Domain Name Terms

These terms apply when you register, renew or transfer a domain name through Hostwoody, in addition to our Terms and Conditions. Each domain extension is also governed by the rules of its registry.

1. Registry agreements

When you register a domain, you enter into an agreement with the registry that manages that extension, and agree to follow its terms and policies. The main registries include:

.uk domains (.uk, .co.uk, .org.uk, .me.uk, .ltd.uk) — Nominet UK
.scot domains — Dot Scot Registry Limited
.eu domains — EURid
.name domains — the .NAME registry, under its registry agreement with ICANN
Many generic domains (such as .com, .net and .org) — registered through Tucows (OpenSRS) under the Tucows Domain Registration Agreement

Registry terms can change. It is your responsibility to read and comply with the current terms for each domain you hold. The main registry documents are:

2. Your responsibilities

Provide accurate and up-to-date contact information, and keep it current. Registries can suspend domains with false details.
Meet any eligibility requirements for the extension. For example, .eu domains are only available to eligible residents, citizens and organisations of the European Union and EEA.
Make sure your domain and its use do not infringe anyone’s trade marks or other rights, and are not used for unlawful purposes.
Renew your domain before it expires if you want to keep it.

3. Registration periods and renewals

Most domains can be registered for between 1 and 10 years. Domains are set to renew automatically using your registered payment method, and we send reminders before the renewal date. You can switch off auto-renewal in your control panel.

Domain registration, renewal and transfer fees are non-refundable once processed, because each renewal extends the registration for the period paid.

4. Expiry, grace and redemption

If a domain is not renewed, it expires. Most extensions then have a grace period in which the domain can still be renewed, followed by a redemption period in which renewal may carry an extra fee. After that, the domain is deleted and can be registered by anyone.

Some extensions, such as .io, have no grace or redemption period and become available to others as soon as they expire. Keeping auto-renewal switched on is the safest option.

5. Transfers

You have the right to transfer your domain to another registrar, subject to registry rules. For .uk domains, transfers are made by changing the domain’s IPS tag. For most other extensions you need an authorisation (EPP) code, and transfers may be restricted for 60 days after registration or a change of registrant.

6. WHOIS and privacy

Registries may publish some registrant details in public WHOIS databases.

For .uk domains, non-trading individuals can opt out of having their address published, free of charge, from the control panel.
For other extensions, our Domain Privacy service can show protected contact details instead of yours, where the registry allows it.

7. Disputes

By registering a domain you agree to the dispute resolution policy of the relevant registry, such as Nominet’s Dispute Resolution Service for .uk domains, the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) for many generic domains, and the dispute policies of Dot Scot and EURid.

Nominet .UK domain disputes

8. Suspension

We or the registry may suspend, lock or cancel a domain registration where required by the registry, by law, or where we reasonably believe the domain is being used for abuse, fraud or in breach of our terms. We may place transfer locks on domains to protect them from unauthorised changes.

9. Changes

We may update these terms, for example when registry rules change. We will notify you of significant changes, and continued use of our domain services means you accept the updated terms.