Eight weeks after placing an ad on his own website to find new housemates to share his six-bedroom home, SpareRoom founder Rupert Hunt has made his choice.

Rupert received an astonishing 7,251 applications from people aged between 17 and 68, and was even door-stepped by three hopefuls.

It has been an illuminating business – a mixture of great PR, interesting use of videos as an engaging communication tool, a snapshot of generation rent, a view of London’s truly cosmopolitan lifestyle, and an object lesson in how an online-only property business has somehow emphasised its very human quality.

Is there something here that other property businesses could usefully take and fit to their own business models?

The search, which saw the east London based entrepreneur host a house party for applicants and attend a SpeedFlatmating event, was filmed for a series of nine short videos released on SpareRoom’s YouTube channel.

Rupert’s ‘pay what you can afford’ approach has resulted in both housemates paying £500 a month, well below the average room rents for the area. Luckily, we think he can afford to take the hit.

So who did he choose? Colin Ho, a 27-year old musician from Sydney, Australia, and Ivanka va der Merwe, a 27-year old editor from South Africa.

She said:  “I’ve been in London for almost six years. I’ve lived in five different rooms and never once managed to unpack all my bags. I guess I just kept waiting for things to go wrong, to have to move again. I never feel quite comfortable enough to put down roots anywhere or call anything home.

“I went back to my old flat to collect the remainder of my things, and it was sad and strange to accept that a chapter of my life was over, but the overriding thought that persisted through all that was ‘I just want to get this done so I can go home’. Home.

“Where Colin was waiting for me with a glass of wine and a hug. And the first thing I did was carry it all into my room and unpack as much as I could.”

Rupert said:  “It was an unbelievably tough decision – I could have easily lived with most of the people I met. In some ways what stood out about the two I chose was what didn’t stand out. Colin and Ivanka both submitted videos of themselves chatting about nothing in particular, but I got a really good vibe and a strong sense that we’d get on well, which turned out to be true.

“Colin’s a laid back, optimistic kind of guy, passionate about his music and excited by the possibilities that life in London has to offer.

“It was clear from her video that Ivanka has a sharp sense of humour, and she regularly has us in hysterics. We also seemed to have quite a few things in common, such as taste in music and food. She’s also got a nice bunch of friends I’ve enjoyed getting to know. She loves cooking and has made a few great dinners for all of us.

“Cooking and eating together has been one of the other highlights so far, which I haven’t experienced to the same extent with previous housemates.

“After another short stint between housemates, rattling around the house on my own, it’s been a good reminder that living with the right people beats living on your own.”