Rightmove vs Homesty | No Walled Marketplaces, Fair Renting

Why Rightmove and Zoopla Are Walled Marketplaces — And Why Homesty Is Different

When you’re searching for a rental home, the obvious choice seems to be Rightmove or Zoopla. But behind the glossy listings lies a reality that many renters already know: these platforms have become walled marketplaces, forcing tenants into intense competition with hundreds of others for the same properties where they have no voice!

The Problem with Walled Marketplaces

Platforms like Rightmove and Zoopla don’t just show you homes — they lock you into a crowded battlefield:

• 100s of applicants per property: You’re one of many, often never hearing back.

• Pay-to-play exposure: Landlords paying for visibility means the market is shaped by fees, not fairness.

• Middlemen filters: Letting agents dominate listings, acting as gatekeepers between you and the landlord.

The result? Stress, wasted time, and a higher chance of missing out.

The Hidden Market: Where Tenants Actually Find Homes

Away from Rightmove and Zoopla, most properties circulate on forums and localised platforms like Facebook Marketplace, SpareRoom, and Nextdoor. These “hidden” markets are less crowded, but they’re also less safe. Scams, unverified landlords, and no protections make it risky to trust what you see.

Why Homesty Offers a Better Way

Homesty brings together the best of both worlds:

• Choice without chaos: A wide range of properties, but no overcrowded marketplace.

• Direct landlord contact: Speak directly with landlords, without middlemen or agents.

• No prejudice, no gatekeeping: Our system is designed to keep communication open, fair, and transparent.

• Safety baked in: Stripe-secured payments and Right to Rent–compliant contracts via DocuSign.

Homesty creates a rental experience where you’re not fighting for scraps in a walled garden — you’re finding a home in a fair, safe, and open marketplace.

Final Word

The future of renting isn’t in the hands of platforms that thrive on overexposure and middlemen. It’s in open, transparent, and secure platforms like Homesty, where tenants get a fair shot and landlords get simplicity.

It’s time to leave the walled marketplace behind.

Moving starts with a connection