Live4Life: The ‘Airbnb’ for student apartments and rooms
Live4Life has transformed the student rental market by offering comprehensive solutions for tenants and landlords with a proposition rooted in technology, sustainability, and a seamless, hassle-free user experience. With ambitious expansion plans and a strong vision for the future, the company is emerging as a key player in the global university housing market. Alberto Añaños, CEO and founder of the company, shares in this interview how the idea for the platform was born, the challenges and opportunities of the sector, and how Live4Life plans to grow and bring its value proposition to new cities and countries.
What market needs did you aim to address with this platform?
Live4Life was born eight years ago at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, inspired by a personal experience: it took me over a month to find my future university flat when I started my studies. Countless visits, trips, and interviews with real estate agents and landlords… That’s when I realized student housing needed a specialized company to provide a safe, fast, and efficient solution to this problem. Thus, this platform was created to connect landlords with tenants—a kind of Airbnb for student flats and rooms.
What types of properties does Live4Life offer, and how are they managed?
We offer flats and rooms for students and young professionals, ensuring a secure rental process through our platform while eliminating paperwork and unnecessary trips.
These properties are fully equipped and ready to move in. At Live4Life, we manage the entire process: property acquisition, tenant screening, digital contract signing, guaranteed payments, and services like maintenance, cleaning, and legal advice. We handle everything so landlords can rest easy, and students enjoy a hassle-free rental experience.
Are you planning to enter the conventional rental market, or will you remain focused on the student segment?
We believe there is significant untapped potential in this sector, and we aim to solidify our position before exploring other areas. While we don’t rule out expanding into new markets in the future, our focus will always be on scalable and efficient solutions.
“The main problem in the market, by far, in Spain is public administration. It needs to be said loud and clear.”
What competitive advantages does Live4Life offer compared to traditional student housing options?
Our main advantage lies in providing a comprehensive experience for both students and landlords, with a clear focus on this demographic to become their top choice. From the student’s perspective, we simplify the search process and ensure secure, transparent properties with added services like virtual tours and personalized support. For landlords, we offer complete management services, guaranteed payments, and a hassle-free administrative process, eliminating concerns like squatting.
Additionally, our focus on technology and sustainability allows us to optimize processes and reduce our environmental impact.
What role does technology play in Live4Life’s operations?
Technology is at the heart of Live4Life, driving our scalability and efficiency. From property searches to contract signing, the entire process is fully digitized. We offer 360° virtual tours, online identity verification, and a management dashboard for both landlords and tenants. This not only enhances the user experience but also makes our services faster, more transparent, and more sustainable.
How do you perceive the current state of the rental market in Spain? What are the main challenges faced by tenants and landlords today?
The main issue in Spain’s rental market, without a doubt, is public administration. Let’s be clear about that. For over eight years, there has been a significant imbalance between supply and demand, a situation that worsens each year. There is very little housing in areas with high demographic concentration, while demand is very high and continues to grow.
Rather than facilitating the creation and construction of new housing, the administration imposes barriers on landlords, causing more uncertainty about whether they should keep their properties in the rental market. Tenants and landlords are in the same boat—some just don’t realize it yet.
“Students no longer just look for a place to sleep; they now prioritize functional, well-located spaces with additional services.”
In your opinion, how has the student rental market evolved in recent years, and what trends do you foresee for the future?
The student market has seen significant evolution. It is increasingly professionalized and offers better quality across the board. Students no longer just look for a place to sleep; they now prioritize functional, well-located spaces with additional services. Sustainability and technological integration are also of great importance to them.
Looking ahead, I believe we will see growth in coliving options and further digitization of rental processes.
How do you envision the future of the real estate market regarding property rentals? Do you think platforms like Live4Life will play a key role?
Absolutely, rental platforms—and Live4Life in particular—will play a central role in the future of renting. Users increasingly demand transparent, convenient, and digital solutions that allow them to pay online with the confidence that their flat will be waiting when they arrive in a new city.
Additionally, with the rise of remote work and international mobility, renting is becoming more dynamic and global.
In this context, Live4Life understands the importance of its role in today’s society and is determined to reach every university city on the planet. We are committed to becoming the world’s largest platform for student accommodation.
In terms of expansion, what are Live4Life’s plans for the coming years? Are you planning to expand to other cities or even go international?
Our short-term plan includes expanding to new cities in Spain, where student demand is booming. In the long term, we are working on our internationalization, focusing initially on Latin America and Dubai.
We are confident that our solutions have great potential in these markets, and we are excited to bring our value proposition to a global scale.