Tthe first platform for finding a roommate in Greece, MyRoomie.gr, was created by Dominicos Pritis, bringing together those who have a space and want to live together and those who wish to rent a house and share the costs.
The smart business idea came about when he also found himself in need of looking for a house and not finding one.
A problem faced by many people these days, especially in Crete because there are few available houses and moreover the rents are very expensive.
“The need to reduce costs and the search for more flexible ways of living encourage Greeks to consider more openly the idea of living together with strangers, something common in the rest of Europe” he told “P” mentioning that while students are the core of their target market, they are also addressed to professionals, young workers and other social groups who seek the economic and social benefits that cohabitation offers.
My Roomie’s audience is from 18 to 60 years old and D. Pritis, who participated in Dragons Den and achieved funding, explains how he decided to operate a platform that focuses exclusively on roommates and what is the “key” to succeed.
Q: How did the idea for MyRoomie start and what exactly is it that you created?
Ans: The idea of MyRoomie was born from a personal need that I faced while returning from Krakow to Greece. When looking for a home, I experienced the difficulty of finding attractive rental proposals that met both my financial and personal needs. This prompted me to create MyRoomie, a platform that connects people with common interests and needs in the housing space, offering a modern, safe and easy-to-use solution for finding a roommate.
Q: In Greece, are we familiar with the logic of cohabitation, and if not, will the need eventually make us?
A: Despite the fact that in Greece cohabitation is not as widespread as in other countries, modern conditions lead to a gradual change. The need to cut costs and the search for more flexible ways of living are encouraging Greeks to more openly consider the idea of living with strangers.
Q: Is it common in other countries?
A: In many countries, especially in Europe, cohabitation is an established practice, especially in big cities where the cost of living is high and people are looking for ways to share expenses and create new social structures.
Q: Students are, I guess, the first on the list of those who would choose it to find a house more easily and have less expenses. What other categories of people are you targeting?
A: While students are the core of our target market, we also focus on professionals, young workers and other social groups who seek the financial as well as social benefits of co-housing.
Our audience, to give you an idea, is from 18 to 60 years old.
Crete is one of the biggest markets
Q: On your platform there is also the geographical area of Crete. What is the response and what are people looking for here?
A: In Crete, as in other parts of Greece, the response is positive. Users there are primarily looking for economically viable solutions for long-term housing, but also opportunities for shorter stays linked to tourism. There seems to be a great need in the area of student housing. In fact Crete is one of the biggest markets behind Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras.
Q: Do you have any insight into the shortage of houses nationwide and especially in Crete?
A: Nationwide, there is a shortage of housing that can meet the increased demand, especially in large urban centers and tourist areas. Crete in particular is experiencing this phenomenon, with the market under pressure due to its touristic nature.
The fact that all over Greece there are around 900,000 unfurnished houses due to confiscations, golden visas, etc. does not help much either. Houses that are empty and “sitting”.
The “key” for good cohabitation
Q: What should one keep in mind and pay attention to in order to achieve a good cohabitation?
A: “Key” to a successful cohabitation is communication and transparency. We recommend that users clarify their expectations and discuss their concerns openly before cohabiting. The right choice of roommate can be the basis for a harmonious and cost-effective living.
