A business launched by a University of Bristol graduate bent on fixing the ‘toxic’ student rental market is looking to expand across the UK after finding accommodation for more than 1,000 young people.
Hannah Chappatte set up online platform HYBR just over two years ago to put an end to the traditional scramble that takes place every November when millions of students have to find accommodation outside of their university halls of residence. 
Initially covering just Bristol, it has since expanded to employ 10 people and now also operates in London, Cardiff, Exeter, Lincoln, Liverpool, Sheffield and Lancaster.
Having been self-funded, it is also now looking for investment to fund further expansion into Bath, Manchester, Nottingham and Leeds.
Hannah, pictured, who graduated in Liberal Arts, English Language and Literature, said students should be excited about moving out and being independent for the first time.
But instead they are forced to decide in just a few short weeks where to live for whole of the following year – and those without guarantors must pay a full year’s rent in advance.
Many end up unhappy, living in houses beset with damp, uncaring landlords and letting agents who do not answer their calls.
Hannah described this, for students, as “a waste of valuable time that could be spent studying or having fun”.
She added: “Every year this cycle repeats – it doesn’t work for anyone and has created a toxic market where students don’t trust landlords and landlords don’t trust students.”
Having seen the problem for herself, she stood outside University of Bristol’s library with doughnuts to entice students to talk to her about their rental experiences – and was shocked by what she found. 
With fellow Bristol student Pablo Giacomi she launched HYBR to link up landlords and students and also give free advice to both.
The fledgling firm was helped by the Basecamp Enterprise Team within the University of Bristol Careers Service, taking part in its award-winning Growth Support Programme, which matched Hannah and Pablo with a business mentor and providing access to professional consultants and a series of workshops.
HYBR then went on to win £5,000 through the Growth Stage of the New Enterprise Competition in 2020.
The firm now also holds housemate matcher events, helps with contracts, gives students access to legal support and offers free, impartial advice on everything from deposits to maintenance issues, while student ‘ambassadors’ in each city keep HYBR’s finger on the student pulse.
The firm, which recently won a year’s free rent in swish offices near Liverpool Street in London, is now poised for further growth across the UK and then internationally.
Hannah said: “We have just brought in a senior team to take the business to the next level. We are looking to raise £500,000 through angel investors and venture funds.
“But this isn’t just a UK problem and we want to start looking abroad as soon as possible.
“Ultimately, this is about fixing a broken a market. I want to question every part of the rental system and the status quo to see if there’s a solution out there.
“Every part of the market is geared against underprivileged students who don’t have guarantors – we also want to help them.”
University of Bristol Careers Service director Stuart Johnson added: “HYBR is the archetypal disrupter. Hannah and her team saw a market that needed change and set about making that happen in dogged fashion.
“It’s been a joy to see them go from success to success and we wish them the best of luck in the future.”
