Last updated: 12 March 2026

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) explain how HostCare provides website hosting, website management and related services.

By ordering, paying for, or using HostCare services, you agree to these Terms.

If anything here feels unclear, just ask, we’ll explain it in plain English.

1) Who we are

HostCare (“we”, “us”, “our”) provides managed website hosting and website care for UK sole traders and small businesses.

Contact: hello@hostcare.uk

2) Definitions

• Client / you / your: the person or business purchasing HostCare services.
• Service / Services: hosting, maintenance, monitoring, updates, backups, support, and any agreed website build work.
• Plan: the package you subscribe to (EssentialCare or CompleteCare).
• Website: your site and associated files/databases hosted under your plan.
• Content: text, images, logos, videos, downloads, and any other materials you provide or approve.
• Working day: Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays.

3) What each plan includes

EssentialCare

EssentialCare is our entry-level managed hosting plan for a 1-page website, and includes:

• A basic website build (1 page website)
• Managed hosting for one site
• SSL certificate
• Uptime monitoring
• Daily backups retained for 10 days
• WordPress core, theme and plugin updates (handled safely)
• Domain registration or transfer (one, see section 9)
• Small monthly tweaks to text/images (see section 4)
• Friendly, plain-English support

CompleteCare

CompleteCare includes everything in EssentialCare, plus:

• A basic website build (up to 4 pages unless otherwise agreed)

4) “Small monthly tweaks”, fair use and what it means

Your plan includes small content changes each month, such as:

• updating wording (prices, opening hours, service areas)
• swapping a few images
• updating contact details
• adding a testimonial

Fair use (so it stays fair for everyone)

“Small monthly tweaks” are intended for minor content updates, not ongoing development or redesign work.

As a guideline, this covers up to around 30 minutes of edit time per calendar month, grouped into sensible batches where possible.

If a request is larger than that (or becomes ongoing work), we’ll tell you first and either:

• split it over multiple months, or
• provide a clear quote for the extra work.

What’s not included as “small tweaks”

• new pages (beyond your included build)
• major redesigns, new layouts, custom features
• complex integrations (booking systems, memberships, advanced forms, etc.)
• SEO campaigns, paid ads, or content marketing
• extensive copywriting or branding work

If something is outside “small tweaks”, we’ll always be upfront before doing chargeable work.

5) Website build

• We’ll build a clean, modern WordPress site based on the info you provide.
• You’ll be asked to review it and approve it before it goes live.
• You’re responsible for confirming names, contact details, prices, and service information are correct.

If you delay providing required information (content, images, approvals), your build timeline may move accordingly.

EssentialCare covers a website with a single page.
CompleteCare covers a website with up to 4 pages.

6) Your responsibilities

To keep things smooth, you agree to:

• Provide content you have the rights to use (text, images, logos, etc.)
• Not ask us to add anything unlawful, misleading, abusive, or infringing
• Keep your account/contact details up to date
• Pay invoices on time

If you provide content that breaches someone else’s rights, you’re responsible for any resulting claims.

7) Backups, restores and data

We run daily backups and retain them for 10 days.

Backups are there to help with recovery, but no backup system is perfect. You should keep copies of critical originals too (e.g., your brand assets and important documents).

If you need a restore, we’ll use the most appropriate backup available. In rare cases, some recent changes may not be recoverable.

8) Updates, security and monitoring

We keep WordPress, themes and plugins updated as part of all plans.

• We aim to apply updates safely (not blindly).
• Occasionally an update can cause unexpected issues (this is true across the WordPress ecosystem). If that happens, we’ll work to resolve it.

We use monitoring and sensible security practices, but we can’t guarantee a website will never be attacked. If your site is compromised, we’ll respond as quickly as practical.

9) Domains

Our packages include either:

• registration of one new domain, or
• transfer of one existing domain

What’s included

• Basic setup help to get your domain pointing at your website (DNS configuration where applicable)

What’s not included

• Domain renewals (annual renewal fees are charged yearly if the domain was purchased with us. If the domain was purchased by yourself, elsewhere, the domain will need to be paid for annually by yourself)
• Any fees charged by your current registrar to transfer the domain out (if applicable)
• Additional domains (these can be added as an extra)

We’ll always be transparent about any third-party costs that we’re aware of before you commit.

