Online lettings platform beefs up listings with new 'flow' feature

Online lettings platform HomeRenter says its property listings are now more detailed and more compelling thanks to a new ‘property creation flow’ feature. 

It allows landlords to create property listings that are more thorough yet quicker to produce, by allowing them to select more property features and tenant preferences - differentiating properties from rival listings and allowing users to search more thoroughly.

As a result of the new feature, landlords now have the ability to list houseshares and flatshares alongside specific characteristics that relate to these types of properties such as Wi-Fi connectivity, en-suite bathrooms, and private kitchens.

Once the landlord has submitted a completed listing it goes through a stringent approval process - verified by HomeRenter through photo ID and proof of ownership - before being exported to Rightmove, Zoopla and PrimeLocation.

“It’s vitally important, in an increasingly competitive marketplace, for landlords to have detailed, compelling and standout property listings” explains Will Handley, HomeRenter’s chief executive and co-founder.

“Tenants are likely to be on the lookout for particular must-haves – fast broadband speeds, access to good, reliable transport links, nearby green space and so on – and will also want to have as much information as possible from a property listing to allow them to make an informed decision.”

He says that by making property listings as comprehensive and enticing as possible, landlords inevitably improve their chances of attracting tenants. Conversely, if renters know from the start exactly what to expect from a property there should be fewer wasted viewings or tenants disappointed that a feature they view as high priority is not actually on offer.

“Houseshares and flatshares have grown in popularity in recent years, particularly in major cities where the higher cost of renting means tenants are often keen to spread the cost across a number of different people” Handley adds.

“The prospect of renting with like-minded people and sharing in communal experiences also appeals to many renters, especially young professionals or millennials who have moved to a new city without any links and students keen to live with their friends.”

HomeRenter was launched in November 2017 with the aim of becoming an Airbnb-style marketplace for private rentals in the UK - delivering superior value to both landlords and tenants and righting the imperfections of a broken and unfair traditional lettings model.

For landlords it offers a one-stop shop to advertise, let and manage a property portfolio; meanwhile tenants can search for available rental homes without admin fees and with 24/7 support.