All projects
Web platform
Housing
2026
RentEase: rental discovery, simplified.
A rental platform that helps students and young professionals find verified apartments, compare options side by side and talk to landlords directly, plus a dashboard for landlords to list and verify properties.
Project
Rental platform (web)
My role
Product Designer, research to hi-fi
Timeline
2026
Tools
Figma · Photoshop
100% verified
Only verified landlords and listings shown
0 agents
Tenants message landlords directly
2 platforms
Tenant web app + landlord dashboard
Overview
Students and young professionals search across many sites, meet outdated listings, pay agent fees and struggle to compare. RentEase brings verified listings, full property details, comparison, favourites and direct landlord messaging into one place, and gives landlords a dashboard to reach qualified tenants.
Research
A survey, a review of Zillow and Apartments.com, and a SWOT analysis.
Trust is the biggest problem: 100% said trust is lacking: unreliable agents, fake listings, hidden fees.
Everyone compares: 100% compare apartments for value, amenities and location.
Agents get in the way: 75% search through agents and want direct landlord contact.
The basics decide: Security, water and electricity mattered to everyone.
Who it’s for
CY Akpala, 24 · Corps member: “I want to see enough information before deciding to visit a property.”
Precious Olatubosun, 26 · Young professional: “I want to be sure a property is real before spending my time and money.”
Design decisions
Trust is the biggest problem
Verification for everyone
The decision: Landlords and tenants verified at sign-up via admin review; only verified listings appear.
Why it matters: Fake listings disappear and renters act with confidence.
Agents get in the way
Direct messaging, no agents
The decision: Tenants message landlords directly, with notifications and history.
Why it matters: No agent fees, the direct access renters asked for.
Everyone compares
Side-by-side comparison
The decision: Shortlisted apartments line up by price, size, amenities and location.
Why it matters: It matches how renters already decide.
The basics decide
Essentials on every listing
The decision: Security, water, electricity, Wi-Fi and laundry on every listing detail.
Why it matters: The questions that decide a viewing are answered up front.
Landlords need tools too
A landlord dashboard
The decision: Listings, add-a-property, verification status, messages and settings in one place.
Why it matters: A trusted marketplace needs both sides working well.
Landlord platform
A dashboard overview, listings management, a guided add-a-property flow and clear verification status.
Process
Discover (brief, survey, personas) → Define (competitive analysis, IA, user flows, journey map) → Design (lo-fi wireframes, hi-fi UI).
Impact
100%: listings verified
0: agents in the loop
2: platforms designed
12: core screens
Renters search in one place, trust what they see, compare quickly and reach landlords directly; landlords gain visibility, qualified tenants and simpler inquiry management.
What I learned
Trust is a UX problem: Verification, transparency and clear IA build confidence.
User needs guide features: Every feature links back to a validated problem.
“I want to be sure a property is real before spending my time and money.”
Precious, young professional: RentEase persona