Accommodation.co.uk set for widescale launch

Off the back of its beta launch in March, online renting platform Accommodation.co.uk is set to release its service for cities nationwide in September.

Accommodation.co.uk provides a platform which automates and streamlines admin tasks such as finding tenants or property maintenance including fixing leaks or broken doors for landlords. The company aims to improve the renting experience for property managers and tenants, and is currently only available in Lincoln and Sheffield.

The firm announced plans to expand at a rate of between three and five cities per month, hence its announcement to hire at least 50 people over the next three years, and its move from smaller headquarters in Lincoln, to Manchester’s Spinningfields WeWork.

Aaron Short, cofounder of Accommodation.co.uk, explained the next stages for the company: “We’ve had a great deal of interest in people working with Accommodation.co.uk, in the past few days we’ve interviewed or spoken with over 20 people who would like to join as licensed business partners across the UK and expand our reach. We’re also set to tour the country in the upcoming months in order to show people why they should get involved and how they can.”

In 2018, Accommodation.co.uk had a team of 15. In the past year, it has doubled its numbers up to 30, and has hired an additional four members of staff in the last few weeks. This includes Michael Booth, the previous academy director at online estate agent Purple Bricks, as its training and recruitment manager. He will sit alongside another two hires from Purple Bricks in senior positions, who he refused to disclose.

The app dashboard, which is set to see new features added in the next few months as the company grows its tech team

Accommodation.co.uk is aiming to grow its property management, marketing, and technology teams. Short explained: “Keeping on top of technological advancements keeps us cutting edge. It also means that when a tenant or a landlord requests an app to help with their service, we can have a turnaround of two weeks instead of six months. We’re aiming to use our future technology hires to create these new apps and to maintain and grow the website.”

Accommodation.co.uk was born out of Short’s difficulties in renting during university. “I realised other students who rented were having just as poor an experience as I was having. There was a lack of transparency throughout.

“I bought a house and let this out to other students. It gave me experience of lettings from the other side of the coin, and I discovered that things were just as difficult for landlords thanks to high agency fees, low transparency and poor accountability throughout the process. We think our technology is a catalyst for improving the customer journey. We can save everyone time and money while helping everyone find happiness at home.”

Accommodation.co.uk was founded in 2017 by Short, Matthew Meekins, and John Lomas. It generates revenue through the lettings process, for which it takes 10% from rent for the property management service. The licensed partners will also take a let fee from the landlord.