London Stay

About The Client

London Stay is a student accommodation platform designed for international students planning to study in the United Kingdom. It bridges the gap between students and verified UK landlords, allowing users to search, shortlist, and secure accommodation before arriving in the country.

The platform provides complete transparency on pricing, location, availability, and house rules. From private studios near universities to shared housing and fully managed properties, it brings all accommodation options into one trusted ecosystem.

Challenges

International students lacked a reliable platform for verified UK accommodation, forcing reliance on untrusted sources and increasing scam risks.
The search process was fragmented across multiple platforms, emails, and messaging apps, making it time-consuming and inefficient.
There was no mobile-first platform despite students primarily using smartphones for research and booking.
Currency, language, and distance barriers made it difficult to verify properties or communicate confidently with landlords.
Landlords had no dedicated channel to target international students, limiting visibility and occupancy rates.
Students could not filter properties based on student-specific needs such as proximity to universities, lease flexibility, or housing preferences.
The booking and enquiry process lacked structure, leading to missed follow-ups and outdated availability.

Our Approach

Mapped the complete international student journey from offer letter to move-in to identify key friction points.
Conducted competitor analysis to identify gaps in trust, mobile experience, and feature sets.
Designed separate user flows for students and landlords while maintaining a unified backend system.
Adopted a mobile-first design strategy to ensure accessibility across devices and low-bandwidth environments.
Prioritised trust with built-in verification systems for users and properties.
Developed website and mobile app simultaneously on a shared infrastructure for real-time sync.
Followed a phased development approach for faster launch and continuous improvements.

Key Implementation

Website Development: Built a fast, responsive platform with advanced search filters including university, city, postcode, pricing, and student-specific amenities.
Mobile App Development: Delivered a cross-platform app (iOS & Android) for seamless accommodation browsing and booking.
Verified Listings: Implemented landlord identity verification, property validation, and media checks to ensure authenticity.
Smart Search: Developed map-based search, distance radius filters, and real-time availability indicators.
In-App Communication: Built messaging system with templates, response tracking, and automated follow-ups.
Booking System: Created end-to-end booking flow including enquiry, agreement signing, secure payments, and confirmations.
User Profiles: Enabled personalised student profiles with preferences, shortlisting, and sharing features.

Results & Outcomes