A new AI-powered property search platform is aiming to challenge the dominance of Rightmove and Zoopla by allowing renters to search for homes using everyday language while offering estate agents a lower-cost alternative to traditional property portals.
The platform, called nHabit, enables renters to describe the type of lifestyle they want rather than searching by postcode, location or property type.
Users can enter details about commuting requirements, local amenities, safety concerns and lifestyle preferences, with artificial intelligence identifying suitable homes and locations that may not have previously appeared on their radar.
Founded in April 2025 by former Perkins&Will Europe boss Steven Charlton (main picture), the London-based business combines a proprietary large language model known as Milo with a three-dimensional graph database designed to analyse neighbourhood characteristics and property suitability.
PERSONAL SEARCH
The launch comes as growing numbers of agents continue to explore alternatives to the established portal model amid concerns over costs, competition and market concentration.
Unlike traditional portals, nHabit says it focuses on matching renters to locations and properties based on personal suitability rather than simply displaying listings within a chosen postcode.
Steven Charlton (main picture), Founder of nHabit, says: “Instead of following the herd to the same old post codes, our aim is to enable people to search naturally for a place to live the way they’d discuss their perfect holiday with ChatGPT.
“Renters can now find places they may not have previously discovered. For landlords, it enables them to be able to promote high quality homes that may not get the showcase they deserve due to their post code.
“For agents, it simply breaks the monopoly of the major platforms whilst opening up the potential for new fees and a much better customer experience.”
MARKETING AND DATA
For agents, the platform is positioning itself as both a marketing channel and a data tool. Listings are offered on a pay-as-you-go basis from £10 per property per month, with premium listings starting from £15 and volume discounts available.
The company says agents are not tied into long-term contracts and can scale usage up or down as required.
Alongside property advertising, nHabit provides market intelligence reports covering local demand trends, tenant profiling, pricing insights and activity within bespoke coverage areas.
The platform also incorporates AI-powered tenant matching, neighbourhood compatibility scoring and lead verification tools designed to help agents identify suitable applicants more efficiently.
