This Crystal City firm is an Airbnb for student housing

For those spending a bundle on student/intern housing, Crystal City, Va.–based 4Stay is employing an Airbnb model to help find cheaper, fully-furnished options.

“Dealing with rent, contracts, utilities, gas and Internet – it’s a nightmare,” 4Stay COO and cofounder Faridun Nazarov told Technical.ly DC. “We have created an Uber-like experience for students. All of our apartments are required to have furniture, Internet, with utilities included. They pay one fee and they don’t worry about everything else.”

Nazarov founded the company with high school friend Akobir Azamovich in 2016, and says the company will soon close on $1 million in seed funding. It was a natural choice for the pair, who moved from Tajikistan to the D.C. area in 2007 to attend school, but found inconvenient housing options. In 2010, they founded STP Housing Solutions, and subleased over 10,000 beds to students and interns in seven states. They required no credit checks, fully furnished rooms and little notice when the tenants wanted to move out.

4Stay takes a 10 percent commission from renters, who accept candidates based on a background check.

“Student life is already stressful,” Nazarov said. “It used to be you’d have to go search for a property management company that was available on a certain date, sign a contract, pay a huge amount of money on televisions and furniture. The process used to be long and costly and we want to be your one-stop-shop for student housing needs.”