Rent Smart
Helping renters feel prepared and organized when searching for housing in Toronto.
Table of Contents
Overview
Research
We conducted 8 user interviews (~30 minutes each) with post-secondary students who had rented in Toronto. Four core insights emerged:
Participants uncertain about what to look for when renting
Reported significant emotional stress during their housing search
Encountered bad landlord experiences or trust concerns with online listings
Key insight: Renting requires local knowledge that newcomers and first-time renters simply don't have. The process is emotionally taxing, and unreliable information sources compound the problem.
Ideation
We explored three design concepts:
- Knowledge Quiz — Test users on rental knowledge and surface gaps
- Interactive Map — Visualize neighbourhoods with rental insights layered in
- Checklists — Multi-stage guided checklists with embedded resources
Testing
We tested all three concepts with users. The Checklists concept won by a clear margin. Users found it:
- More actionable than the quiz (which felt like a test)
- More structured than the map (which felt overwhelming)
- Directly useful — they could follow it during an actual housing search
Proposed Design
Rent Smart is a multi-stage checklist tool that guides renters through the housing search process step by step. Each stage includes contextual resources, tips, and links to relevant Toronto housing information.
Next Steps
- Conduct usability testing with the hi-fi prototype
- Partner with University of Toronto housing services to validate content accuracy
- Explore integration with MLS/listing platforms for real-time data
- Consider a landlord verification feature to address trust concerns