Renting sucks, we are changing that

If you are twenty-first-century millennial, chances are you’ve had your fair share of rental drama. From scouting for the perfect apartment, dealing with agents, the fees, moving in and having to call the landlord a dozen times before the clogged toilet is fixed or water is pumped. And let’s not even get started on the never-ending living expenses.

Well, you’re not alone. We’ve heard these stories more times than we’d like. Enough to realise that something has got to change. Cluster wants to be the force behind that change. First, let’s get into some things you already know.

Renting sucks

Let’s talk.

How long do you spend going through endless listings before you find the perfect home? How much of your rent are you coughing up as fees? 30%, 40%? Then you finally move in and you still have to worry about furniture, splitting bills with your roomie, calling your landlord endlessly for repairs and fighting to get your security deposit back. It totally sucks but it doesn’t have to.

Renting is expensive

The cost of rent has incredibly skyrocketed in the last decade. If you live in a city like Lagos, then you’re probably familiar with overpriced housing. Sometimes it doesn’t matter what that apartment looks like, you’ll get told that the rent price is N400k. Absurd, right? Incurring costs on agency, legal and caution fees makes the entire system even more vexing. Add all those fees with other primary living expenses and you’ve just about spent over 50% of your paycheck.

Renting is necessary

At the end of the day, it all still boils down to the fact that everyone needs a roof over their head. As of 2018, only 7% of gainfully employed people could afford to own a house. And while owning a home is totally the dream, right now it’s more about access over ownership. With so many people renting, it’s more important than ever to switch up the system and improve renters’ experience.

So how are we going to be the force behind the change?

We are taking the bull by the horns and taking a swing at the entire rental ecosystem. Right from the moment you need to find a home to your experience for the entire duration of your rent and finally when it’s time for you to move out. We’re starting with a suite of products which we’ve labelled Enabled by Cluster.

Through Enabled by Cluster, we are fostering coliving, ensuring zero fees (no more agency, legal or caution fees) and leveraging technology and partnerships to provide renters with the best class experience.

We can’t wait to share it all with you. Stay tuned.

Cheers.