Launched 2009 | Current status Active | |
Type of site Marketplace, Real Estate, Accommodation Available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Mandarin Website www.housinganywhere.com | ||
Housing Anywhere is an international online housing platform that focuses on the student housing market. The Rotterdam based start-up was founded in 2009 by Niels van Deuren, a student at that time at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam. Since 2014, Djordy Seelman is one of the main shareholders of Housing Anywhere as well the Head of Development.
Contents
History
The student initiative Housing Anywhere was conceptualised and introduced in 2009. The initiative developed from a small student project to a global platform. It began in 2009 when the founder, Niels van Deuren, was studying for a degree in International Business Administration at the Rotterdam School of Management. Included in his studies was a semester abroad at the National University of Singapore, through which he realized a problem and a gap in the market of student housing. Van Deuren noticed the struggle to find housing in Singapore, and in the meantime, also trying to sublet his room in Rotterdam, and through this experience, the company Housing Anywhere was born.
Growth and international expansion
Starting off on a small scale by seeking partnerships with Dutch universities, through which the university would promote the platform to their students, Housing Anywhere began to grow. In 2011, the online platform began to expand internationally, by becoming active in a number of European countries, including Spain, France, Germany, and Denmark. By 2015, Housing Anywhere was operating, through partnerships with universities, in countries outside of Europe, including Brazil, Mexico, and the United States.
Concept, product and business model
The business model of Housing Anywhere is based on the sharing economy. Students going abroad, leaving an empty room in the city of their home university can advertise their room on the website, and students looking for a place can rent out these rooms via the platform. Additionally, by establishing partnerships with universities around the world, Housing Anywhere is able to create a network, in which the platform asks for a subscription or membership fee to join the network. Lastly, although using the platform is free for students, when booking an accommodation, Housing Anywhere charges a booking fee for using their booking system. This booking system includes a ‘not good, money back’ guarantee, as a way to deal with scammers that might be on the platform.
International Students
Housing Anywhere is the first housing platform for international students that is focusing worldwide.
Competitive industry
Housing Anywhere has been referred to as the Airbnb for short/mid-long term student housing. What differentiates the two is their focus in the market. While Housing Anywhere focuses on longer term accommodation for students and more specifically international students, Airbnb focuses on vacation rental homes for shorter stay.
The international housing platform has direct competitors also focusing on the international student accommodation market, such as Uniplaces and Student.com.