"The upcoming changes in legislation mean that the 'old way' of quickly filtering applicants is no longer viable or compliant"
- Sarah Wernér - Husmus
Tenant referencing and insurance provider Husmus has launched what it describes as a market-first outcome-based pricing model, replacing traditional pay-per-check fees with a single fixed charge that covers a vacancy until a suitable tenant is secured.
Available immediately to letting agents and private landlords, the model is designed to help the industry manage the compliance demands of the Renters' Rights Act. As new regulations move toward ending blanket bans on specific tenant groups, landlords and agents face pressure to assess a wider range of applicants, increasing the potential cost of referencing under existing pricing structures.
Under the conventional approach, fees are lost whenever an applicant fails to meet the required criteria, with a fresh charge applied to each subsequent candidate. Husmus's model removes that friction. A single payment is made at the outset, and if an applicant is unsuitable, the firm continues referencing further candidates for that vacancy at no additional cost until the position is filled.
"The upcoming changes in legislation mean that the 'old way' of quickly filtering applicants is no longer viable or compliant," said Sarah Wernér, CEO and co-founder of Husmus (pictured).
"Our new model provides landlords and agents with the budget certainty they need to manage this transition. By removing the cost of failed checks, we allow property providers to focus on finding the right tenant for their property without worrying about escalating administrative fees. We are here to support housing provision by making the process more efficient and predictable."
Because Husmus also provides rent guarantee insurance for tenants it approves, the firm carries direct financial exposure to the quality of its own assessments, an arrangement it argues aligns its incentives with those of landlords in a way standalone referencing providers cannot match.
"We have a direct stake in the quality of the tenant," Wernér added. "Unlike standalone referencing firms, we cannot afford to lower standards just to close a file, because we are the ones providing the insurance protection. Our AI-driven methodology is built to identify reliable tenants accurately and quickly, ensuring that 'speed' never comes at the expense of property security."
