Product Design
UXDesign
Goal
The goal is to investigate the real problems faced by people who rent out their homes, identify these problems through user interviews, and propose design-oriented solutions to address them.
Planning and Preparation
I identified the target audience through surveys and selected 5 respondents for interviews.
I created questions designed to explore the users' needs and expectations.
I recorded interviews and took important notes.
Question list
Key Insights
Almost all homeowners rent out their properties to earn additional income.
They mostly prefer long-term rentals and rent to families, as it’s more convenient, and families tend to be more responsible and maintain cleanliness.
Landlords usually find tenants through agents or platforms like Bina.az.
Most use a standard contract template, which often fails to prevent future problems. If each landlord prepared a custom agreement, they could add specific clauses to prevent many issues.
Many landlords only contact the tenant when it’s time for payment. Only one landlord collects a deposit in advance.
Conclusion - Common Problems & Solutions
Late Payments
One of the most common problems is that tenants do not pay rent on time. This makes it difficult or delays the landlord's ability to deal with issues that rely on rental income.
Solutions:
Implement an automated payment system. When the rent is due, a notification should be sent to the landlord or the amount should be automatically deducted from the tenant’s debit card.
Include strict clauses in the contract about the consequences of late payment.
Add a clause stating that if payment is not made within a certain period, the tenant must vacate the property.
Property Damage
Only one landlord stated they want the tenant to feel like the home is their own and take care of it accordingly. All others expressed concern about the tenant damaging the property.
Solutions:
Taking a deposit in advance would be an ideal solution. Although deposits are not yet common in our country, popularizing the practice could help compensate for damages.
Otherwise, checking the property regularly can make the tenant feel uncomfortable, which could result in losing them.
Difficulty Finding Reliable Tenants
Almost all landlords said they prefer long-term tenants and highlighted the challenge of finding suitable ones. Many prefer to meet the potential tenant in person (rather than through agents) before renting.
Solutions:
Platforms or applications for finding rental homes could include reviews from previous landlords about tenants, or enable direct contact with a tenant’s former landlord.
If the person is renting for the first time, a trial period can be set, or a guarantor can be requested.
Check full project here
