UK based flatshare site, SpareRoom, has today announced the acquisition of rival Roomgo (formerly Easyroommate) from Digital Ventures Group. The sale increases SpareRoom’s existing share in the UK and US markets and adds 18 new territories*, creating the world’s largest roommate finding service.

The combined service will operate in 20 countries, in five languages and have just under 40 million global registered users.

“We’re excited to strengthen our position in the US and significantly add to 11+ million global registered users,” explains SpareRoom’s founder and CEO, Rupert Hunt. “SpareRoom has long been the clear market leader in the UK. This acquisition gives us the platform to do the same in the US and beyond, and gives flatmates across the world the safe, simple and effective service we’re renowned for.”

SpareRoom was founded in the UK by Hunt in 2004, following the success of intoLondon (founded in 1999). The company launched in the US in 2011. Unusually for a high traffic tech company, SpareRoom remains privately owned with no external funders or shareholders.

“Living with flatmates is a global way of life,” Hunt continues. “Millions of people around the world share their homes and that’s only likely to increase over the coming decade. But it requires a different approach to simply renting or buying a property.

“Sharing can be a life changing experience, and it’s the people who make or break it, not the property. Finding the right flatmates can lead to you having one of the best years of your life, so at SpareRoom, that’s our focus – helping people around the world find their perfect flatmates.