10) Email services

If email mailboxes are included in your hosting package, we can help set them up.

Email deliverability depends on many external factors (recipient filters, DNS reputation, content, attachments). We can’t guarantee every email will land in the inbox, but we’ll help configure things properly.

11) Reasonable use

HostCare plans are designed for typical small business websites.

You must not use our services for:

• spam, phishing, malware, or any unlawful activity
• distributing copyrighted content you don’t have rights to
• hosting material that is abusive, hateful, or illegal
• activities that overload or disrupt the hosting platform

If your use creates a risk to the service (for you or others), we may suspend access while we investigate. Ultimately, abuse of the HostCare platform can lead to your account and data being removed.

12) Payments, billing and late payment

Invoicing

Invoices are issued via Zoho Invoice (or another system we choose to use in the future).

Payment method

We accept payment by Stripe, which allows you to pay securely by debit or credit card.

Payment links will be included with your invoice. You do not need a Stripe account to pay.

Payment terms

• Services are billed monthly unless otherwise agreed.
• Invoices are payable by the due date shown on the invoice.

If payment is late

If payment is overdue, we may:

• send reminders, and/or
• pause non-urgent work (like tweaks), and/or
• suspend hosting/service if the account remains unpaid

If we suspend services for non-payment, your site may be temporarily unavailable. We’ll aim to contact you before taking action.

13) Cancellation and offboarding

You can cancel anytime with 30 days’ notice.

On cancellation:

• Hosting and ongoing management ends at the end of your notice period.
• We can assist with handover/migration where reasonable.
• Backups are retained for a limited time and may be deleted after your service ends.

If you want to move your website elsewhere, tell us early so we can make the offboarding smooth.

14) Ownership and “release” of the website

Your content

You own the content you provide (text, images, logos, etc.), as long as you have the rights to use it.

Build and release terms

The initial website build included is subsidised and effectively paid for over the first 12 months of your subscription.

• After 12 months of paid subscription: the website is considered fully paid for as part of the plan. If you cancel after this point, you can take the website with you and we’ll provide a reasonable handover (see below).
• If you cancel before 12 months and want the website released to use elsewhere: you’ll need to pay a Website Release Fee to cover the remaining balance of the subsidised build.

Website Release Fee: The difference between 12 months of plan payments and the number of months you have paid so far.

Example: If you cancel after 2 months and want the website released, the release fee would be the equivalent of 10 months of plan payments.

What “released” means

Once any applicable Website Release Fee is paid, we will provide (within a reasonable time):

• a copy of your website files and database, and/or
• a WordPress admin login and migration-friendly access where practical, and/or
• reasonable cooperation with your new provider during handover.

Third-party licences (themes/plugins) may not be transferable and may need to be repurchased by you elsewhere.

15) Third-party services

Some parts of your website may rely on third-party services (domain registries, plugin vendors, analytics tools, email services, etc.).

We’re not responsible for outages or issues caused by third parties, but we’ll help you understand what’s happening and what your options are.

16) Liability (the important but boring bit)

We’re here to keep your site running smoothly, but we can’t accept unlimited liability.

• We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses (like lost profits, lost opportunities, or reputational damage).
• Our total liability for any claim is limited to the amount you paid us in the previous 3 months (unless the law says otherwise).

Nothing in these Terms limits liability where it would be unlawful to do so (for example, fraud).

17) Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms occasionally. If changes are significant, we’ll make reasonable efforts to notify you.

The “Last updated” date at the top will always show the current version.

18) Privacy

We handle personal data in line with our Privacy Policy: https://sit.hostcare.uk/privacy-policy/

19) Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be handled by the courts of England and Wales.

20) Contact

Questions, changes, help, or cancellations: hello@hostcare.uk