LeaseEase | Research Deck
LeaseEase
UX RESEARCH + UX/UI DESIGN
2024
LeaseEase
"It's just that easy."
LeaseEase is a digital platform designed to simplify the subleasing process for tenants and landlord. LeaseEase’s role as a trusted solution for secure and hassle-free subleasing. The interface streamlines identity verification system, lease agreements, and communication, making it easier than ever for users to find, rent, and manage subleases with confidence.
Leasing in a high demanding city is hard.
Leasing in a high demanding city as a college student is harder.
LeaseEase
Digital Subleasing Platform
01 | Desk Research Finding
Problem Validation
"As a college student in Southern California, I have faced the housing crisis head-on. Rent prices in cities like Irvine are extremely high, making it difficult for students to find affordable and flexible living spaces. Additionally, the process of subleasing is often fraught with challenges, including finding trustworthy sub-letters, unclear lease terms, and a lack of secure payment options."
We wanted to ensure that the housing crisis among students was a real issue, not just an isolated case. After conducting online research, we confirmed that many students face housing insecurity when leasing due to a lack of institutional support.
01 | Desk Research Finding
LeaseEase_Sydney Chen
"How are students dealing with increased housing cost?"
UC Santa Barbara student Kris Hotchkiss lives in a van borrowed from Rahyen Heilmann, a close friend. The two friends renovated it to include a bed, fridge and ceiling fan. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Hotchkiss had to endure a leaking roof, soggy bedding and power failure that shut down the ceiling fan, refrigerator and lights for six weeks. He has no shower or toilet. That’s because he lives in a van — the only affordable shelter he could find.
“Because most UC and CSU campuses don’t guarantee housing for all four years — and in some cases don’t guarantee it to any students — students are often left to fend for themselves in such difficult rental markets as Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Cruz…"
Many college students today face a crisis when it comes to securing affordable and stable housing. In urban cities where rent is already high, students are often priced out of nearby apartments. Despite the demand, on-campus housing is limited, leaving many students on indefinite waitlists with no guarantee of placement.
Ironically, even when students manage to get on-campus housing, the prices are not necessarily more affordable than off-campus options — in fact, universities often charge premium rates for convenience and amenities, which doesn’t help low-income students trying to make ends meet.
01 | Desk Research Finding
LeaseEase_Sydney Chen
"Student homelessness in Washington State rose from 18,670 in the 2007-2008 school year to 40,934 in 2016-2017 — more than doubling in a decade."
Doubled up
Students "doubled up" (living temporarily with others due to loss of housing or economic hardship) make up the largest portion.
Unsheltered Students
This is the fastest growing category, rising +168%. Where students live in spaces that are not meant for human habitation (cars, parks, streets, etc).
Hotel/Motel Accommodations
Increased by +104%, indicating more families are relying on temporary lodging due to lack of stable housing.
LeaseEase
Digital Subleasing Platform
02 | Primary Research
College Students
Limited on-campus housing, increased housing costs, constrained timeframe.
We decided to focus our target audience on college students, particularly those attending universities in urban areas with limited affordable housing. Students are often placed on long waitlists for on-campus housing and face high rental costs off-campus, leaving them with few stable options.
Through interviews, we found that many students experience housing insecurity due to limited supply, rising costs, and short timeframes between academic terms. While students showed interest in alternative housing solutions, most struggled to act on them due to financial constraints, lack of resources, or time pressures during the school year.
02 | Primary Research
LeaseEase_Sydney Chen
"College Students"
"The most harmful effects of student homelessness are personal. Compared to their peers, homeless college students experience higher levels of anxiety and poorer physical health, and have less access to nutritional food. "
"What methods will we use to drive clarity and focus on our solution?"
"What technological solutions (e.g., business operation softwares) are currently available for leasing and subleasing?"
"What are the key factor contributing to the success or failure of a college student's leasing experience?"
02 | Primary Research
LeaseEase_Sydney Chen
In-depth user interviews
We conducted user interviews with four college students from different schools to better understand housing challenges. The goal was to gain insight into their experiences and explore how we could address these issues.
