Agents sought by start-up offering free accommodation to key workers

A new renovation start-up is working with letting agents and landlords to allow key workers to use empty rental properties for free during the Coronavirus crisis.

The start-up, called flyp, launched recently and refurbishes properties to a high standard, sub-letting the homes to paying guests during the renovation to help fund the cost of the work.

During the current crisis flyp is working with its partner agencies - Hamptons International, John D Wood and Harding Green - to identify London properties which can be used this way for frontline staff in the NHS and other services. 

The properties are typically upmarket, including one owned by celebrity singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, and are currently under the management and care of flyp. 

This initiative started in March and has been growing over recent weeks; the grass-roots campaign has been pushed on several social media platforms, including Instagram and LinkedIn, and quickly led to 60 enquiries and 30 NHS workers taking places in flyp’s homes. 

flyp fills each of its properties with exercise equipment, TVs, Playstations, and board games, and ensures each home has all the necessary amenities – from kitted out kitchens, to fully stocked bathrooms, and garden spaces. 

It now wants to extend its work to other agencies and landlords beyond its existing client base and co-founder Gregg Kantor says: “Given the demand placed on our healthcare service, opening the doors to some of the best homes in London to some of those showing us the best side of humanity felt like the least we could do. 

“Even better, knowing we can do it for free means any NHS staff who may need to isolate after a shift, avoid a significant commute, or who otherwise have no accommodation options can get a peace of mind stay. We hope we can inspire anyone with an empty home to follow suit and we would be happy to speak with any agent or homeowner who wants to contribute to the initiative.”