Lavanda, the premium “super short-term” rental platform, launches Lavanda AGENT, a SaaS (software-as-a-service) solution, enabling local estate agents to tap into the super short-term rental market (minimum stay 2 nights), and efficiently monetise vacant property awaiting sale or long-term rental.  A UK first, it bridges the gap between estate agents and super short-term rental services, enabling estate agents to both increase their revenue streams and better engage their market.

Lavanda AGENT powers growth and profitability. Agents are able to offer a fully compliant super short-term rental product to both landlords in-between tenants and sellers awaiting a buyer, without any cost or operational hassle. The platform also provides estate agent partners with a major new source of commission revenue, offsetting the impact of other revenue streams that are soon to disappear - specifically the imminent ban on letting agent fees.

To ensure each property is monetised optimally, Lavanda leverages deep industry data and analytics, and allows agents to generate a super short-term rental valuation in a matter of seconds.

The turnkey solution offers full furnishing services (for unfurnished properties), professional vetting, hotel-style housekeeping, in-person meet and greet and a 24/7 concierge service.  Properties are marketed across all major super short-term rental platforms including Airbnb, Booking.com, HomeAway, Expedia, and many more.

Initially rolling out in the London area, within the next 12 months the platform is set to be available in all major UK cities.

Guy Westlake, CEO and co-founder of Lavanda, said:

“Our mission is to unlock value by bridging the gap between the residential property industry and the rapidly evolving super short-term rental market. Much to the frustration of vendors, the recent slow sales market has led to swathes of prime property sitting empty. This has not only resulted in vendors suffering a significant loss of income, but not facilitating a quick sale can also damage the agent's reputation with their client.  Lavanda AGENT solves this specific pain point, powering growth and profitability in our partners, whilst enabling them to delight their customers with a new, value-added service offering, unlocking tens of thousands of pounds in additional income”

Lavanda is currently speaking to several players in the London market, with plans to roll out nationally next year. Agents to adopt the service first will be given a distinct competitive advantage within their local market, increasing their ability to win sole instructions and attract landlords.

Lavanda recently raised £1.5 million in funding from investors including Sir Terry Leahy, former CEO of Tesco, Kenny Bruce, co-founder of PurpleBricks, and Harry Hill, founder of Rightmove.

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What is Lavanda AGENT?

"Lavanda Agent" is a software-with-a-service platform powering two key solutions:

• Lavanda Sales Agent. Set your sales team apart from local competitors and incentivise sole instructions by offering prospective vendors the ability to efficiently monetise their property throughout the selling process, 100% hassle-free.

• Lavanda Lettings Agent.  Offer prospective landlords a fully-compliant turnkey solution that maximises the yield potential of their property with super short-term lets (minimum stay 2 nights), whilst optimally monetising any void periods between long-term tenants.

Benefits:

• Grow faster. Engage your local market and win more new instructions with a unique value proposition.
• Earn more. Incentivise sole instructions whilst introducing a new pure margin revenue stream to your business.
• Delight customers. Enable your vendors and landlords to combat the threat of a slow market and monetise their property optimally.
• Retain focus. Concentrate on challenges faced by your core sales and lettings business without being distracted by short-term rental operations.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

https://lavanda.co.uk

@getlavanda

Lavanda partners with UK estate agents to drive growth in their core business by enabling them to harness the rapidly evolving super short-term rental economy. Lavanda provides an end-to-end solution for premium super short-term rentals (minimum stay 2 nights) - spanning technology, hospitality, operational management and comprehensive reporting. Our end-to-end solution is:

• 100% outsourced
• Hospitality-led
• Fully compliant
• Non-competitive
• Internationally scalable

Lavanda believe in the potential for super short-term rentals to unlock value in society and shape the future of urban living. Lavanda's mission is to help cities understand, embrace and realise this potential.