The rental search process needs to evolve beyond traditional property listings as artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly changes how consumers discover homes, according to professionally managed rental platform Love to Rent.
The platform is calling for greater transparency and more detailed information to accompany emerging AI-led and conversational search tools, arguing that technology alone will not necessarily help renters make better-informed decisions.
Rather than relying solely on conventional filters such as price, postcode and number of bedrooms, AI-powered search is increasingly allowing consumers to describe their requirements using everyday language.
This could include factors such as commuting, schools, pets, green space, community and affordability, potentially making the process of finding a suitable home more personalised.
However, Love to Rent says the quality and independence of the information underpinning these tools will be crucial if renters are to have greater confidence in their decisions.
“People do not simply choose the number of bedrooms and a postcode. They are choosing how they want to live, who they will be renting from and what service and support they can expect once they have moved in,” said Anne-Marie Brown, Founder and Managing Director of Love to Rent.
“AI has the potential to make finding a home much more intuitive, but it will only be as useful as the information behind it. Renters need clear and reliable detail about management, amenities, pets, community, flexibility and the overall resident experience, not simply a new way to search the same basic listings.
“Love to Rent was created around this understanding. Our role is to help consumers discover professionally managed rental homes and make better-informed decisions about whether a development and its wider experience are right for them.”
“Technology will continue to change how people find a home, and that is exciting. But the sector must make sure innovation improves understanding rather than simply accelerating the route to an enquiry. The opportunity is to give renters a much fuller and more honest picture of the home and service they are choosing,” Brown added.
