Why the rental search is unfair
The Information Gap
Renters sign leases with little to no knowledge of pests, noise, or landlord history until it's too late.
Hidden Costs
From "bait-and-switch" listings to surprise laundry fees and non-refundable deposits.
No Verification
Tenants want verified reviews and pictures from previous residents, not just staged marketing photos.
How Houstory works
1. Search
Enter the neighborhood or address of a property you're interested in.
We don't just show "Available Now." Our search interface prioritizes safety and history.
With the Houstory® search tool, you see:
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Contextual Neighborhood Data
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"Verified" Badges for Landlords
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Clear Warning Flags
2. View Report Card
We aggregate public data (violations) and private data (reviews) into a single, easy-to-read score.
Our report card provides:
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Landlord Responsiveness Rating
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Pest & Maintenance History
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The Houstory® Score
3. Share Your Story
We empower tenants to pay it forward. Our review flow captures granular details rather than generic ratings.
Help your community by:
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Calling out issues like mold and noise
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Upload photo evidence
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Holding landlords accountable
Our purpose
Mission
To empower renters with comprehensive insights into housing history, fostering trust and confidence in the market. We envision a future where everyone has access to the information they need to make informed decisions.
Vision
We envision a future where every home seeker has access to transparent housing and landlord histories, creating trust and confidence in housing markets worldwide. We hope to build a world where we all can be held accountable in a transparent way.
The Path to Launch
We completed the research and design. Your contribution funds the final hurdle.
Join the Waitlist
Be among the first to know about Houstory® updates and releases! By joining the waitlist, we'll keep you updated on our progress and invite you to test early versions.
Support our mission
Help us protect renters and create fairness in housing. Your contribution directly funds product development, user research, and outreach.
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One-time or recurring donations
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Partnership opportunities for organizations
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Transparent reporting on fund usage