How three engineering students are transforming rental experiences in rural and semi-urban India
Like many young people, we — Anjan Kumar, Gaurav Raj, and Shashi Ranjan Singh — faced a common but frustrating challenge: finding clean, affordable, and trustworthy rental rooms while moving to new cities for our education. As engineering students from small towns, we experienced firsthand the difficulties of securing safe housing without local connections.
We quickly realized that this problem wasn't just ours — it's one faced by millions across rural and semi-urban India. Students, migrant workers, and young professionals all struggle with unverified listings, lack of transparency, and the constant fear of rental scams.
That's when our mission began. Combining our technical skills with our personal experiences, we set out to build a solution that would make rental housing safer, more transparent, and accessible to everyone — especially in regions often overlooked by mainstream platforms.
Building a better rental experience through technology and trust
We created Sublet with one goal — to make rental housing safer, smarter, and more accessible for everyone, especially in underrepresented regions. Our platform uses technology to connect tenants with verified property owners, ensuring every listing is real, every landlord is accountable, and every user feels confident in their next move.
Unlike traditional rental platforms that focus on urban centers, we've designed our solution specifically for the needs of small towns and rural areas. We understand the local challenges because we've lived them, and we're committed to solving them through innovation.
Key features that set our platform apart
Every property is verified by PIN code with physical checks to ensure authenticity and accuracy.
Property owners are verified using Aadhaar, creating accountability and reducing scams.
Available in multiple Indian languages for better accessibility in rural areas.
Built-in chat and call options to connect tenants and owners directly.
Honest ratings and reviews from previous tenants to build trust.
Low-cost listings for owners with no hidden fees or charges.
The broader impact of our work
Our platform supports students, workers, and families by increasing digital access to housing in regions where such tools have never existed. We help landlords earn fairly, tenants rent safely, and communities grow stronger — all while reducing scams and misinformation in the rental market.
In rural and semi-urban areas, the rental market often operates through word-of-mouth or local brokers, leaving many vulnerable to exploitation. By bringing this process online with proper verification, we're not just creating convenience — we're establishing new standards of safety and transparency.
For students moving to new towns, migrant workers seeking temporary housing, or families looking for affordable rentals, our platform provides peace of mind in what is often a stressful and uncertain process.
The engineering students behind this initiative
Tech Lead & Visionary
Anjan drives the technical vision of Sublet, focusing on creating solutions that work seamlessly in low-bandwidth rural areas. His personal experiences with housing insecurity motivate his commitment to digital empowerment.
Community Outreach
Shashi connects with property owners and local communities to ensure our platform meets real needs. He designs the user experience to be intuitive for first-time internet users.
Security Systems
Gaurav develops the backend systems that keep user data secure while maintaining the platform's lightweight performance on basic smartphones.
"Together, we're engineering change — one verified listing at a time." What began as a college project has grown into a mission to transform rental housing across India's underserved communities. As engineering students, we're applying our technical skills to solve real problems we've experienced firsthand.
We're not just building a platform — we're solving a problem we once lived. Join us in transforming the rental experience and building a better, more inclusive working world — starting from the roots.
Join Our Mission