We're still collecting donations
On the 26th September 2020 we'd raised £5,003 with 83 supporters in 42 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
We want to revolutionise the St Andrews property market and alleviate stress for students when finding a rental property through our app!
by Olivia Dovernor in St. Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
On the 26th September 2020 we'd raised £5,003 with 83 supporters in 42 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
The extra money would go along way to updating and improving the mobile app platform as there is always more we can do to support the student market including legal guidance in terms of regaining or paying deposits.
An extra £5,000, would allow us to look into the UI/UX design of the platform and would support the ease of service from the students fingertips right through to connected and collaborated businesses.
A messaging system for students to find spare rooms and chat to find new flatmates may also be developed with remaining funds from the extra money. The next update should hopefully include a private landlord section to incorporate more of the student market and once again, remaining funds could be used to make this a reality.
As the team behind this project are graduates who have all been through the St Andrews private rental application system, we feel a personal responsibility to improve the experience for future students when they undertake the task of navigating the maze that is the St Andrews rental market when wanting to move from university halls to privately rented accommodation.
Myself, I had to stay in a run down bungalow after being split from the majority of my friends and was still asked to pay over £600 per month to live in a poorly maintained 1960s built house and the same was and still is the case for the majority of St Andrews students. Well we think it's about time that something changed because it effects your university experience and we want graduates to be behind us every step of the way!
We think it's time we streamlined the application process, made it less stressful and time consuming and give the letting agents and property managers in the town some accountability for the properties they let. The platform we are wanting to create will add transparency to the market to stop students running after properties that are already let and create an opportunity and a sense of control that is currently missing for St Andrews students (and maybe even introduce a price comparison to the market!).
We think it's time that we move with the market. Students at St Andrews have been neglected for too long! The virus has impacted the property industry with virtual tours and viewings being adopted by most letting agents. So, why not add a student targeted portal to that list?
When university starts next in September/October we want to be ready to offer students another option. By collating student properties onto a mobile application platform in areas surrounding known university towns, those who are looking for private accommodation cannot only see the properties that are specific to their needs and preferences, but see the location of that property with respect to their campus and feel more supported with their viewings and applications.
Our Instagram page @thestudentbubble was launched on the 4th September and will continue to guide students before and after we make improvements in the market - feel free to follow and support us online (and amongst the guidance see some quality St A property content!).
We are currently raising funds to support the design and development of the mobile app and web-based letting agent platform.
We are so happy to announce also that RBS have backed our business and will match our 50% donation so help us reach £2,500 today to trigger their pledge!
Thank you very much,
The Student Bubble Team
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