Cautioneo

Cautioneo, established in 2018 by co-founders Julien Chenailler and Nicolas Vojinovic, operates within the French real estate rental market as a digital guarantor. The company positions itself as a trusted third party aiming to streamline the relationship between tenants and landlords. Chenailler's background as a real estate investor who faced unpaid rent and Vojinovic's experience as an expatriate struggling to find housing without a traditional guarantor in France were the catalysts for the business's creation. Their combined experiences highlighted critical pain points in the rental process, leading to the development of a platform that addresses the needs of both parties.

The firm's core business revolves around providing two primary digital services. The first is the "Garantie Locataire" (Tenant Guarantee), which acts as a surety for prospective tenants. This service is designed to strengthen a tenant's rental application, making them a more attractive candidate to landlords by providing a financial guarantee. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with non-traditional employment profiles, such as freelancers, entrepreneurs, or those in trial periods, who may be otherwise overlooked. The second offering is a modern Unpaid Rent Insurance ("Assurance Loyers Impayés") for landlords, which protects their rental income against defaults and covers potential property damages. This insurance policy is subscribed to by the landlord, but the tenant must first be certified by Cautioneo.

Cautioneo's business model generates revenue through fees associated with its guarantee and insurance products. For the Tenant Guarantee, the tenant pays a fee equivalent to 3.5% of their annual rent. This fee-based structure provides a scalable revenue stream directly tied to the volume and value of the rental agreements it secures. The company targets a broad spectrum of clients, including individual tenants, real estate agencies, and property owners across France, leveraging a fully digital platform to manage applications, certifications, and claims processing. This digital-first approach allows for expedited service delivery, with the company claiming to certify tenant files within 24 hours.

Keywords: proptech, rental guarantee, landlord insurance, real estate finance, digital guarantor, tenant screening, property management, unpaid rent, lease security, fintech