Most users understand their housing bills better thanks to a platform built for Mzuri

The goal was to create a comprehensive, scalable and intuitive tool that would:

• Accurately compare apartment running costs in different locations across Poland.
• Check how fees are structured and point out potential savings.
• Handle thousands of varied inputs while staying fast.
• Fully comply with personal data protection regulations (GDPR).

The biggest challenges were implementing a complex multi-step form, handling a huge number of fee component variants, mapping locations precisely and keeping the whole platform scalable and secure.

The Boring Owl team designed and implemented a modern application architecture focused on a great user experience, high performance and security.

• Frontend: Next.js 15 with TypeScript and Tailwind CSS (UI based on shadcn/ui) - a responsive, modern user interface.
• Backend: Strapi 4 CMS with Node.js - a flexible system for managing content and data.
• Database: PostgreSQL/SQLite - with optimized queries and relations.
• DevOps: Docker, CI/CD with GitHub Actions, hosting on DigitalOcean.
• Integrations

  • Google Maps API - for address autocomplete and geolocation.
  • Google Sheets API - automatic data export every 30 minutes for external analysis.
  • Nodemailer (SMTP) - email notifications.

• An advanced multi-step form:

  • Automatic saving of entered data.
  • Dynamic validation and the option to go back to previous steps without losing data.
  • Choice of location, property manager, building type and fee components.
• An analysis and comparison system:

  • Comparison reports with regional data.
  • Savings suggestions and flags for possible overpayments.
• Location management:

  • A complete database of towns and cities with administrative divisions.
  • Automatic suggestions and autocomplete.
• A statistics panel and an educational blog:

  • The platform's key metrics at a glance.
  • Fee comparisons "with us" vs "without us".
  • Educational articles about housing costs.
• Data security:

  • API protection, data validation and sanitization.
  • GDPR compliance and full control over user consents.

• Business metrics

  • 1,700+ apartments added.
  • 1,000+ users completed the form.
  • Data from 72 cities.
  • Average annual savings of PLN 1,200.
  • 95% of users understand the structure of their bills better.
• Benefits for users

  • A clear comparison report.
  • Tools for negotiating with property managers.
  • Education about fee components and cost structure.
• Operational results

  • Automated data export that makes external analysis easier.
  • Far fewer errors thanks to validation and intuitive UX.
  • High user retention thanks to the option of returning to unfinished forms.

Uczciwe Opłaty (“Fair Fees”) is an example of modern technology successfully meeting a social need. With a well-planned architecture, smart UX and integrations with external services, the platform helps people in Poland deal with rising housing costs. The project not only raises users' awareness but also leads to real savings, and lays the foundation for further analytics services in the housing sector.