LeaseEase

LeaseEase

"it's just that easy."

"it's just that easy."

Digital subleasing platform optimizing secure rental listing and tenant-landlord connection.

Challenge

Solution

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ROLE

Lead Designer

Project Manager

COLLABORATORS

UCI Project Team 2

SKILLS

Mobile App Design

UX Research

Prototyping

TIMELINE

8 Weeks

THE CHALLENGE

What problem am I trying to solve?

"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."

REDIRECTING FRUSTRATIONS

Could there be an easier and safer way to find housing in high demand areas like Southern California?

These frustrations inspired us to create LeaseEase, as there is no centralized platform to connect leasers with subtenants. By creating one, we aim to streamline the apartment-hunting process, providing resources and security to support both parties

INITIAL RESEARCH/ PROBLEM VALIDATION

Why is this important?

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 and subleasing due to a lack of institutional support.

“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…"

“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…"

edsource.org

"Students are responsible for finding their own sub-leasers with little to no help from the housing offices. Class Facebook pages and Anteater Housing Network become cluttered with posts about every detail of students’ apartments in order to find a match; students even go as far as hanging flyers around campus."

"Students are responsible for finding their own sub-leasers with little to no help from the housing offices. Class Facebook pages and Anteater Housing Network become cluttered with posts about every detail of students’ apartments in order to find a match; students even go as far as hanging flyers around campus."

newuniversity.org

COLLABORATORS

UCI Project Team 2

ROLE

Lead Designer

Project Manager

SKILLS

Mobile App Design

UX Research

Prototyping

TIMELINE

8 Weeks

RESEARCH AND EXPLANATION

What methods will I use to drive clarity and focus on my solution?

These frustrations inspired us to create LeaseEase, as there is no centralized platform to connect leasers with subtenants. By creating one, we aim to streamline the apartment-hunting process, providing resources and security to support both parties

UX RESEARCH METHOD 01 : SECONDARY RESEARCH & INTERVIEWING

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 LeaseEase could address these issues.

What are some housing challenges that you faced when subleasing/leasing?

“I wish we established a contract, because they stained the carpet floor and wasn’t willing to compensate it.”

— UC Berkeley

“They didn’t pay the last two month’s rent and blocked me on every platform.”

— San Jose State University

“I found my tenant off facebook, but they ghosted me and never showed up after I rejected everyone else.”

— UC Santa Barbara

“I wish I knew what kind of people my housemates are and their living habits before I moved in.”

— University of Southern California

UX RESEARCH METHOD 02 : USER SURVEYS

Given the time constraints of this project, we decided to distribute surveys via social media and received 31 responses from individuals who have experienced subleasing challenges.

59.3%

Poor Communication

Poor Communication

59.3% of participants has experienced poor communication with landlord and sub-tenant.

59.3% of participants has experienced poor communication with landlord and sub-tenant.

54.8%

Contract/Security Deposit

Contract/

Security Deposit

54.8% of participants did not have a contract or security deposit when subleasing

54.8% of participants did not have a contract or security deposit when subleasing

44.4%

Inaccurate Listings

44.4% of participants experienced outdated or inaccurate listing when searching for housing online

44.4% of participants experienced outdated or inaccurate listing when searching for housing online

37%

Scams/Unsecured Payments

Scams/

Unsecured Payments

37% of participants have experienced scams and unsecured payments through zelle or venmo

37% of participants have experienced scams and unsecured payments through zelle or venmo

DEFINE/ OPPORTUNITY

Defining core principles to consider the needs of both parties and guide design decisions

After interviewing the participants and screening the current products available on the market, we were able to gain a deeper understanding of our audience. More so, with these pain points in mind, we can begin to translate the insights into features for the platform. Our next step was defining the user persona and journey roadmap.

Payment and Legal Uncertainty

Payment and Legal Uncertainty

built-in legal customizable contract templates and a secure payment system for deposits and rent, ensure both parties are legally and financially protected

built-in legal customizable contract templates and a secure payment system for deposits and rent, ensure both parties are legally and financially protected.

