Coworking Space Member Agreement
Lokaal is a shared coworking space for entrepreneurs, freelance professionals and remote workers who want to belong to and work in a collaborative environment filled with other talented people. Lokaal is Dutch for “local” and aptly named for our mandate to be a local hub for the creative and entrepreneurial spirit to flourish. Most of our members live in the area and walk to Lokaal. We love our community inside and outside the building and strive to nourish all that it offers.
ENGAGE. SHARE. PARTICIPATE.
The Lokaal space is designed to encourage collaboration with common areas and accidental meeting spots that are social spaces, places of relaxation, and places to hatch new ideas. Social programming and events create connections and engage the broader community. Lokaal members have opportunities to build partnerships, collaborate and share resources that help leverage creativity and innovation. This is your community. Engage with other members, it might be where your next great idea comes from or you might hold the key to theirs. Share your ideas and experiences for cross-collaboration. Participate in activities and events hosted in the space or organize and host your own events.
Use of our Services & Space
As a member of Lokaal it is presumed that you own and operate your own business, or are employed by a company while using the coworking space, and it is understood that you are not an employee of Lokaal or it’s parent company 512 Holdings Inc. You do not have the right or permission to “live” in the space and do not have any residential tenant rights. Our Terms of Use are outlined below.
General Member Etiquette & Community Building
We don’t have a lot of rules in our space but rather govern our space through, as the immortal Arthea Franklin sang into history, R E S P E C T. Respect for others and for the space itself. Membership can be revoked for poor behaviour. We don’t want that and we hope our members don’t either.
While one of the benefits of the space is to create connections and social interaction, it is also where members come to get serious work done. Please be mindful not to frequently interrupt others or over-engage in social chatting in the common desk workspace...take it to the kitchen instead and enjoy a coffee or tea while you catch up with your fellow members.
We operate a SCENT-FREE space; please refrain from wearing perfumes or colognes on days that you are coming into Lokaal.
Lokaal has beautiful hardwood floors that truly add warmth and character to our space. To keep them looking beautiful we ask that all members please treat our space like home and remove wet shoes and boots at the entry. Water and salt are enemies of both the finish and the wood itself. We encourage you to keep a pair of indoor shoes in the space (we won’t judge you if you want to wear your comfy slippers either ;-). Boot trays for wet footwear will be located at the Lokaal entrance and in the kitchen space near the back door.
Chairs: task chairs are for Dedicated Desks only and may not be used by Hot Desk members or moved to other workstations without the express consent from Lokaal management.
Pets: We love them but not everyone does so Lokaal is a pet-free work environment. Please leave Fido or Fluffy at home. We’re probably close by so heading home to visit them at lunch or take them for a walk will be good for your health and soul.
Be responsible and respectful with your internet usage. No bit-torrent or illegal online activities are permitted by members or their guests over the Lokaal internet connection. Dark web activity is specifically a no-no. If the law comes looking for you, we will give you up immediately… really.
Please enjoy the convenience of our resources but don't abuse them; refreshments, paper and other supplies are for consuming while at Lokaal.
Respect other member’s privacy, confidentiality, property and data just as you would expect they would do for you.
Without exception, there is no smoking or vaping permitted in the building or within 10m (30’) of any building entrance (per City of Toronto by-law). Smokin’ that important client presentation on the other hand is permitted and encouraged.
COVID-19 and a Healthy Space: In an effort to keep Lokaal a healthy place for everyone to work we ask that if you are feeling sick, have a fever or cough, to please refrain from coming into Lokaal. Click here to see our COVID return to Lokaal protocols.
Inclusivity & Safe Harbour: Part of our mission as a creative community hub is to foster a positive, inclusive and safe environment for all members and their guests. We have a zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior in our space. Our security systems include comprehensive video camera technology installed throughout the space. Members or their guests who do not demonstrate respect and courtesy for others or behave in a manner that is destructive to the space or the community within it will be asked to leave. If anyone in our space makes you feel uncomfortable, please bring it to our attention immediately.
Guests
Our space is perfect for bringing in clients or outside collaborators for meetings. Meetings should be contained to the meeting room (or private office) so as not to disturb other members. Quiet casual meetings may also take place in the lounge area providing they do not disturb other members. Guests may not occupy a hot desk or dedicated desk station in the main space or kitchen workspace unless they (or you on their behalf) have purchased a day pass or Flex Pass.
