HaggeleHouse - The Student Rental App.

HaggleHouse is a web application designed to simplify finding, managing, and negotiating student rental properties. Developed as part of a final year project at the University of Liverpool for a BSc in Computer Science, this application aims to address a critical gap in the market where 63% of students find it hard or very hard to find affordable accommodation (2023).

Deployed live on : hagglehouse.ebinsabu.com

Desktop View

Mobile View

Key Features

User Registration and Authentication

• Users can create accounts and log in securely
• User roles are defined, distinguishing between students and landlords

Property Listing

• Landlords can list rental properties with details like location, price, availability, and property features
• Students can search and view property listings without registration

Search and Filter Functionality

• Students can search for properties based on location, price range, property type, and other relevant filters

Real-Time Messaging

• Students and landlords can communicate in real time, facilitating questions, negotiations, and property inquiries
• Notifications for new messages and property updates are available

Price Negotiation

• Students can submit offers on rental properties
• Landlords can respond with counteroffers
• Negotiation history is maintained

Responsive Design

• The web application is responsive, ensuring a seamless user experience on various devices and screen sizes

Custom Backend API

• A custom backend API is developed for handling data storage, retrieval, and user authentication
• The API supports real-time messaging and price negotiation functionality

User Profiles

• Users can create and manage profiles with preferences and contact details

Intuitive Search

• A prominent search bar allows users to quickly enter their preferences, with auto-suggestions for effortless search

Property Cards

• Property listings are displayed as clean, concise cards, featuring high-quality images, pricing information, and essential details

Technology Stack

HaggleHouse is built using the MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js) stack and incorporates a custom API for backend operations, including:

• Data storage and retrieval
• User authentication
• Real-time communication between users and landlords

The API plays a crucial role in managing data flow and ensuring security within the application.

Motivation

While many apps are designed to help students find accommodation, none enable them to negotiate with landlords effectively. HaggleHouse aims to bridge this gap by providing a platform where students can easily search for properties, submit offers, and communicate with landlords in real-time.

With its user-friendly interfaces and location-based search capabilities, HaggleHouse simplifies the process of finding and securing student rental properties, addressing the challenges faced by a significant portion of the student population.

Setup

To run the HaggleHouse application, follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal and navigate to the server directory:

   cd server
   

   Then, install the dependencies and start the server:

   npm install
   npm run dev
   

2. Open another terminal and navigate to the frontend directory:

   cd frontend
   

   Then, install the dependencies and start the client:

   npm install
   npm start
   

The HaggleHouse application should now be running locally on http://localhost:3000, and you can access it through your web browser.