Member Article

UK’s first compatibility flatmate finder launches in London

Cupid’s arrow points at prospective tenants

Ideal Flatmate, the UK’s first compatibility based flatmate matchmaker has launched in the capital.

The platform, designed by Cambridge professors, is based on an algorithm similar to that of dating websites and prioritises how well matched prospective flat-sharers are in regards to personalities rather than just location and budget.

The algorithm technology, which is functional after the user completes a simple 20 question survey, focuses primarily on the living habits and sociability of users. Questions asked were found to be the most important when assessing living suitability in a study by Cambridge Psychologists Dr Paula Banca and Professor Mark P Haggard.

Founders of Ideal Flatmate Tom Gatzen and Rob Imonikhe came up with the idea for the platform following years of becoming increasingly frustrated with their flatmates, who they had found through listing websites.

Gatzen said, “Both myself and Rob have lived in flat shares that ended up in disaster because we didn’t get along with our flatmates or we didn’t have much in common with them and after discussing it we thought that there must be an easier way.

“London is a mine-field in itself when it comes to searching for a place to live, so we came up with the idea of a platform that takes all the effort out of screening flatmates for you, after you find a property that fits your criteria.”

For just £4.99 a week, users are partnered with their most compatible potential flatmates and properties within their criteria. Paired and grouped tenants can message each other on the site to strike up relationships, much like that on a dating site.

By giving flat hunters more information about their new living partners, Ideal Flatmate aims to reduce the time, effort and stress of flatmate hunting. Launching initially in London, the founders have plans to roll Ideal Flatmate out nationwide throughout the course of 2017.

“For us it’s about personalities, not just properties,” said Imonikhe. “We want to aid the development of long term relationships and prevent the un-pleasantries that come from living in properties that match your criteria but people that don’t.”

Since its initial soft launch phase in November, the site has had more than 30,000 users, over 3,000 people have registered and over 1,000 properties listed on the site.

For more information, please visit the Ideal Flatmate website at www.idealflatmate.co.uk. For media enquiries please contact idealflatmate@pha-media.com or call 020 7025 1350.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Trevor Clarkson .