New website makes renting easier and safer

A new online application takes the pain out of renting for tenants and landlords – and makes the process safer for everyone too.
  
Developed and made by a group of Christchurch men in their mid-20s fed up with inefficient application and tenanting processes, Propd works by allowing potential tenants to apply for properties via the site, uploading all the necessary paperwork as well as a bio about themselves. Landlords are then able to screen potential tenants and develop a shortlist almost immediately – meaning no more overcrowded flat viewings.
  
The process also ensures there is a legally binding paper trail from first contact, as well as ensuring all communication between landlord and tenant goes via the app – that means a record of all requests for repairs and inspections.
  
Beyond making life easier for landlords and tenants, it also allows landlords to easily manage their property portfolio from one, user-friendly place.
  
Propd’s Operations Lead, Loren Burnett, says the idea was born after difficulties with the mens’ own flatting experiences.
  
“From being tenants and landlords we just thought the whole process was too hard, unnecessarily hard – and didn’t have to be that way.”
  
University friends, Tom Stanley, Ryan O’Hara and Jono Coates, spent 18-months testing and building the site to its current form.
  
“There has been a lot of late nights coding, fixing bugs and making our friends give us feedback about using it, as well as sourcing as much expertise from the industry as we possibly could,” says Burnett.
  
Development lead and renter, O’Hara, who built the Propd site, says the group hoped Propd would streamline the rental process in New Zealand, which has of course been a very hotly contested subject.
  
“Propd will update landlords and tenants on all the new law changes under the Healthy Homes Act: What action landlords need to take, and what changes tenants are entitled to, and when.
  
O’Hara said Propd is built using some of the latest technologies that power big sites such as Facebook and Airbnb.
  
“Taking inspiration from the evolution of these leading tech companies, we have hosted workshops, carried out beta testing, and refined Propd to the point where it is easy to use, intuitive and a great user experience.

Photo: (L-R) , Jono Coates, Loren Burnett, Ryan O’Hara, and Tom Stanley.