Access to Lokaal
Access to Lokaal varies by membership plan and is controlled by the door access system. Please refer to the Membership Fees Schedule at the end of this agreement for current access privileges.
* It is important to note that Lokaal will be used for hosting events. Members will receive advance notice of any events in the space and all events will be listed in the member community Google calendar. Events held in the open workspace or lounge area will typically be hosted after 6pm. Members who need to work during an event will be offered the meeting room space at no charge.
Security
Lokaal controls access to the building and the coworking space using an electronic door access system. You must have a fob or digital key on your smartphone (mobile credential) to gain access to the space as it is locked 100% of the time except during events when the door is monitored by staff. Your access is automatically set based on your membership plan including which times your fob or mobile credential will work.
Never let anyone into the space that you are not willing to be personally responsible for. All members should only use their own fob or mobile credential to enter and not just follow another member in. This gives us vital stats about use of the space that helps us make sound business decisions. Door access is also how we track day passes so when you let someone in who has a day pass, we lose revenue since we can’t track it.
The space is also outfitted with security cameras. We do not sit and watch the space (who has time for that!) but footage will be reviewed in the event of theft, damage or other impropriety. Footage is saved for up to 10 days so if you experience a theft or damage to personal or Lokaal property, please report it immediately.
Membership Payments
Refer to the Membership Fee Schedule at the end of this agreement for details on membership fees and options.
For Hot Desk, Dedicate Desk and Private Office members, membership fees are due on the first of each month. Payment for day passes must be made in advance. If you are paying by e-transfer or cheque, please put it in your calendar so that we do not have to pester you for payment. Members are automatically invoiced monthly in advance based on their membership option. Also included is any variable charges such as extra meeting room usage that may have been incurred during the previous period.
If you are paying by credit card, your card will be automatically debited/charged on the same day of each month for membership fees and any ancillary charges from the previous period that remain unpaid. Accepting credit cards costs the merchant 3% so this option is not available for private office memberships. Why make the credit card companies richer than they need to right? Private office memberships should be paid by e-transfer to work@lokaal.space or by cheque.
Your membership is not transferable even if you have a dedicated desk or private office membership. Anyone working in the space must have an active paid membership or day pass in their name.
Use of Mailing Address
Use of our mailing address is included only for our full-time, dedicated desk or private office members. Hot desk and day pass members may sign up for our Mail Service Plan for $25/mo to use our mailing address for incoming letter mail. We will receive your mail and hold it for you to collect for up to 30 days after which it may be returned to sender. Lokaal is not responsible for securing your incoming packages. We have limited space to hold mail for our members so if you are expecting a package larger than a 9x13 envelope, you should arrange to be in-house to receive it.
Lokaal does not provide outgoing mail service for any members. There is a Global Parcel Express located just 5 doors west on St. Clair Avenue for outgoing courier packages. If you arrange a courier pickup from the space, you should be available when the courier arrives to let them into the space.
Phones & Phone Calls
Lokaal does not provide telephone lines; members may use their cell phone (or an IP phone if a dedicated office member). Since Lokaal has an open office plan, please be mindful when making or taking calls and keep your voice down and refrain from using offensive language. Always use headphones instead of speakers. If you know you will be on a longer call, please try to use the phone booth or meeting room (if available). That said, the phone booth is not a mini private office so please be considerate not to overuse or overstay in the booth to allow others the opportunity to use it. For prolonged calls or Zoom meetings, consider booking the meeting room.
Internet Access
Lokaal makes every effort to provide fast and reliable internet access including redundant fail-over services from both Bell and Rogers. Due to forces outside our control, it is possible we may experience outages from time-to-time (eg. power failures). We do not provide refunds or compensate members for internet down-time. While Lokaal provides the fastest available gigabit service, it cannot guarantee quality of IP voice or video communications over the network.
Meeting Room
Use of the meeting room must be booked in advance in the calendar. Each monthly membership plan includes a specific number of meeting room hours per month. Additional hours are charged at the posted rate for your plan. Day and Flex Pass members do not receive any “included” hours and are required to pay for all meeting room time. Members or day pass holders found using the space without a booking may be charged at up to double the rate at our discretion, with repeated abuse resulting in possible termination of membership. Members may use the monitor to connect their laptop via the available HDMI cable, or by using the Chromecast screen-sharing app. As with the rest of the space, please leave the meeting room clean and tidy ready for the next member to use. Members who leave the meeting room messy may lose their meeting room privileges.
