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There are 4.5 million private properties rented each year.
That’s millions of people currently renting their property, most of whom will attest that being a landlord is not as easy as it may seem. There’s a huge amount of work involved in finding reliable tenants, managing repairs, screening references and collecting payments – particularly when juggling multiple properties at once. What’s more, the current rental services available are difficult to use, cost a small fortune, rely on archaic tech and aren’t very helpful to begin with.
That’s why Howsy was created – to build a simpler experience for both landlords and tenants, with its all-in-one proprietary marketplace for renting. With an allstar team boasting experience at globally recognised companies such as PayPal, Zoopla, AxelSpringer, Propertyfinder, Microsoft, and Endsleigh, Howsy’s team is equipped to change the way rental properties are managed around the world. Their mantra is a simple one – to provide good, accessible, affordable service, powered by innovative ideas and smart technology.
For landlords, the benefits are countless. Howsy’s end-to-end solution provides management tools to find tenants, carry out reference checks, organize maintenance visits and repairs and collect rent. Landlords also have access to 24/7 client support giving them access to help and resources, whenever they need them, 365 days a year. However, without tenants, there wouldn’t be a market. So Howsy has also focused its efforts significantly on improving the experience for renters, introducing zero-deposit options and eliminating fees for renters. So, whether you’re looking for your new home, or finding tenants to rent your space, Howsy is available 24 hours a day to guide you through the process.
Howsy’s ecosystem of renting resources doesn’t end when a renter has signed the lease. Over the past few years, they’ve entered into partnerships with a number of organisations in the industry to find ways to provide a comprehensive, well-rounded service to their customers. These collaborations include legal partnerships, to help clients navigate rental contracts and liability, to bespoke furniture providers to bring them bring their spaces to life. With the quality of customer experience at its core, Howsy consistently collects feedback, to optimise the process and explore new avenues to supercharge tech development and provide an even better product to all its users, landlords and renters alike.
As the rental landscape changes, Howsy is quick to respond to new legislation and provide customers with everything they need to move forward. With the onset of the Covid-19 crisis, for example, the concept of home has undergone a number of changes that are likely to have lasting impacts on the rental industry. For example, the concept of work and home have become intertwined as people find themselves working remotely. Howsy’s Concierge service provided renters with access to desks, office chairs and more, delivered for free, at the cost of a monthly subscription payment over 3, 6 or 12 months.
It’s been an extremely busy few years for the Howsy team, since their first crowdfunding round in 2016 which was oversubscribed in a quick 3 days, and financed the opening of their London office. They’ve now opened a Coventry office, undergone a full rebrand, expanded into Manila and carried out two sector acquisitions (Urban.co.uk in 2019, and Upad in 2020). They now hold one of the UK’s largest databases for landlords and renters – over 2 million of them. Alongside impressive growth of 50% over the last six months, their accomplishments haven’t gone unnoticed by the wider industry. Howsy were shortlisted for an Amazon Growing Business Award in 2017, and just last year, they were awarded Best Online Agency 2019 at the Landlord Investment Show.
A business driven by its community, it’s no surprise that Howsy are crowdfunding once again on Seedrs – and they’ve already hit the ball out of the park, with over 270% of their target funded by more than 300 investors.
Want to join them? Visit the pitch.
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