EasyRent: Facilitating Short-term Housing Leases and Flatshares in Switzerland with Cardano Smart Contracts
Problem
In Switzerland, short-term housing is largely inaccessible due to rigid, non-transparent leasing processes, deterring potential renters.
Total to date
This is the total amount allocated to EasyRent: Facilitating Short-term Housing Leases and Flatshares in Switzerland with Cardano Smart Contracts.
[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant
Yoav Matzkevich[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)
Individual[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants
Raphael Assaraf
[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)
12[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language
No[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)
We will develop a Cardano smart contracts-based framework to manage solo- and co-housing rentals, enhancing the accessibility and reliability of short-term housing leases in Switzerland.
[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
No[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”
No dependencies
[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?
No[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs
As part of the project, we will analyse several potential business models around the proposed solution. the open-source status of the project output will depend on the analysis. While the main criteria for the decision will be the impact on the wider Cardano ecosystem, it is possible that some components of the proposed solution will remain proprietary.
[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution
Our proof of concept will focus primarily on the development of a robust smart contract framework for managing solo and co-housing rentals in Switzerland. This initial phase will concentrate on the contractual elements to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of using Cardano smart contracts in the rental market:
- Smart Contract Templates: Development of customizable smart contract templates tailored to meet the unique needs of short-term rentals in Switzerland, ensuring compliance with local regulations.
- Automated Contract Execution: Implementation of smart contracts that automatically enforce the terms of rental agreements, including payment terms and conditions for lease termination.
- Transparency and Security: Leveraging blockchain's inherent properties to ensure all contractual transactions are transparent, secure, and immutable.
Future developments, pending the success of this proof of concept, could include:
- Payment Automation: Integrating ADA for handling deposits and rents securely via escrow.
- Dispute Resolution Mechanism: Advanced smart contracts to resolve disputes based on predefined criteria automatically.
- User Interface Development: Creating a user-friendly platform for renters and landlords to interact with the smart contracts easily.
This phased approach allows us to validate the core functionalities and benefits of using blockchain technology in real estate before expanding to more complex features.
[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
The success of this proof of concept will showcase the practical application of Cardano smart contracts in real estate, particularly for the Swiss market. This project will serve as a model for how blockchain technology can innovate traditional industries by providing a demonstrable use case that illustrates how Cardano's blockchain can be used for legal and financial transactions in real estate, increasing trust and reducing friction.
The increased adoption of Cardano, encouraged by demonstrating its capability to handle complex agreements and transactions securely and transparently, will foster community engagement. We plan to engage with the Cardano community to receive feedback and further refine the application, promoting a collaborative development environment.
We will be able to measure impact through the number of contracts executed and managed through the framework, community surveys, direct feedback to gauge satisfaction, and contributions to Cardano's development libraries and best practices, fostering a richer development ecosystem. By validating this concept, we aim to open new avenues for blockchain applications in real estate and beyond, enhancing the value and utility of the Cardano network.
[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?
Our team brings a wealth of experience in computer science, finance, and blockchain technology, ensuring strong project oversight and resource management. With a proven track record of effectively managing complex projects from conception through to execution, our leadership is well-positioned to guide this project to success.
We have subject matter experts in the Swiss rental market whose insights are crucial for aligning the project with market needs and legal standards. Additionally, we plan to recruit a skilled Cardano smart contract developer with a proven track record in developing and deploying blockchain solutions, further strengthening our team’s capabilities.
To validate the feasibility of our approach, we will conduct early-stage feasibility studies and prototype testing in controlled environments. These tests are designed to ensure that our smart contract solutions are not only technically sound but also practical within the Swiss legal and regulatory framework. Continuous legal reviews will be conducted throughout the project to ensure ongoing compliance with Swiss laws.
Our commitment to trust and accountability is demonstrated through transparent reporting and regular community engagement. We will maintain open lines of communication with all stakeholders, providing detailed updates on project progress and integrating community feedback to refine our approach. By adhering to high ethical standards and ensuring secure data handling and transactions, we aim to build confidence among stakeholders in the viability and value of the project outcomes. This approach ensures that the project will be managed with the highest levels of trust and accountability, supporting successful delivery and fostering confidence in the project's contributions to the Cardano ecosystem.
To illustrate the community engagement, we have the possibility of working collaboratively with ID management solutions such as IAMX (https://iamx.id/), wallet providers such as Yoroi (https://yoroi-wallet.com/), Lace (https://www.lace.io/) or Nami (https://www.namiwallet.io/). In general, the fact that the Cardano foundation (https://cardanofoundation.org/) is based in Switzerland makes it easy to coordinate with the ecosystem.
[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?
Research and Design
(~10 weeks)
This phase involves conducting in-depth market research to understand the specific needs and challenges faced by short-term renters and landlords in the Swiss market. The design phase will focus on creating the initial blueprint of the smart contract framework, detailing the technical and functional requirements.
