Our take, at a glance
Choose YEB when you want a personal housing team, daily WhatsApp contact and portals for clients, HR teams and partners. Consider Settly when HR integrations, programme oversight, expenses and broader employee relocation management are central requirements.
Written by YEB. We explain our strengths and where another option may fit better.
The practical comparison
| What matters | Your Expat Butler | Settly |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Personal housing search and relocation support for individuals and employers. | Employee relocation services with an HR platform. |
| Portals and tools | A portal for HR teams, a partner portal and a client portal where clients receive home matches and tell us which they like. | Advertises HRIS integrations, milestone tracking and expense reporting. |
| Housing support | Personal rental search with an off-market network of agents, landlords and investors. | Housing is included in its wider relocation service offering. |
| Published scale | 1,400 expats helped (company figure). | Reports 5,000+ successful relocations; scope may differ. |
The employee’s home and the employer’s programme
Settly’s platform advertises HRIS integrations, relocation milestones, expense management and reporting. Its service offering also covers matters such as immigration and housing. These are relevant strengths if you are comparing programme-management capabilities.
YEB has a portal for HR teams, a partner portal and a client portal. For the employee, it is simple: we send matching homes through the client portal, they tell us which they like, and we request viewings. A WhatsApp group keeps the day-to-day conversation easy.
Where Settly has a clearer fit
If you need one platform to oversee many employee moves, integrations and reporting can carry real weight. List those requirements before the first demo and test them against how your HR team actually works.
Ask us to show you our portals and explain how they fit your team’s housing needs. If you need a particular HR integration or report, bring that requirement to both providers and ask them to demonstrate it.
Why employers choose a personal housing partner
Our corporate page identifies business relationships including PGGM, ING and TK Elevator. It separately shows companies our clients work for. Our work spans established business relationships and individual employees arranging their own move.
For the person moving, the questions are immediate: can this home work for my household, how does the viewing happen while I am abroad, and what do I need to do next? Our personal service focuses on those decisions, with an off-market network alongside public opportunities.
Give us the start date, temporary accommodation end date and any employer contribution. We can then discuss the search and agree who needs updates. A housing plan should include a contingency if the right rental is not secured before arrival.
Compare the full quote, not just the headline fee
Our individual search fee depends on the assignment and is discussed in the free consultation. Compare written quotes for the same city, household and level of help. A broader relocation package and a housing-only search are different purchases.
Ask what is included, whether VAT is included, when payment is due, what happens if the search stops, and which costs belong to third parties. Also confirm how many viewings are covered, who attends them, and whether help continues after you receive the keys. The useful comparison is the total cost of the help you will actually use.
How your search works with us
From the first consultation to key handover, your team guides you through each stage of your home search.
Agree your search requirements
We discuss your budget, preferred locations, moving date and housing needs. We set up a WhatsApp group with your team for daily communication, questions and updates.
Review matches in your client portal
We send suitable homes to your client portal, including off-market opportunities when available. Indicate which properties you like, and we request viewings on your behalf.
Attend a viewing with us or remotely
Choose whether to attend the viewing with us or follow remotely. If you cannot be there, we record videos or arrange a FaceTime call to help you assess the property.
Discuss your proposal strategy
If you would like to proceed, we discuss the proposal strategy together and help prepare your application. The landlord makes the final decision.
Settle into your new city
We explain the lease, support key handover and offer practical guidance on your new city. Our support continues with aftercare as you settle in, including local recommendations for a good stroopwafel.
For partners and HR teams, too
We also have a partner portal and a portal for HR teams. Ask us for a walkthrough to see how they fit your move or your employees’ housing searches.
Ask for a portal walkthroughCommon questions
Does YEB have portals for employers and clients?
Yes. We have a portal for HR teams, a partner portal and a client portal. Clients receive home matches in their portal and tell us which ones they like. We then request viewings and keep in touch through a WhatsApp group. Ask us to show you the portals and discuss any specific integration or reporting needs.
Can we use housing support alongside another relocation provider?
Discuss this with your employer and both providers. Clearly assign responsibilities, avoid duplicate search instructions, and check existing agreements before adding another service.
Does a corporate logo prove a formal partnership?
No. Our site distinguishes business partners from companies our clients work for. We keep that distinction in these comparisons.
What should our HR team ask to see in a demonstration?
Bring the actual tasks your team needs to manage, including any integration or reporting requirements. Ask each provider to show how those tasks work. Settly advertises HRIS integrations and expense tools; YEB can demonstrate its HR, partner and client portals.
What does the employee do in the YEB client portal?
The employee receives suitable home matches and indicates which properties they like. We then request viewings and discuss the next steps with them through their WhatsApp group.
What information should an employer provide before the search starts?
Share the employee’s arrival and job start dates, household requirements, search region and any employer contribution. Identify the approval contact and the end date of temporary accommodation so the team can discuss timing and responsibilities.
Can either provider guarantee a home before an employee starts work?
This guide establishes no such guarantee. Availability and landlord decisions affect the result. Discuss a temporary-accommodation contingency and agree how the employee and employer will review the plan if timing changes.
Sources & approach
We reviewed the providers’ public service pages. This is a YEB-authored comparison, not an independent market-share ranking or a mystery-shopping test. Where a service is not clearly described, we ask you to confirm it rather than label it unavailable.
YEB’s figure of 1,400 expats helped is company-reported as of September 2026. Service details and statistics were reviewed on 15 September 2026; source years are stated where relevant.
- Settly: employee relocation services
- Settly: HR platform, integrations and reporting
- Your Expat Butler: corporate services and business partners
- Your Expat Butler: housing search, viewings and aftercare
- Your Expat Butler: off-market expertise
- Your Expat Butler: our approach and platform partnerships
