Breaking Property News 23/4/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.

 

Student digital rental platform business sets up HQ in Chicago

 

Press Release Chicago, United States 23rd April 2026 – Fast-growing proptech firm Housr has secured office space at 210 N Racine Avenue in Chicago, establishing a new US headquarters as the business continues to expand rapidly across the United States.

Advised by LEVEL, the move marks a significant step in the company’s international growth strategy, providing a dedicated hub to support its scaling US operations.

Founded in Manchester, Housr is a digital rental platform focused on simplifying the student housing experience. The company connects students with accommodation while streamlining the entire rental journey—from property discovery and booking to ongoing tenant engagement—through a tech-enabled, user-friendly platform. Housr has experienced strong momentum, underpinned by recent funding and a clear ambition to build a global student housing platform.

The business recently secured $10m in private financing from Texas-based investors, unlocking further product innovation and expansion into key university markets across the US.

The Chicago base will act as Housr’s US HQ and its third regional office, bringing the company’s total footprint to four sites globally. LEVEL has also supported Housr in acquiring its UK headquarters and has continued to work closely with the business as it scales internationally.

Harry Panter, Co-Founder and CEO of Housr, said, ‘We’re building a platform designed to transform how students rent and interact with their living experience. Expanding into the US is a major milestone for us, and Chicago provides the ideal environment to scale our operations and continue that growth journey.’

He added: ‘Our growth trajectory and recent investment reflect the scale of opportunity ahead, particularly in the US where demand for a more integrated, digital-first rental experience is rapidly increasing.’

LEVEL supported Housr throughout the search process, identifying a space aligned with the company’s culture, operational needs and future growth plans.

Joe Averill of LEVEL said, ‘Housr is a business with clear momentum and ambition. The brief was to find a space that not only supports their current team but also reflects where the business is heading. 210 N Racine delivers on flexibility, quality and location — all critical for a company scaling at this pace.’ LEVEL is a tenant-focused workspace advisory firm that helps high-growth companies find and secure office space, providing independent, end-to-end support from search through to lease negotiation.

The deal reflects continued demand from high-growth tech businesses for flexible, high-quality workspace as they expand into new international markets.

Andrew Stanton Executive Editor – moving property and proptech forward. PropTech-X

Andrew Stanton

CEO & Founder Proptech-PR. Proptech Real Estate Influencer, Executive Editor of Estate Agent Networking. Leading PR consultancy in Proptech & Real Estate.

You May Also Enjoy

Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Price increase hints at usual Autumn bounce

Average newly-listed asking prices rise by 0.7% (+£2,441) this month to £367,440, the first monthly price increase since May: September’s above-average price increase for the time of year is a possible early sign of the usual Autumn bounce in activity, though there is considerable ground to make up after a somewhat subdued and distracted summer…
Read More
bank of england interest rate
Breaking News

Bank of England’s rate hold

The Bank of England has held interest rates at 3.75% for the sixth consecutive time. Matt Smith, Rightmove’s mortgage expert, says: “The Bank of England’s decision to hold the base rate will come as welcome news to mortgage borrowers, particularly those on tracker mortgages whose monthly repayments move in line with changes to the base…
Read More
yopa sales 2017
Breaking News

54,000 properties hit market during back to school rush

Over 50,000 homes have hit the market since the nation’s schools returned following the summer holidays, with the level of property for sale climbing by as much as 35% across some areas of England, according to the latest research by Yopa. The full-service estate agency analysed the number of homes listed for sale across each…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

69% of homebuyers would compromise on their property

New research from UK Property Development reveals that 69% of recent UK homebuyers would be willing to compromise on the property itself to live in a better location, while 65% say they would pay more for a home if the location was right. The findings, from a survey of 1,016 recent UK homebuyers*, highlight the…
Read More
Breaking News

The UK towns boasting +80% house price growth amid nationwide drop

For the first time since 2023, UK house prices have dropped. However, many areas are bucking the recent news, with strong growth overall in the last 5 and 10 years. The cash house buyers and property experts at Sell House Fast have compiled ‘The Property Prosperity Index’, revealing the best places to buy and sell property…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

London remains destination of choice for international property wealth

The latest research from London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has revealed that London accounts for 43% of all property titles owned by overseas companies across England and Wales, highlighting the capital’s enduring appeal as an international property investment destination. Benham and Reeves analysed the latest Land Registry Overseas Companies Ownership Data to…
Read More