek recovery of losses caused by fraudulent activity.
Appeals
If you believe an enforcement action has been taken against your account in error, you may submit an appeal within 14 days of the action by emailing legal@homeshoppingcentre.co.uk with the subject line “Account Appeal” and full details of the circumstances. Appeals are reviewed by a senior member of the HSC team who was not involved in the original decision. We aim to respond within 5 business days.