Spanish startup Spotahome.com officially launched in Ireland yesterday. The company, which currently operates in 16 cities in nine countries, offers a virtual turnkey rental property solution to Irish tenants and landlords, as well as home-owners looking to rent a room to students.
Spotahome offers extra protection against the increased numbers of rental scams by sending home checkers to visit the properties and offering additional guarantees to both those looking to rent a room or property and the tenant. The property is pre-vetted by Spotahome, and then viewed by the tenant online via HD video and photographic content, coupled with detailed transparent property descriptions which Spotahome stands over. Once the tenant expresses interest, the landlord must respond within 12 hours. The two parties then simply meet for the key handover and contract exchange on the move-in day. The first months payment is only transferred to the landlord 48 hours after the tenant moves in as a security measure and to give the tenant time to review the property.
Irish landlords currently either rent their properties directly to the tenant, or through a rental agent. Spotahome offers a competitive disruptive rental model at a competitive fee that seeks to revolutionise the way property is rented simply by taking the hassle out of the rental process for both the landlord and tenant, eliminating the need for screening calls and holding viewings.
According to CEO and Co-Founder of Spotahome, Alejandro Artacho, “Gone are the days when landlords have to filter calls from prospective tenants and hold viewings. Once they register, their property is photographed, HD video content created and detailed transparent property descriptions done, which Spotahome stands over. All the landlord then needs to do is accept the tenant proposed by Spotahome. Spotahome handles all the communications and the landlord only needs to arrange to meet the tenant to hand over the keys and sign contracts. Both landlords and tenants are offered equal security against default by either party.”
The portal features Irish houses, apartments, as well as rooms to rent in Irish homes and student residences for mid-long term non-holiday rentals over 30 days, saving both the tenant and the landlord significant time and money.
Alejandro added, “Equally Spotahome gives tenants immediate access to properties without having to attend multiple viewings. Tenants are very happy to rent property without having seen it in person and this is especially relevant to those who are travelling from abroad. A few years ago, it was hard to imagine using someone’s home abroad for a holiday rental, however, now it’s a hugely popular option. The digitalisation of the rental market is going the same way ”
Alejandro Artacho concludes, “The long-term objective is to cover all elements of the rental sector removing all the hassle for landlords with tenants moving…moving every possible part of the offline process online.”
Source: www.businessworld.ie
