Merilee Karr
Founder of UnderTheDoormat Group, former Chair of the Short-Term Accommodation Association, and one of the industry’s most quoted voices on regulation and professional standards.
Connect on LinkedInShe founded UnderTheDoormat Group in 2014, an award-winning prop-tech company recognised by JP Morgan as one of the top Female Powered Businesses in the UK.
She has represented the sector to UK and EU government, and is an industry spokesperson on the BBC, Sky News, the Times, Guardian, Which?, Huffington Post and Skift. She sits on the Global Advisory Council for Expedia Group, and has received awards from Estates Gazette, European Builtworld and Travolution.
Having spent the first 13 years of her career in global roles at Shell, Merilee’s passion is helping professionalise and grow this emerging industry in the most responsible way. UnderTheDoormat Group has since been recognised by Skift as one of the top companies globally shaping the future of short-term rentals.
What Merilee works on
Regulation and public policy
Represented the sector to UK and EU government as elected Chair of the STAA, and continues to speak on regulation as it moves through Parliament.
Professional standards
Built TrustedStays as an accredited route for corporate and government demand, on the argument that the industry professionalises or gets regulated into a corner.
Institutional real estate
Works with owners and operators on how flexible rentals fit an underwritten asset, across Build to Rent, student and co-living.
Technology and distribution
Took short-term rental onto the GDS through the Amadeus partnership, a global first.
In the press
Quoted, interviewed and published across property, hospitality and travel media.
Insights by Merilee Karr
The Challenge: Summer Voids in Student-Heavy Build-to-Rent (BTR)
The Renters’ Rights Act will reshape student-heavy BTR from May 2026. Learn how operators can reduce summer voids using short lets, resident hosting, tech and TrustedStays corporate demand.
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Abolition of Section 21 and the Consumer Power Shift
What Can Build-to-Rent Learn from the Hospitality Industry? The abolition of Section 21 “no fault” evictions marks a turning point for the UK rental sector. For Build-to-Rent (BTR)...
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What the Renters’ Rights Bill Means for Build to Rent
The UK’s rental landscape is experiencing a fundamental shift with the Renters Rights Bill and the abolition of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions. For landlords and short-term rental...
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