Stekkies

Stekkies: real-time alerts to find a rental home

Stekkies is a digital platform designed to streamline the search for rental housing. Its system automatically scans more than 1000 real estate listing websites every minute and notifies the user as soon as a new offer matching their criteria appears. The goal is for the applicant to respond among the first, since, as the company itself explains, landlords usually consider only the first 10 or 20 interested parties.

How the service works

The user defines their search preferences and the platform continuously monitors real estate portals. When it detects a compatible home, it sends an alert within a timeframe the company estimates at around 30 seconds. In addition to traditional portals, the system also checks listings posted on social media. The company states that most users find a home in approximately seven weeks, although this time may be longer in high-demand cities or with tight budgets.

Features for organizing the search

The platform includes tools to manage the search process centrally:

• Creation of up to four different search profiles, useful for those searching in multiple cities or price ranges.
• Option to add a search buddy (partner or housemate) at no additional cost, so both receive the same results and alerts.
• Marking homes as applied or visited so you never lose track.
• Dynamic application letter template, which the user can copy and adapt to respond more quickly.
• Pet filter to know immediately if animals are allowed.
• Location search by neighborhoods, radius, travel time, or drawing areas on the map.
• Filters for minimum and maximum price, number of bedrooms, floor area, furnished, and extras such as balcony, garden, or bath.

User profiles and types of housing

Stekkies is aimed at different types of tenants: individuals searching alone, couples, families, expats, and students. For families, the platform looks for homes with enough space and proximity to schools and workplaces. For students, it offers access to rooms, studios, and apartments, including social media listings. The platform also allows indicating living preferences, such as sharing a flat with two or more independent tenants.

The company clarifies that it does not manage social housing: its search focuses on the free sector. It also does not act as a real estate agency nor rent out homes on its own behalf.

Language and scope of operation

The entire platform and support are available entirely in English, making it easy to use for expats. The company offers specific guides to orient this audience on how renting works in the Netherlands. Search filter prices are shown in euros, with ranges spanning from 0 to over 5000 euros per month.

Subscription model and conditions

The service is paid. The company justifies the cost by the value of the competitive advantage it offers: if it were free and used by all applicants, that advantage would be diluted. There is a 14-day trial with a money-back guarantee if the user is not satisfied. By default, the platform sends only free listings, although the user can enable receiving offers from portals that require an additional subscription. The company states that it only includes listings from verified landlords.

Requirements and considerations for renting

Stekkies warns that many landlords require income equivalent to between two and three times the monthly rent. For example, for a budget of 1500 euros, the company estimates that income of between 3000 and 4500 euros will be requested, usually adding the partner's income. For students without stable income, it suggests using a guarantor, such as parents, since some landlords accept this type of guarantee.

Rating and reach

The company claims to have a rating of 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot and notes that thousands of people have found housing through its tools. The service is available through its website and app, with support in English.