Steven Charlton, former European boss of Perkins&Will, has launch nHabit, an AI-powered property search platform that enables users to find rental homes using natural language.
The platform is powered by Milo, a proprietary large language model like Google or OpenAI which is connected to a three-dimensional graph database and adds an additional layer to provide a more in-depth search.
NHabit allows renters to describe their lifestyle requirements, commute preferences, safety concerns, and amenity needs in conversational terms. By contrast with traditional postcode-based portals, the platform can identify personally suitable locations and properties, including in areas the user may never have considered.
The platform has the power to transform property search, by opening thousands of places that tenants might not have previously considered because current sites have not evolved to enable real language search, something which AI has progressed rapidly.
“Instead of following the herd to the same old post codes, our aim is to enable people to search naturally for a place to live the way they’d discuss their perfect holiday with ChatGPT.
“Renters can now find places they may not have previously discovered. For landlords, it enables them to be able to promote high quality homes that may not get the showcase they deserve due to their post code.
“For agents, it simply breaks the monopoly of the major platforms whilst opening up the potential for new fees and a much better customer experience.”
Steven Charlton, Founder, nHabit
The model can be seen as a further blow to Rightmove which is currently facing a £1.5bn lawsuit from competitors complaining about its position. Steven built nHabit to help make it easier for smaller agents to succeed in a market dominated by a few big players.
nHabit is set to target estate agents, Build to Rent operators, co-living providers and private landlords, without locking clients into long-term contracts.
