Discounted housing? Understanding shared rental markets under platformisation

Low-income earners and others facing housing market barriers have long sought to save costs by sharing. Potentially a release valve in constrained markets, the share sector is poorly understood due difficulty of tracing informal negotiations between cohabiting households. However, rise online accommodation platforms opens new opportunities view these hidden arrangements while also propelling practices under broader financialisation ‘platformisation’ daily life. With reference Sydney, Australia, one world’s most expensive we use platform data investigate contemporary sector, using listings placed people both seeking offering shared via Flatmates.com.au. Our study contributes emerging literature at intersection markets platformisation, revealing complex rental where may be discounted but are not necessarily affordable for lower income unable access more appropriate or secure alternatives.