Student housing letting agency finds innovative way to have viewings during the Pandemic

Channel 4’s George Clarke might rule the roost on hosting entertaining housing and real estate TV shows, but some University of Gloucestershire students have recently been showing off their ‘Amazing spaces’ in a similar style.

The student letting agency Carlain Properties, who offer accommodation in Cheltenham, Gloucester and Oxford, have found an innovative way to continue house viewings during the pandemic.

Although Cheltenham is only currently at a local COVID alert level of medium, which you can check through the NHS app or Government’s postcode-checker, the rule of six still applies. Meaning meeting in groups larger than six people is prohibited whether indoors or outdoors. Therefore, it is illegal for a group of four or more students to visit a house they are looking to rent out next year. As the viewers, landlord and current tenants would make a total group of nine. This makes the job of letting agencies, looking to make sure students have a place to move into next year, very difficult.

So, like most things in 2020, house viewings are going virtual.

Carlain has asked current tenant students to produce a video of their house, going room by room, for potential future residents to view the property without having to enter it.

For some, like George (no relation to Clarke) from 247 Swindon Road, this was a creative opportunity too good to be missed.

Carlain said “In light of the present situation we are using the exercise both to limit viewings, and a bit of fun to help keep tenant spirits up through these tough times!”

And explained there was something in it for tenants too:

“As a sign of additional appreciation (and to get the creative juices flowing!) we have also offered a grand prize of £250 once all videos our in.. (judged by our expert panel!) with the winner being shown across our social media.”

Miles Hampton, a first year student at the University of Gloucestershire, recently signed on to a house he had viewed virtually described his experience as;

“It’s obviously not as good as a real house viewing, but we still saw all the rooms and the guys who made it, clearly really liked the house they were in. And made a good video too.”

Unfortunately George wasn’t available for an interview but another up and coming filmmaker for Carlain, Josh from next door, was.

On making the video he said “I found making the video amusing but I think our chances of winning are slim.”

Other letting agencies around Cheltenham haven’t picked up the same idea, but we’re hoping more do so we get to see more experimental and creative films like George’s.