As rent escalates to upwards of £1,000 for just one room, tenants face the challenge of dealing with unstable roommates and excessively particular landlords.
The rental market is in an absolute state of disarray and many women have heard horror stories of male flatmates trying to shack up with them after they move in.
Jena, 27, said she’s seen men on a popular dating app offering rooms in their flats.
She said: “I thought it was a joke at first, but guys genuinely weren’t finding stuff on SpareRoom so they were asking on the apps.
“It was pretty desperate.”
However, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Leading the saving grace for women looking for a room in London are the Instagram ladies Mia Gomes and Rachel Moore.
Gomes and Moore started the Girlies Guide roommate match-making service with the goal of, among other things, helping women find roommates in London.
“The Girlies Guide”, which has nearly 40K followers on TikTok and 14.3K on Instagram, claims to have helped more than 150 women find their perfect roommate.
The duo hold regular “Find a housemate” meetups across London to help clients find a match.
Mia and Rachel hire out a venue once a month, women sign up online and are then added to a group chat to mix before the mixer.
Upon entering the mixer, attendees are handed one of two wristbands, operating like a traffic light system.
Blue bands if someone is searching for a room, purple if someone has a room spare and is looking for a roommate.
It’s quite the scene.
Swarms of mid-twenties girls gaggling around the bar, swapping numbers and socials, all in hopes of bagging a central London room.
At these events, the energy is high and the stakes even higher.
In a city where housing is scarce and competition fierce, Mia and Rachel’s innovative approach to roommate matching is a breath of fresh air.
The events aren’t just about securing a room, they’re about creating a supportive community where women can feel safe and supported in their living arrangements.
The benefits extend beyond just finding a room.
Many attendees have found lifelong friends and built networks that help them navigate other challenges of city life.
The success of the Girlies Guide events speaks to the deep need for such spaces, especially for women who are often more vulnerable in the rental market.
This would not only alleviate some of the pressures of finding housing but also foster communities that empower and support women.
The story of Mia and Rachel is a testament to the power of community and innovation in tackling real-world problems.
By blending social media savvy with a genuine desire to help, they’ve turned the daunting task of finding a suitable roommate into a fun, engaging, and empowering experience.
You can check out their next event here.
Featured Image Credit: Girlies Guide