Housekeeping & Maintenance
We work together to maintain a space we can all feel proud of. While Lokaal looks after general housekeeping and cleaning, please remember that you share the space with others. Please don't leave your garbage lying around. Clean up after yourself and your guests. Don’t leave dirty dishes on the counter or in the sink… please scrape off any food into the organics bin, given them a quick rince, and put them in the dishwasher. Please leave the meeting room and lounge spaces tidy when you leave them, ready for the next member to enjoy.
Hot Desk members are asked to completely clear their workstation at the end of every day. Any items left behind will be at risk of being tossed out by cleaning staff.
If you notice any problems with plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling, roof, flooding, equipment, furniture, wifi, network, etc., please bring them to the attention of the Lokaal management immediately.
Parking
No membership includes parking. Lokaal members are not permitted to park a vehicle in any of the building boulevard parking spaces. Unauthorized vehicles parked in the boulevard parking spots may be subject to towing at the owner's expense.
Bicycles
Cycling to work is a great idea. Please note that Lokaal members and guests are not permitted to bring their bikes into the building. Please secure your bike outside using an available bike ring outside.
Sustainability
We’ve invested considerably in eco-friendly materials and high-efficiency systems to lighten our environmental footprint. Help us keep our ongoing impact to a minimum with a few simple things:
Last one out, please turn off the main space the lights (all others are on occupancy sensors)
Please don’t adjust the thermostat. We do our best to keep a comfortable working temperature for everyone. If you are repeatedly too cold or too warm, please let us know so we can adjust accordingly with everyone in mind.
Minimize waste: Recycle using the bins located throughout the space or in the kitchen. Compost your organics in the compost receptacle located in the kitchen area. Do not place any food waste in the garbage or recycling bins (it smells bad after a day). Please rinse any recycling items that have food on them before placing in the recycling bin to minimize odours and mess.
Enjoy our filtered water. Disposable water bottles are forbidden in our space (ok, at least frowned upon severely). Ditto for paper and Styrofoam coffee and tea cups… please make use of reusable mugs or travel beverage containers. If you are grabbing a drink from Lion Coffee, please let the barista know you are a Lokaal member and would like to use one of our stainless steel travel mugs for your drink. We wash them in Lokaal and restock the coffee shop regularly for your convenience.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
The services Lokaal provides to you are subject to the following Terms and Conditions (T&C). Lokaal reserves the right to update the T&C at any time without notice to you. Lokaal membership application does not create a tenancy but a prepaid usage license to use the provided amenities on a monthly or casual basis depending on your plan.
Description of Services
As part of its service offering, Lokaal may provide you with access to office space, workstations, Internet access, printer/scanner, meeting space, knowledge resources, and other services (collectively, "Services"). The Services at all times are subject to the T&C.
Participation in or Use of Services
You acknowledge that you are participating in or using the Services of your own free will and decision. You acknowledge that Lokaal does not have any liability with respect to your access, participation in, use of the Services, or any loss of information resulting from such participation or use.
Lokaal reserves the right at all times to disclose any information about you and your participation in and use of the Services as Lokaal deems necessary to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process or governmental request.
Membership Services Renewal and Termination
Membership is automatically renewed at the end of each 30 day period commencing from signup. The T&C of this agreement must be adhered to at all times. Failure to follow T&C can result in non-renewal or even early termination of your membership agreement. Lokaal reserves the right to terminate any Service at any time, immediately and without notice. This includes non-payment or violation of the space rules and guidelines. If this happens, Lokaal will refund any amounts paid for unused periods that remain after deducting any pending charges, on a prorated basis.
Monthly members may terminate their membership plan by giving written notice of termination at least two (2) business days notice in advance of their next renewal, otherwise, the Membership shall automatically renew and continue to the end of the following 30 day period.
Insurance
Lokaal carries Liability and Business Property insurance. As a user, you are not required but it is strongly suggested that you carry a Renters Insurance policy to cover your own equipment while using our space. The Lokaal insurance policy covers Lokaal property, not that of our members.
