The creators of a new app are urging landlords to quit Facebook and LinkedIn
Chris and David Tremlett – former estate agents who used to work at traditional agency Pointins and online operators Purplebricks and Yopa – have launched Gatha, which they describe as a free social media app
The brothers say it’s needed because, as they put it, “people who build, sell, let and fund Britain’s homes have handed their conversation to platforms that charge them to be heard.”
In particular they say Facebook and LinkedIn are built to sell advertising with property posts having to share space with holiday photos and sponsored content – that will not happen on Gatha, they insist.
A statement from the brothers states: “Everyone on Gatha works in property or construction. Feeds are built around a member’s role and patch, not follower counts, so a sole trader stands on the same ground as a national brand.
“A Jobs board puts trades and developers in touch directly, with no recruiter taking a cut. A Projects board lists sites and developments for sale or seeking investment, filtered by strategy from HMO and buy-to-let to student.
“Members message each other directly.”
Chris Tremlett says: “David and I were estate agents. We know what it is to post about a property, a deal or a job and watch it disappear because you didn’t pay to boost it.
“LinkedIn and Facebook were never built for us. They were built to sell our attention to advertisers, and property has been paying for the privilege for years.
“Landlords are living through the biggest overhaul of renting in a generation, and the best advice usually comes from another landlord who has already been through it.
“Right now that advice is scattered across Facebook groups and LinkedIn threads, buried between adverts. Gatha puts it in one place, among people who actually do the job.
“So we are asking everyone in property to do one thing: come and claim your place on a platform that belongs to you. It’s free, and it’s open today.”
Gatha is free to users but the brothers say they will fund it through sponsorship and company accounts.
Gatha: Property Network is available at the App Store or Google Play, or go to gatha.uk.
