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In the app

Message about a room, a job or a business without sharing your phone number.

Messages is the Chaana app's in-app chat. You start it from a room, a job or a business, and the conversation stays inside Chaana instead of going to SMS. Your phone number is never shown to the other person unless you give it out yourself. As you type, Chaana checks for language that is not allowed, and for a room or a job you can agree a viewing or interview time right inside the chat.

Where
In the app: the Messages tile on Home, and Profile > My Activity
Starts from
A room, a job or a business
Phone number
Never shown in a chat unless you give it out yourself
Call and text
Shown only when the poster turns them on
Not there yet
No typing indicator or online status

What you can do.

The inbox

One list for every conversation
Messages holds every thread in one place, whether it began on a room, a job or a business.
Search messages
A search box at the top of the inbox finds a conversation by name.
Private by default
The inbox shows the notice "Messages in Chaana never show your phone number. Your number is only shown where you choose to show it."
Quiet when empty
With no conversations yet it shows "No messages yet" and explains that a conversation appears here after you message someone about a room, a job or a business.
A nudge when a message arrives
New messages can arrive as a push notification on your phone.

Inside a thread

The member and the listing
The thread header shows who you are talking to and the room, job or business the conversation is about.
Messages grouped by day
A day separator sits between dates, and each bubble carries the time it was sent.
Reply to one message
Hold a message to reply to it, and your reply shows the quoted message above it.
Reactions
React to a message with a heart or a thumbs up.
Photos
Send photos from the attachment tray in the composer, and tap one to open it full screen.
Book a viewing or interview in the chat
On a room or a job, tap the calendar button beside the paperclip, pick a day and time, and the request appears in the thread as a card. The other person accepts or declines with one tap, and either of you can cancel. Accepted times also appear in My Appointments.
A live check for language that is not allowed
While you type, Chaana warns you if the message contains offensive or abusive language, and the Send button stays off until you change it. The check runs again when you send. A message with blocked words is never delivered, and repeated attempts are recorded against your account: a final warning first, then a 30-day pause, then a permanent block.
Delete, report or block
Delete a message, report the conversation, or block the member, all from the thread.

Inside Messages, screen by screen.

Each screen is rebuilt from the Chaana app. Scroll, and the phone follows along.

Every conversation in one list.

Messages holds the threads you have with posters and businesses, newest first, with the last line and a time. Search the list by name. Nothing appears here until you message someone, and your phone number is never handed over.

  • Newest first
  • Search by name
  • Unread count
  • Phone numbers stay private

The first message is already written.

Tap Message on a room, a job or a business and the app offers the questions people actually ask about that listing: the bond, the bills, the start date, whether it is still available. Pick one or write your own, and the chat opens with the listing attached.

  • Ready-made questions per listing
  • Or write your own
  • The listing stays attached

A private chat, with the tools you expect.

Reply, quote an earlier message, react with a heart or a thumbs up, and send photos. Propose a viewing or interview time and it appears as a card both people can accept. Report the conversation or block the person from the thread.

  • Replies and reactions
  • Photos
  • Times agreed in the chat
  • Report and block

How it works.

How to start a conversation

  1. Open a room, a job or a business.
  2. Tap Message.
  3. A sheet opens with questions built from that listing, such as "Is it available?", "Arrange a viewing", "What does the rent cover?" and "More photos" for a room.
  4. Pick a question, or tap Write my own and type your first message.
  5. Tap Send. The conversation opens as a thread in Messages.

How to find your conversations and keep them tidy

  1. Open the Messages tile on Home, or go to Profile, then My Activity, then Messages.
  2. Search or scroll to the thread you want.
  3. Open the thread to read everything sent between you, with the day separators.
  4. Type in the composer and tap Send to reply. If a warning appears, reword the message and try again.
  5. To agree a viewing or interview on a room or job, tap the calendar button beside the paperclip, choose a day and time, and send it.
  6. To stop someone messaging you, block them from the thread. Unblock them later under Profile, then Account, then Blocked people.

What you get.

  • No phone number on display

    Chat never puts a phone number on either person's device. Your number is shared only if you choose to type it out yourself.

  • Every enquiry in one place

    Conversations about rooms, jobs and businesses all live in one inbox, so nothing gets lost.

  • A first message in one tap

    The template sheet offers real questions about the listing, so you do not have to think of an opener from a blank page.

  • Control stays with you

    You can reply, delete a message, report a conversation or block a member from the thread.

How you are protected.

The safety rules and limits, stated plainly.

  • Messages stay inside Chaana. A notice in the inbox says messages never show your phone number, and your number is only shown where you choose to show it.

  • Messages are checked for abusive and offensive language as you type and again when you send. A message with blocked words is not delivered, and repeated attempts lead to a warning, a 30-day pause and then a permanent block (rule P2 in the Terms).

  • Blocking a member stops them messaging you. You can unblock them later under Profile, then Account, then Blocked people.

  • Conversations start from a room, a job or a business, not from a public contact list.

  • Each poster chooses which of Message, Call, text and WhatsApp appear on a listing. Message is recommended because it never shows a phone number.

  • You can report a conversation and pick a reason.

Questions people ask.

Can I chat with someone inside the Chaana app?

Yes. Chaana has in-app chat. Tap Message on a room, a job or a business, pick a question or write your own, and the conversation opens as a thread in Messages. It does not hand you off to SMS.

Do I have to give out my phone number to message someone?

No. Chat never puts a phone number on either person's device. Your number is shared only if you choose to type it or give it out yourself.

Where do my conversations appear?

In Messages, opened from the Home tile or from Profile, then My Activity, then Messages. Each thread shows the member and the listing it is about.

Can I block someone who keeps messaging me?

Yes. Open the thread and block the member. They can no longer message you, and you can unblock them later under Profile, then Account, then Blocked people.

Can I still call or text instead of chatting?

Only if the poster turned those on. Call, text and WhatsApp are per-listing switches the poster sets. When they are on they sit next to Message, and when they are off chat is the contact route.

Does Chaana check messages for bad language?

Yes. While you type, Chaana warns you if a message contains offensive or abusive language, and you cannot send it until you change it. The check runs again when you send. A message with blocked words is not delivered, and repeated attempts lead to a final warning, a 30-day pause and then a permanent block.

Can I book a viewing or interview from the chat?

Yes, for rooms and jobs. Tap the calendar button beside the paperclip, pick a day and time, and it appears in the thread as a card for the other person to accept or decline.

Does Chaana show when the other person is online or typing?

Not yet. There is no typing indicator and no reliable online or last-seen status in a thread today.

Keep the conversation inside Chaana.

Start from any room, job or business, and find every thread later under Messages.