Disclaimer of Warranties
To the maximum extent permitted by the applicable law, Lokaal provides the Services “as is” and with all faults, and hereby disclaim with respect to the services all warranties and conditions, whether express, implied or statutory, including but not limited to: merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, lack of viruses, accuracy or completeness of responses, results, workmanlike effort and lack of negligence. Also there is no warranty, duty or condition of title, quiet enjoyment, quiet possession, correspondence to description or non-infringement. The entire risk as to the quality, or arising out of participation in or the use of the services, remains with you.
Exclusion of Incidental, Consequential and Certain Other Damages
To the maximum extent permitted by the applicable law, in no event shall Lokaal or its subsidiaries (whether or not wholly-owned), affiliates, divisions, and their past, present and future officers, agents, shareholders, members, representatives, employees, successors and assigns, jointly and individually be liable for any direct, special, incidental, indirect, punitive, consequential or other damages whatsoever (including, but not limited to damages for: loss of profits, loss of confidential or other information, business interruption, personal injury, loss of privacy, failure to meet any duty (including of good faith or of reasonable care, negligence, and any other pecuniary or other loss whatsoever) arising out of or in any way related to the participation in or inability to participate in or use of the services, the provision of or failure to provide services, or otherwise under or in connection with any provision of this agreement, even in the event of the fault, tort (including negligence), strict liability, breach of contract or breach of warranty of Lokaal, and even if Lokaal has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Limitation of Liability and Remedies
Notwithstanding any damages that you might incur for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation, all damages referenced above and all direct or general damages), the entire liability of Lokaal or its subsidiaries (whether or not wholly-owned), affiliates, divisions, and their past, present and future officers, agents, shareholders, members, representatives, employees, successors and assigns under any provision of this T&C and your exclusive remedy for all of the foregoing shall be limited to actual damages incurred by you. The foregoing limitations, exclusions and disclaimers, including the previous sections) shall apply to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, even if any remedy fails its essential purpose. Kudos to you for reading the find print. As a new member, tell us you read the fine print and we’ll give you a complimentary beverage of your choice at Wallace Espresso because the reward is in the details.
Non-Disparagement
You shall, during and after the participation in and use of the Services, refrain from making any statements or comments of a defamatory or disparaging nature to any third party regarding Lokaal, or any of Lokaal officers, directors, employees, personnel, agents, policies, services or products, other than to comply with law.
Indemnification
You release, and hereby agree to indemnify, defend and save harmless Lokaal and Lokaal subsidiaries and parent companies (whether or not wholly-owned), affiliates, divisions, and their past, present and future officers, agents, shareholders, members, representatives, employees, successors and assigns, jointly and individually, from and against all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, expenses, judgments, fines and penalties based upon or arising out of your negligent actions, errors and omissions, willful misconduct and fraud in connection with the participation in or use of the Services. You further agree in the event that you bring a claim or lawsuit in violation of this agreement, you shall be liable for any attorney fees and costs incurred by Lokaal or its respective officers and agents in connection with the defense of such claim or lawsuit.
Severability
In the event that any provision or portion of this T&C is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions of this T&C shall be unaffected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
Schedule of Fees & Services
Additional Fees & Charges
Damage Deposit – Private Offices Only
Private office members pay a damage deposit of $250. The damage deposit is retained for damages that exceed normal office wear and tear including but not limited to:
Cleaning Fee for any space left in a mess ($50).
Holes larger than push-pin size that have to be filled and painted on walls/ceilings: up to $250 depending on damage.
Broken window or door glass: cost of replacement.
Damage to hardwood floor or carpet: cost to repair / replace.
The damage deposit will be returned to you less any costs incurred to repair or replace damaged property within 30 days following termination. If repair or replacement costs exceed the $250 damage deposit, you agree to reimburse Lokaal for all reasonable costs incurred.
Membership Agreement Acceptance:
By accessing or using our space and service(s) you agree to be bound by the Terms & Conditions outlined in this agreement. If you are using the space or service(s) on behalf of an organization or entity (“Organization”), then you are agreeing to these Terms & Conditions on behalf of that Organization and you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind the Organization to this agreement. In that case, “you” and “your” refers to you and that Organization.
I hereby agree to the terms and conditions as set forth in this agreement: