The Room Xchange is a proptech platform solving the age-old problem of finding the right housemates, but with the application of modern personality and lifestyle matching, identity verification, and the option to receive rent for a room or offset via household help.
The Room Xchange is a proptech platform solving the age-old problem of finding the right housemates, but with the application of modern personality and lifestyle matching, identity verification, and the option to receive rent for a room or offset via household help.
Now in its fifth year since launching in 2017, The Room Xchange’s mission is to unlock access to the 13.5 million unused spare bedrooms in homes across Australia.
With mortgage payments on the rise, limited affordable rentals and cost of living increases, the home sharing model is a win/win for householders and housemates alike.
“Our profiles make it easy to be matched based on personality values and lifestyle so you feel like you’re coming home to a friend,” says Ludwina Dautovic, the Founder & CEO of The Room Xchange.
“Our rent or rent offset model gives households and housemates the opportunity to choose a traditional rental model or a rent offset, which allows the housemate to offset part or all of the rent in exchange for help around the house,” she continues.
Ludwina is focused on creating an alternative for the house sharing market that goes beyond the traditional flatmate model.
“All users on our platform must have a Digital iD by Australia Post which creates a safe and secure house sharing community. Our households have quite a lot invested in their homes and want to ensure the person who moves in, is who they say they are. No other house sharing platform in Australia makes this a mandatory requirement,” explains Ludwina.
The Room Xchange’s experience is that a typical spare bedroom in a residential home is worth upwards of $10,000 - $12,000 a year in rent, which makes a handy contribution to paying the mortgage.
A spare room could also be worth up to 300 hours of domestic help annually, providing valuable household support as needed.
The proptech platform has resources to assist in negotiating and documenting the arrangement via a house sharing agreement.
As an adjunct to their unique business, The Room Xchange has also become a resource hub, helping people to rent better.
With the rental and house sharing market on the rise, The Room Xchange has published over 50 blog articles, has editable house sharing templates and Ludwina also hosts The Room Xchange Podcast which is available on Apple, Spotify and Amazon.
Ludwina says: “My goal is to be the go-to place for rental and house sharing resources in Australia and to provide confidence for homeowners to find the right housemate for their home. As our tagline says, ‘find your people; feel at home.’”
In her spare time, you’ll find Ludwina in her art studio. She finds it a soothing and relaxing process that helps keep her balanced and focused.