Outputs:
Research report on the Swiss rental market
Project Plan including design of the smart contract framework
Acceptance Criteria:
Research findings must accurately reflect market needs and regulatory requirements,
Project plan and the design must be feasible for implementation within the Cardano ecosystem.
Evidence of Completion:
A link to a pdf document containing both elements
Development of Legal Framework (Real World)
(~16 weeks)
The focus here is on developing a robust legal framework that integrates seamlessly with the technical smart contract system. This framework will ensure that all smart contract operations are compliant with Swiss laws, particularly those regulating short-term rentals.
Output:
Legal contract template that aligns the smart contract functions with Swiss laws and real estate regulations.
Acceptance Criteria:
The framework must be legally compliant and capable of being integrated into the smart contract system without conflicts.
Evidence of Completion:
Link to a repository of Legal documents and compliance checklists
Development of Smart Contracts
(~18 weeks)
In this milestone, the previously designed smart contracts are developed and tested. This involves coding the contracts, deploying them in a test environment, and conducting thorough testing to ensure they operate as intended, handling all specified transactions and scenarios.
Outputs:
Fully functional smart contracts coded, tested, and ready for testnet deployment.
Acceptance Criteria:
Smart contracts must perform all specified functions correctly under test conditions, including handling of transactions, dispute resolutions, and contract terminations.
Evidence of Completion:
Code repository with deployment-ready smart contracts and detailed test reports demonstrating their functionality and compliance with the legal framework.
Conclusion and Closeout
(~8 weeks)
This final phase involves compiling all project activities, outcomes, and learnings into a comprehensive report. The closeout report will document the project’s journey, including challenges faced, successes achieved, and provide recommendations for future scalability or implementation phases.
Outputs:
Final project report detailing the development process, challenges faced, outcomes, and potential for future scalability.
Closeout Video
Acceptance Criteria:
Project closeout report & video as per
Evidence:
A link to closeout report - PDF file on Github
Link to closeout video
[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?
Shay Gammer - Project Lead/Manager
Shay is a seasoned professional with a rich background in computer science and finance, adept at leveraging blockchain technologies to drive innovation. As the Project Lead, Shay is responsible for overseeing the entire project, coordinating efforts, managing resources, and ensuring the project's overall success.
Yoav Matzkevich & Raphael Assaraf - Subject Matter Experts in Swiss Short-term Rentals
Yoav and Raphael bring extensive expertise in the Swiss housing market, particularly in short-term rentals. Their deep understanding of the local real estate regulations and market dynamics will be invaluable in shaping the project's approach to meet the specific needs and challenges of this sector.
Barak Matzkevich - Commercial Business Development Consultant
Barak brings high business development, sales, communication & persuasion skills. Extensive experience in international companies coupled with creative ideas for business development, innovative concepts and a solid history of sales success. Proven ability to drive revenue and cost performance in the business under direct management to agreed strategies and ahead of budget.
Led the business development & sales effort to introduce highly innovative automotive & IT technologies to tier-suppliers and OEMs across all regions.
[TBD] - Cardano Smart Contract Developer
If our proposal gets funded, we will reach out to TxPipe (https://txpipe.shop/) or Gimbalabs (https://gimbalabs.com) for development/audit work, as we have experience working with them.
[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Milestone 1 - Research & Planning - 20,000 ADA
Legal Research - 10,000 ADA
Team ~ 20 hours
Legal Experts ~ 5 hours
Architectural Framework - 7,500 ADA
Team ~25 hours
Project Plan - 2,500 ADA
Project Lead ~7 hours
Milestone 2 - Development of Legal Framework (Real World) - 30,000 ADA
Legal Framework Development and Validation - 30,000 ADA
Team ~ 80 hours
Legal Experts ~ 10 hours
Milestone 3 - Development of Smart Contracts - 30,000 ADA
Smart Contract Development - 25,000 ADA
Blockchain Developer ~80 hours
Documentation- 5,000 ADA
Team ~10 hours
Final Milestone - Conclusion and Closeout - 15,000 ADA
Reporting - 5,000 ADA
Project Lead ~15 hours
Community Engagement - 10,000 ADA
Team ~ 40 hours
Total - 95,000 ADA
[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?
The budget for this proof of concept has been carefully structured to deliver maximum value while ensuring high-quality outcomes, encompassing development costs, expert consultations, and compliance with Swiss regulations.
Funds allocated for development will cover the creation and testing of the smart contract framework to meet both technical and regulatory standards. Given the specific requirements of the Swiss rental market, we will engage subject matter experts in Swiss law and real estate to ensure the project's compliance and relevance. Regulatory compliance is essential, and the budget includes funds for legal review and adjustments based on legal advice.
The investment in this project promises significant returns by pioneering the use of Cardano smart contracts in the real estate sector, opening up opportunities for further innovation and adoption of blockchain technology. This proof of concept will also serve as a benchmark for scalability and can potentially be adapted to other markets and sectors, increasing the utility and visibility of Cardano within the blockchain ecosystem. The budget is designed to ensure that all aspects of the project are robustly supported, making it a valuable asset to the Cardano community.
Team
