Tech startup set to revolutionise student accommodation

A Birmingham-based tech startup has set out to revolutionise student rental property market and improve the quality of accommodation for university students throughout the UK.

Student Accommodation Quality Service Assurance (SAQSA) is a web-based solution created to improve the experience of both students and landlords and take the pressure of often stretched university accommodation departments.

SAQSA is the brainchild of artificial intelligence (AI) expert Dr Ahmed Mussa. He came up with the idea after his own poor experience of accommodation when he was studying and more recently reading national reports which showed it was still a massive issue today.

Dr Mussa who has a PhD in application of Artificial Intelligence and Automation said:

“Providing accommodation is a service, not a product, so I wanted a system which will help guarantee the quality of student accommodation across the country, a system which involves all parties – student, landlord and university.”

SAQSA is based on the principle of positive reinforcement for good rental services, so is designed to engage directly with landlords, opening a process to effectively coach them on how to deliver better conditions for their student tenants.

The AI system has already been tested with more than 3,000 students completing standardised accommodation reviews, of which 60% indicated accommodation was sub-standard. 

Following the successful first phase, they are now seeking three universities to sign up to use SAQSA and test it for the second beta stage. Each of the first three universities to sign up will be given free subscription for one year – an offer worth around £10,000 each.

Universities wanting to sign up are asked to visit the SAQSA website.