Who counts as a homeowner in the marketplace
In everyday language, homeowner usually means the owner-occupier of a house. In a job marketplace, the role is broader. The person posting the work might be a property owner, a landlord, a property manager, or a family member arranging repairs on behalf of someone else.
FairTrades uses homeowner as a simple role name so job posts, quotes, and messaging are easy to follow. It means the client-side person responsible for describing the work, reviewing quotes, and selecting a tradie. This keeps the platform clear for both sides while still covering real-world property arrangements in New Zealand.
If you are arranging work on a rental, an investment property, or a managed property portfolio, you can still use the homeowner flow. The key point is responsibility for the job, not the exact legal ownership structure.
What the homeowner role is responsible for
The homeowner-side role starts with writing a clear job post: what needs doing, where the work is located, and any timing or access notes. Better detail usually leads to better quotes and fewer clarifying back-and-forth messages.
After posting, you review responses from tradies and compare what each quote includes. You can ask questions, check profile trust signals, and confirm scope before accepting anyone. FairTrades keeps this process structured so decisions are based on relevant job information.
When a quote is accepted, contact details are shared for that job handover. This gives both sides enough information to coordinate next steps while preserving privacy earlier in the process.
Why this definition helps everyone
Using one client-side role across owners, landlords, and managers removes confusion. Tradies do not need to guess whether they are dealing with a legal owner, a tenancy manager, or a delegated decision-maker. They simply know they are speaking to the party managing approval and communication for the job.
For clients, this also avoids unnecessary gatekeeping. If you are the person arranging work and comparing quotes, you should be able to use the same straightforward flow regardless of your property setup.
The result is a clearer marketplace language model: homeowner means client-side job manager, and tradie means service provider. That keeps expectations aligned from first post to final decision.