Ten Questions with Dan Lifshits, Co-Founder & COO of Dwelly

The eventual rise of the tech-enabled real estate agency has become an increasingly inevitable topic of conversation since Artificial Intelligence entered our collective mindset in 2022.

But what does a tech-driven agency look like? And how do you do it fast and at scale?

The closest we've seen for some time is Dwelly, a UK-based, AI-focused startup that is acquiring agencies directly and simply plugging its software into the pre-existing business.

Dwelly appears to be a financially well-backed venture that is ready to splash the cash on lettings businesses that have already achieved scale and whose owners are on the lookout for an exit strategy—or an easier working day.

With two significant acquisitions closed in 2024, Dwelly already has circa 1,500 properties in its portfolio and seeks to more than double its footprint in 2025.

I spoke to co-founder and COO Dan Lifshits (pictured) to understand more about the business model and where Dwelly fits into the next generation of real estate businesses...

What problem does Dwelly solve?

Dwelly addresses inefficiencies, fragmentation, and lack of effective technical solutions plaguing the UK property sector. By integrating property agents into a single platform, Dwelly simplifies complex processes such as submitting rental applications, property searches, tenant communications, and legal compliance. With the help of AI tools, Dwelly optimises these processes, enhancing the experience for both tenants and landlords.

This increased efficiency enables property agents to operate more effectively, moving away from outdated systems and automating most tenant management tasks. With the assistance of technology, property management jobs are typically completed within a week, much faster than the current average time.

Dwelly’s model and partnerships enable agencies to overcome the industry’s technical debt challenges and transition to fully automated operations within just two months.

What is Dwelly's value proposition?

At the heart of our business is the tenant and landlord experience.

We provide the missing piece for the evolving property market by helping agencies to get modernised, fast. As digital technology becomes increasingly important, many owners and tenants welcome more innovative, tech-driven solutions. Additionally, our AI-powered technologies optimise agent performance, enhancing efficiency and productivity.

Dwelly’s solution also adapts to the needs and expectations of business owners who are interested in selling or transferring control of their agencies. Since most UK agencies are privately owned and have been built by individuals over many years, we ensure that their future, reputation, and effectiveness are considered alongside their founders’ interests.

What’s the plan here? Tell us your big vision.

Our strategic goal is to become the leading technology-driven property agency in the UK, disrupting and modernising the industry. In the long term, we aim to expand our model to continental Europe and the United States.

Dwelly plans to scale rapidly and become one of the largest residential rental platforms.

How is Dwelly funded?

Dwelly has secured seed funding from several family offices, venture capital funds, and prominent entrepreneurs. This funding supports the company’s growth and technological development and propels our mission to revolutionise property management and rental services both in the UK and abroad.

How does Dwelly make money?

To date, Dwelly has been making a profit by operating according to the traditional agency model, charging a management fee of approximately 10% of the monthly rental income. This covers the same personalised, human-touch services we provide.

What other numbers can you share with us?

We’ve already completed two acquisitions and manage around 1,500 properties.

From our internal findings with our first agency partners, we’ve achieved faster property rentals, with an average turnaround time of less than one week compared to the traditional two- to three-week period.

This is a very acquisition-heavy model. Tell our readers about your due diligence process.

Our due diligence process is designed to identify well-established, independent agencies that have demonstrated solid performance and reliability in their local markets. We typically focus on agencies that are already operating at scale—usually with several hundred properties under management—and have a strong, experienced leadership team in place.

We evaluate a variety of factors, including the agency's track record, reputation in the community, operational processes, and financial stability. We also assess the quality of their property management practices, their technology infrastructure, and their ability to provide a seamless experience for tenants, landlords, and maintenance providers.

By focusing on agencies that have already achieved a certain level of success and stability, we ensure that we are partnering with businesses that are well-positioned for growth and capable of benefiting from our tools and services. This approach allows us to create long-term value for all parties involved.

What is agent sentiment regarding data and AI solutions?

The goal is not just to implement AI for the sake of it, but to use it to empower agents and make their jobs more efficient and effective, enabling them to provide a better service. Today, many tasks are still done manually. Our tools help standardise some of these tasks, and allow agents to focus on what they do best: offering personalised service to tenants and landlords. AI is designed to help people perform their work better, not to replace them.

What products and services are you currently working on?

Dwelly is focused on improving the property management experience for landlords, tenants, and maintenance providers.

For tenants, we’re enhancing the property search process to make it more intuitive and user-friendly. For landlords, we offer comprehensive dashboards to manage property portfolios, track rental yields, and monitor investment performance. Additionally, we’re developing dashboards for maintenance providers to help them manage tasks, track progress, and monitor payments.

Our long-term vision is to create a seamless, transparent, and efficient property management experience for all parties involved. We aim to make the real estate process easier to navigate and to benefit everyone in the industry.

What will the real estate journey look like in five years?

In the next few years, we expect the core aspects of property searches, rentals, and maintenance to be fully digitised and streamlined, with technology at the heart of the process. Real-time updates and automated tools will replace manual tasks, leading to a more efficient and transparent experience. While the human aspect of real estate will always be present, technology will play an increasingly critical role.

What should the industry be talking about that it isn't talking about?

As the property market becomes more tech-focused, agents’ roles will evolve.

Technology will enable them to work more efficiently, while still maintaining the human touch that is essential to the industry. The adoption of digital tools will improve the overall process, but the need for personalised service will remain. With younger, tech-savvy clients, businesses must adapt to the digital transformation to meet changing expectations. Major companies like Foxtons are already investing in technology to stay competitive, and Dwelly is part of this shift towards a more technology-driven property market.