OnTheMarket launches market-first ‘accessible home’ search facility

Property portal OnTheMarket has introduced an “Accessible features” search filter to its website to help find homes to fit mobility needs.

The ‘Accessible’ search will help would-be movers find homes with special features such as ramped access, wide doorways, wet-rooms, wheelchair accessible parking, lift access and the like.

ICON

Properties that meet these requirements now display an accessible features icon on the search results and property details pages, making suitable properties instantly clear.

As well as being present on listings, the icon is clickable and names the features that qualify the property as accessible when pressed.

 OnTheMarket consulted with former estate agent Guy Harris, founder of AccessiblePRS, a property consultancy which specialises in accessibility in the rental sector.

The Accessible Letting Scheme was launched by AccessiblePRS in December 2021 to support letting agents.

Making property searches as easy and inclusive as possible is really important to us.”

Jason Tebb (pictured), OnTheMarket chief executive, says: “I’m incredibly proud of the latest additions we’ve brought to our site. In particular, we’re really pleased to be leading developments in the way consumers with access needs search for property.

“Our goal to listen, innovate and deliver applies not only to our agent customers but to our consumers too, so making property searches as easy and inclusive as possible is really important to us.”

LEVEL PLAYING FIELD

Guy Harris, founder of AccessiblePRS, adds: “OnTheMarket proactively make changes towards levelling the playing field for property searchers with accessible housing needs.

“Their first phase of access and inclusion updates is a clever use of technology as a steppingstone towards increasing focus within the industry and making the property search process more inclusive.”