1. Why did you decide to set up Weroom?
The decision to set up Weroom came from my own personal experience flatsharing. When I moved into a property with strangers, I had hoped to make new friends and live with likeminded individuals but instead we failed to connect. I then had a lightbulb moment about a service which could match people with personality types that they actually wanted to live with, since that would solve the issue of flatsharing with people who do not have the same compatible lifestyles as one another. I set off to break the challenge and I’m pleased to say that since launch in 2014, Weroom’s community of active users has grown to 200,000 and has active flatshares in five cities across Europe.
2. How does Weroom differ from its competitors?
Weroom operates as an open marketplace connecting a community of tenants, landlords and agencies. The platform helps to identify the importance of compatibility and getting to know your flatmate before you live together. This transparency provides the ability to choose a ‘likeminded’ flatmate whereas other property websites simply list available flatshares rather than digging deeper into what type of person they are.
Weroom also provides an unrivalled service for flatsharers and tenants, helping both parties communicate through advice forums and minimising tenancy disputes through its online booking platform. This platform allows tenants to put a deposit on a property but the deposit will not be transferred over to the landlord for 48 hours until the tenant has moved in and confirmed the property is as it appears in the advert listing.
3. Has Britain's decision to leave the EU affected business, if so, how?
As an entrepreneur who runs a start-up within Europe and Britain, we were concerned about the outcome of Brexit and how this would affect business, particularly the recruitment of talent. While Theresa May has suggested that the government will be investing both money and time into small businesses, it remains to be seen how things will pan out over the next two years.
Our priority lies in sourcing the best talent for our company and, in turn, giving people across Europe the chance to succeed. London is currently the hub for talent but this may change after Brexit. May’s Tier two visa changes earlier this year could also mean that start-ups may struggle to source finances to secure talent beyond the UK and across Europe. The government needs to listen to the worries and concerns of small businesses at this crucial time.
4. What do you see as the key challenges and opportunities for the rental sector over the next 12 months?
The digitalisation of the rental market means that developing trust between all parties such as landlords and renters can become more difficult as the relationship is largely established over a digital platform, rather than face-to-face. And while people become more fed up with traditional tools like housing websites, the need for faster more effective services that minimise red tape is increased.
Despite this, it is important to ensure trust is maintained and that corners are not cut for the sake of a speedy service. To do this, Weroom reviews and checks both tenants and landlords, while an active social community also helps to provide a way to show someone’s personality before they move in.
5. Isn't there an advantage to actually meeting people face to face, or physically going to a property to get a feel for it, or the neighbourhood, rather than chancing it by doing everything online?
Our user-base shows that people want to meet people face to face when it lacks trust. If the website provides trust with recommendations and certifications, people will feel more comfortable to find a flatshare online.
If you are a tenant using Weroom, you have five days between the booking request and the final acceptance to visit the property and meet the landlord or flatmates. We offer a service where trust is at the heart which means our users can choose to do both. We are convinced that this approach is enough to bridge the gap of trust.”
6. What do you love and hate about the property industry?
It is at the heart of everyone’s life and we all know finding the right accommodation is a crucial process in life. The industry can also be very conservative and afraid of innovation but at Weroom we are constantly developing our platform to ensure our users are getting the best service possible.