Interview Key Takeaways:
“I wish we established a contract, because they stained the carpet floor and wasn’t willing to compensate it.” — Age 20, Undergrad Student at UC Berkeley
“I found my tenant off facebook, but they ghosted me and never showed up after I rejected everyone else.” — Age 20, Undergrad Student at UC Santa Barbara
“I wish I knew what kind of people my housemates are and their living habits before I moved in.”— Age 19, Undergrad Student at University of Southern California
02 | Primary Research
LeaseEase_Sydney Chen
User Survey Insights
Given the time constraints of this project, we chose to distribute surveys through social media channels and received 31 responses from individuals who have experienced subleasing and leasing challenges.
Survey Key Takeaways:
Poor Communication
59.2% users experience poor communication with landlord/tenant.
Unsecured Payments
37.2% users experience unsecured payments such as zelle, venmo, cashapp.
No Contract/Security Deposit
54.8% users experience no contract/security deposit when subleasing.
Outdated Listings
44.4% users experience outdated listings when searching for subleasing/leasing online.
LeaseEase
Digital Subleasing Platform
03 | User Insights
Trust, Legal, and Communication difficulty
After interviewing the participants, we were able to gain a much deeper and more nuanced understanding of our target audience—their challenges, frustrations, and behaviors when navigating the housing process. These conversations revealed not only surface-level pain points but also underlying issues related to trust, time constraints, and lack of transparency in subleasing and leasing experiences. With these insights in mind, we can now begin to thoughtfully translate our findings into meaningful platform features that directly address the users' needs.
02 | Interview Quotes
LeaseEase_Sydney Chen
"We have no choice but to find as many people as possible to share a room, if we don't, we would not be able to afford to live in Irvine."
Age 21, Undergrad Student at UC Irvine
LeaseEase
Digital Subleasing Platform
03 | Survey Insights
LeaseEase_Sydney Chen
Payment and Legal Uncertainty
Trust and Security Concerns
Communication difficulty
built-in legal customizable contract templates and a secure payment system for deposits and rent, ensure both parties are legally and financially protected
Introduce an identity verification system to confirm the legitimacy of both sub-leasers and sub-tenants. Ensure users feel safe and secure when entering into a lease agreement.
In-app messaging with push notifications to prevent missed opportunities. Users can quickly respond without having to rely on social media DMs that often go unnoticed.
LeaseEase
Digital Subleasing Platform
04 | Defining
Jobs to be done
We employed the Jobs-to-be-Done framework to identify the product’s essential features in line with our research findings. Our goal was to translate the needs of college students navigating leasing and subleasing into tangible, user-friendly experiences that are accessible, stress-free, and, most importantly, do not add additional burden during an already busy academic schedule.
04 | Defining
LeaseEase_Sydney Chen
01
02
03
I want to "know who I'm subleasing/leasing to,"
so "I can trust them with my place."
I want to "be able to have a security deposit and contract,"
so "I feel safer when I sublease my place out."
I want to "pay rent on a secure platform,"
so "I don't get scammed."
LeaseEase
Digital Subleasing Platform
05 | Key Features
I want to know who I'm leasing to,
so I can trust them with my place.
Feature: Identity Verification System
Challenge
How can we help students feel more secure and confident when leasing or subleasing their place to someone they don’t know?
Solution
To ensure secure leasing, we require multi-factor authentication and identity verification. Users must complete two-step verification to login their accounts, and prospective tenants must provide a government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or Real ID, before finalizing any lease. These measures help prevent fraud and protect all listings.
I want to be able to have a security deposit and contract,
so I feel safer when I sublease my place out.
Feature: Built-in Lease Agreement
Challenge
How can we help students feel more secure and protected when creating lease agreements for subleasing?
Solution
LeaseEase offers a built-in legal lease agreement available through an online system, streamlining the subleasing process. Customizable lease agreement templates allow sub-landlords to edit and send them to sub-leasers digitally, ensuring clarity, compliance, and security. This feature enhances efficiency while providing a seamless and legal leasing experience.
I want to pay rent on a secure platform,
so I don't get scammed.
Feature: Secure Payment via Platform
Challenge
How can we help students feel confident that their rent and deposit payments are safe and protected from scams?
Solution
Secure payment processing through the app, ensuring that all transactions, including rent and security deposits, are safely handled. By using a trusted payment system, funds are securely transferred and tracked, preventing fraud and reducing the risk of sub-landlords running away with deposits.
