Buying and selling property might be so 2007, but renting it while you wait-and-see whether you can get a mortgage/find a buyer [delete as appropriate] is bigger than ever. Upad is one of a number of businesses launching to capitalise on the changing face of the UK property market. It's a rental-specific search engine, which matches renters (directly) with landlords. Search criteria include parking, broadband, transport links (via the slightly unsavory-sounding "spec up your pad" menu). Landlords have to pay to list their properties, but they pay once, and the property remains in the database until it finds a tenant. Upad also claim to have deals in place with Gumtree, Nestoria, Zoomf and others. So far, it's London-only, and beta, but worth a look.

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