Trust and Security Concerns

Trust and Security Concerns

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.

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.

Lack of Search Filters

Lack of Search Filters

Implement advanced search filters that allow users to specify preferences like location, price, length of sublease, and other relevant factors.

Communication Difficulty

Communication Difficulty

In-app messaging with push notifications to prevent missed opportunities. Users can quickly respond to potential matches without having to rely on social media DMs that often go unnoticed.

In-app messaging with push notifications to prevent missed opportunities. Users can quickly respond to potential matches without having to rely on social media DMs that often go unnoticed.

SYNTHESIS: JOURNEY MAPPING

Exposing pain points and areas for improvement through journey mapping

Based upon data from in-person interviews and user surveys, we organized our observations and categorized them using two user journey maps—sub-landlord and sub-tenant.

DESIGN OVERVIEW

Spotlighting gaps and creating a user-centered solution

Our initial user research uncovered key opportunities to improve the leasing and subleasing experience, such as enhancing trust, simplifying search and communication, and ensuring secure transactions. For the design, we focused on streamlining the onboarding process, refining search functionality, and improving communication tools to create a more seamless experience.

Additionally, we emphasized personalization, making it easier for users to find and secure listings that match their preferences. Existing platforms lacked a cohesive approach to trust-building and efficient discovery, and our redesign aimed to address these gaps by creating a more intuitive and reliable solution.

THE STRUCTURE

Ideas to action

Before designing, we wanted to establish a strong foundation for the app by mapping out key interactions and navigation flows. These foundational elements provided a clear blueprint for the app, guiding our design decisions and ensuring a streamlined user experience.

WIREFRAME

Glimpse of a dream

We brought our vision to life with two lo-fi design concepts, each designed to protect users throughout the subleasing process. By integrating secure identity verification and clear, legally sound lease agreements, LeaseEase helps prevent misunderstandings and keeps both parties safe from common subleasing risks.

DESIGN SYSTEM

Designing a peace of mind

We unanimously agreed on blue as the primary color, setting a foundation for the app’s visual identity. However, to create a cohesive design system, we needed to establish a structured approach to typography and icongraphy.

As we built the prototype in Figma, we introduced accent colors to differentiate features and enhance usability. This iterative process allowed us to refine the design while ensuring clarity and consistency across the interface.

OUR SOLUTION

LeaseEase

LeaseEase is a mobile app that simplifies subleasing by offering secure payments, legally binding lease templates, and verified user profiles. With easy listings and in-app messaging, it ensures a safe and transparent experience for students and young professionals.

Identity Verification System

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.

DESIGN DECISIONS

Identity Verification System

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.

DESIGN DECISIONS

Built-in Legal Lease Agreement

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.

DESIGN DECISIONS

Security Payment via Platform

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.

THINGS THAT I LEARNED

My passion for UI/UX Design

This was my first long-term UX design endeavor, where I had the opportunity to design an app from scratch. I found immense fulfillment in bringing an idea to life, navigating the entire design process from ideation to prototyping and iteration. Seeing the final prototype take shape was incredibly rewarding, as every decision was driven by user needs and thoughtful design.

THINGS THAT I LEARNED

Prioritizing clarity and communication (responsibilities of working in a team)

As the Leader of this project, I learned to think with intention, negotiate with team members, and lead with both kindness and confidence. I also realized that how I present myself directly reflects on my team, shaping our collaboration and workflow. One of the most valuable takeaways from this experience was understanding that what seems self-explanatory to designers may not be for the general public, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, usability testing, and user validation.

THINGS THAT I LEARNED

If I had more time…

As the Leader of this project, I learned to think with intention, negotiate with team members, and lead with both kindness and confidence. I also realized that how I present myself directly reflects on my team, shaping our collaboration and workflow. One of the most valuable takeaways from this experience was understanding that what seems self-explanatory to designers may not be for the general public, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, usability testing, and user validation.