Rightmove experiments with ‘Rent London’ Facebook Messenger bot and iOS app

Rightmove logo

Rightmove is testing out new ways for home hunters to interact when searching for a home to rent.

An experimental Facebook Messenger bot has been created for people searching in London for a place to rent, and is available to anyone by searching for ‘Rent London’ within Facebook Messenger.

Using Messenger’s conversational style interface, renters can search for properties, view property details, shortlist properties, book viewings and be notified when new properties are listed on Rightmove. The bot has been created using the Teneo natural language platform from Artificial Solutions.

­­­­­

The bot will ask potential renters a series of questions, such as what kind of home they are looking for, their budget, when they want to move in and where they would like to live near to. People can then create a shortlist of properties that they like, and can send a message to the agent marketing the property to book a viewing.

Rightmove’s Head of Innovation, Hannes Buhrmann explains: “Our Messenger bot enables us to explore the potential of messaging apps and conversational user interaction. At this stage it’s very much in its infancy so it won’t understand some things, but as more people use it the more it will understand. While searching in this way won’t replace traditional methods any time soon, messaging platforms are becoming key communication tools for many people and so we feel it’s important to learn how best to engage users through conversational interfaces such as this one.”

The bot can be used on its own, or for more functionality it can be used in conjunction with Rightmove’s new experimental ‘Rent London’ app that anyone on iOS can download through the Apple store:

https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1202863755?mt=8

As well as the usual price and property type search terms, the app lets a renter add the date they are planning to move, the destination they commute to each day and their maximum desired travel time. They can choose a location if they know where they want to live, or they can let the app choose suitable properties within the M25 that match with their other criteria.

Once they are looking at properties, they can access extensive neighbourhood information, including price overviews, area guides, and a comparison with neighbouring properties. The app will also suggest similar neighbourhoods in other parts of London. Renters can tell the app whether they like or dislike a neighbourhood and the app will automatically promote properties in preferred neighbourhoods to the top of the search results.

If they choose to connect the app to Facebook Messenger they can be alerted to new properties that match their criteria directly in Messenger. Once they receive an alert in Messenger, they can ask for more details, save the property to their shortlist, or request a viewing without leaving Messenger.

Buhrmann continues: “We’re constantly trying out new features and ways for our users to find the home they want and find their happy, and through these experiments we want to find out the information that matters most to renters when they are searching online. Do they want help with a location? Is it handier for them to receive updates in their Facebook Messenger app than on email? We hope this trial will help provide further insight into a number of these things and help inform future versions of our main platforms.”

Rightmove

UK Property news updates shared directly from Rightmove PLC - the country's leading property portal.

You May Also Enjoy

Planning disputes on new build land
Breaking News

Padel Boom Sparks 113% Surge in Planning Applications

17,000 UK Sites Ripe for Development New insight from Searchland reveals that planning applications for padel courts surged by more than 113% in 2024, with the upward trend expected to continue throughout 2025. The explosive growth of the sport in the UK has unlocked a wealth of potential for developers and investors, with Searchland estimating…
Read More
Breaking News

Property values rise at 5.3 times the rate of earnings

House prices across Britain rise at 5.3 times the rate of earnings in the last year The latest research from eXp UK has found that the average house price in Great Britain has increased at 5.3 times the rate of average earnings over the past year, highlighting a widening affordability gap for homebuyers. eXp UK…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

London homes with a patio prove hot property,

The latest research from Benham and Reeves has found that London homes offering a patio have become highly sought after, with 41% of all patio-equipped properties currently listed already snapped up by eager homebuyers. However, potential buyers dreaming of a summer-ready outdoor space might face challenges, as only 8% of properties currently on the market…
Read More
Home and Living

High Quality Modular Homes for the UK

Are you looking for added accommodation space in your garden / on your land? Modular Living Homes by tutumHOUSE offer a new way to live – minimalist in form, rich in experience. “There are approximately 9.6 million homes in the UK with a garden shed, and around 52% of the population owns one.” asgardsss There…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

The most stressful places to move to in the UK

With more people in the UK moving homes during summer than any other season and the average cost of moving in the UK rising to over £14,000, picking the right place to move to has become more crucial than ever. Luckily, new research from Pay Less for Storage reveals the UK cities that make life easiest…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Time-Traveling Estate Agent Sequel Climbs Amazon Charts

A UK Estate Agent Currently Bringing Joy to People’s Lives – Shame He’s Fictional…   Eric Meek, the fictional estate agent created by author Dale Bradford, is back for a second outing in The Time‑Travelling Estate Agent 2, a sequel that is already climbing Amazon’s bestselling time‑travel rankings. Estate agents were recently highlighted as the third…
Read More