New £1m-plus student lettings portal seeking listing...

A new property tech startup is launching this month with the promise that it will “completely transform the way university students search for and find their lettings.”

University Cribs says it provides an online media platform for letting agents and student accommodation providers to publicise properties with the student market.

Although the website - here - has yet to launch, a statement from the founders says the search model will “simplify and streamline the process of finding housing for students by placing all agent-listed properties on to one site” as well as allowing landlords to access their market all in one place.

The interactive website will also offer advice-giving articles and local neighbourhood guides to ease students in to their new residences.

It will formally launch in October with events in Cardiff, Bristol, Swansea, Oxford and Bath; however, it is soft-launching this month, August.

The site claims to have already received commitments from Wales’ largest letting agents including Keylet and Imperial Lettings, as well as some of the UK’s largest hall operators such as We Homes for Student and CRM Students. It says it has investments running to around £1.1m.

Co-founder and director of University Cribs, Jack Jenkins, says: “A recent survey by UCAS media shows that 56 per cent of students would rather view potential properties online than in person, and University Cribs is simply stepping in to meet this demand for time-saving. It’s about time all properties most suitable for students are listed in the same place online.”

He claims agents are “crying out for a specialist student marketer to help them increase their property exposure”.