Flatties, we have the app for you

Otago Polytechnic IT students,  outside a Harbour Tce flat (from left), Shaun Keegan (22),...
Otago Polytechnic IT students, outside a Harbour Tce flat (from left), Shaun Keegan (22), Cameron Hegarty (21) and Cameron Johansen (22) are developing an app to manage flat finances. Photo by Linda Robertson.
Squabbles over money in student flats could soon be a thing of the past if an app designed by Otago Polytechnic students takes off.

The app, designed by three third-year IT students, keeps track of whether flatmates have paid flat bills and made it easier to single out and chase down tardy bill-payers. 

Cameron Johansen said most flat fights were over money and it was hoped the app, which made the top 40 of the annual Audacious Business Challenge, would help prevent conflicts between flatmates.

It would also make life easier for the ''head tenant'', who instead of having to incessantly nag flatmates to pay the latest bill would be able to click a reminder button in the app.

''They can keep track of who has paid what, and also other tenants in the flat can keep track of what money is in the flat account, who has paid their bills and due dates for bills.''

The app ran on web-browsers, which meant it could be accessed by flatmates on any device with a web-browser, which included smart-phones. The three students had been developing the app since February.

It would be a few weeks before it was ready to be ''released in the wild'' and trialled by users, with the full release expected by the end of the year.

Use of the app would be free, but it was hoped it would be funded through local advertising.

vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz

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