In London, the housing crisis is on the rise. Seeing the ever increasing house prices, home ownership becomes a dream for many. And, people resort to more affordable rental or sharing options.
There are several hundreds of thousands of search portals, service providers and real estate agents who help you find a home. But the task is quite exasperating and might take you hours or even days. There are reports that it is arduous for millennials and they end of giving it up.
To address these issues, a number of proptech startups have mushroomed in London. These startups leverage technology to disrupt the property market. The term proptech includes many options ranging from renting, selling and buying. Here, we have listed 10 proptech startups that help you find a home in London as sourced from Dealroom.
Yopa
Founders: Alistair Barclay, Andrew Barclay, Daniel Attia, David Jacobs
Funding: €93.1 million
Yopa founded in 2015 makes the process of selling home simple and transparent. It gives sellers a dedicated local Yopa agent who will guide them throughout the process of the sale with the convenience of online service. Moreover, it is transparent as it connects you with the sellers directly establishing a communication.
Rightmove
Founders: Alex Dail
Rightmove founded in 2000 is one of the largest property portals in the UK. This proptech startup was founded with the intention to empower decision making related to property. The company’s sophisticated yet simple platform to search property makes the task of finding a home easy.
onefinestay
Founders: Demetrios Zoppos, Evan Frank, Greg Marsh, Tim Davey
Funding: €73.6 million
In 2009, onefinestay was established to create a new category of accommodation and an offer unparalleled level of service for homeowners and travellers. Back in 2016, the startup was acquired by AccorHotels and is now one of the leading luxury private rental brands in the world. Now, this company is all set to redefine the hospitality industry by providing individualised stays and services in carefully chosen homes across the world.
Student.com
Founders: JP Jones, Luke Nolan, Shakil Khan
Funding: €63.6 million
Student.com is a leading marketplace for international student housing. Started in 2011, the company helps students find the perfect home in a foreign land. It has helped thousands of students find a home abroad. They have the most carefully chosen and widest range of rooms specifically built for students.
easyProperty
Founders: Robert Ellice
Funding: €49.2 million
easyProperty is a part of easyGroup, which includes services such as easyHotel, easyBus, easyHolidays, easyJet and easyGym. It was founded in 2013 with the mission to revolutionise the proptech industry and help consumers find a home in an easier and relatively affordable way. Moreover, easyProperty is a part of eProp services PLC, a leading UK residential property group.
Zoopla
Founders: Simon Kain
Funding: €29.7 million
Zoopla is the most comprehensive property website in the UK. It was founded in 2007 with the focus to empower users with the resources they require so that they make better-informed property decisions. The company helps consumers find their next home by researching the property listings. Zoopla offers a transparent service and is quite efficient as well.
Appear Here
Founders: Ross Bailey
Funding: €19.5 million
Appear Here is an online marketplace for short-term rentals launched in 2013. This startup is active throughout the UK and also exists in the US and Paris. Now, the company is focusing on introducing more tools and expand its presence in new locations so that it can take its ideas to the next level and serve the growing community better.
homie.rent
Founders: Alexander Eid, Louis Eid, Sami Eid
Funding: €5.1 million
In 2016, homie.rent was founded with a mission to help you find a new home at ease. This company makes it a hassle-free experience for renters and agents. The company works with agents to get qualified and ready to move tenants. The company values integrity and honesty that makes it grow faster and works with the renter first intention.
OpenRent
Founders: Adam Hyslop, Darius Bradbury
Funding: €4.9 million
OpenRent is an online renting service operating as an alternative to the usual renting agents. Started in 2012, this proptech startup provides a complete suite of services to both landlords and tenants. The company includes property advertising and tenancy management tools as well.
Lyvly
Founders: Philip Laney
Funding: €4.2 million
Lyvly was created with the desire to bring community in the lives of people and believes that communities start at home. This proptech startup matches housemates with quality homes and enables an effortless and shared living. The company manages everything such as managing bills and services including housekeeping, dishwasher tablets and lightbulbs replacement.
Movebubble
Founders: Aidan Rushby, Logan Estop Hall, Tony Edwards
Funding: €3.8 million
Movebubble is the leading property rental app in London. It will update your property feed in real-time and help you find out a property easily. The feed will be updated in such a way that it removes the properties that are occupied from the app. Movebubble takes feedback from users and enhances the experience of finding a rental property.
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