diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/MemberInfo.js b/src/components/views/rooms/MemberInfo.js
index be6663be67..b6944a3d4e 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/MemberInfo.js
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/MemberInfo.js
@@ -26,12 +26,16 @@ limitations under the License.
  * 'isTargetMod': boolean
  */
 var React = require('react');
+var classNames = require('classnames');
 var MatrixClientPeg = require("../../../MatrixClientPeg");
 var dis = require("../../../dispatcher");
 var Modal = require("../../../Modal");
 var sdk = require('../../../index');
 var UserSettingsStore = require('../../../UserSettingsStore');
 var createRoom = require('../../../createRoom');
+var DMRoomMap = require('../../../utils/DMRoomMap');
+var Unread = require('../../../Unread');
+var Receipt = require('../../../utils/Receipt');
 
 module.exports = React.createClass({
     displayName: 'MemberInfo',
@@ -60,7 +64,6 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
             updating: 0,
             devicesLoading: true,
             devices: null,
-            existingOneToOneRoomId: null,
         }
     },
 
@@ -72,14 +75,20 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         this._enableDevices = MatrixClientPeg.get().isCryptoEnabled() &&
             UserSettingsStore.isFeatureEnabled("e2e_encryption");
 
-        this.setState({
-            existingOneToOneRoomId: this.getExistingOneToOneRoomId()
-        });
+        const cli = MatrixClientPeg.get();
+        cli.on("deviceVerificationChanged", this.onDeviceVerificationChanged);
+        cli.on("Room", this.onRoom);
+        cli.on("deleteRoom", this.onDeleteRoom);
+        cli.on("Room.timeline", this.onRoomTimeline);
+        cli.on("Room.name", this.onRoomName);
+        cli.on("Room.receipt", this.onRoomReceipt);
+        cli.on("RoomState.events", this.onRoomStateEvents);
+        cli.on("RoomMember.name", this.onRoomMemberName);
+        cli.on("accountData", this.onAccountData);
     },
 
     componentDidMount: function() {
         this._updateStateForNewMember(this.props.member);
-        MatrixClientPeg.get().on("deviceVerificationChanged", this.onDeviceVerificationChanged);
     },
 
     componentWillReceiveProps: function(newProps) {
@@ -92,65 +101,20 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         var client = MatrixClientPeg.get();
         if (client) {
             client.removeListener("deviceVerificationChanged", this.onDeviceVerificationChanged);
+            client.removeListener("Room", this.onRoom);
+            client.removeListener("deleteRoom", this.onDeleteRoom);
+            client.removeListener("Room.timeline", this.onRoomTimeline);
+            client.removeListener("Room.name", this.onRoomName);
+            client.removeListener("Room.receipt", this.onRoomReceipt);
+            client.removeListener("RoomState.events", this.onRoomStateEvents);
+            client.removeListener("RoomMember.name", this.onRoomMemberName);
+            client.removeListener("accountData", this.onAccountData);
         }
         if (this._cancelDeviceList) {
             this._cancelDeviceList();
         }
     },
 
-    getExistingOneToOneRoomId: function() {
-        const rooms = MatrixClientPeg.get().getRooms();
-        const userIds = [
-            this.props.member.userId,
-            MatrixClientPeg.get().credentials.userId
-        ];
-        let existingRoomId = null;
-        let invitedRoomId = null;
-
-        // roomId can be null here because of a hack in MatrixChat.onUserClick where we
-        // abuse this to view users rather than room members.
-        let currentMembers;
-        if (this.props.member.roomId) {
-            const currentRoom = MatrixClientPeg.get().getRoom(this.props.member.roomId);
-            currentMembers = currentRoom.getJoinedMembers();
-        }
-
-        // reuse the first private 1:1 we find
-        existingRoomId = null;
-
-        for (let i = 0; i < rooms.length; i++) {
-            // don't try to reuse public 1:1 rooms
-            const join_rules = rooms[i].currentState.getStateEvents("m.room.join_rules", '');
-            if (join_rules && join_rules.getContent().join_rule === 'public') continue;
-
-            const members = rooms[i].getJoinedMembers();
-            if (members.length === 2 &&
-                userIds.indexOf(members[0].userId) !== -1 &&
-                userIds.indexOf(members[1].userId) !== -1)
-            {
-                existingRoomId = rooms[i].roomId;
-                break;
-            }
-
-            const invited = rooms[i].getMembersWithMembership('invite');
-            if (members.length === 1 &&
-                invited.length === 1 &&
-                userIds.indexOf(members[0].userId) !== -1 &&
-                userIds.indexOf(invited[0].userId) !== -1 &&
-                invitedRoomId === null)
-            {
-                invitedRoomId = rooms[i].roomId;
-                // keep looking: we'll use this one if there's nothing better
-            }
-        }
-
-        if (existingRoomId === null) {
-            existingRoomId = invitedRoomId;
-        }
-
-        return existingRoomId;
-    },
-
     onDeviceVerificationChanged: function(userId, device) {
         if (!this._enableDevices) {
             return;
@@ -164,6 +128,45 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         }
     },
 
+    onRoom: function(room) {
+        this.forceUpdate();
+    },
+
+    onDeleteRoom: function(roomId) {
+        this.forceUpdate();
+    },
+
+    onRoomTimeline: function(ev, room, toStartOfTimeline) {
+        if (toStartOfTimeline) return;
+        this.forceUpdate();
+    },
+
+    onRoomName: function(room) {
+        this.forceUpdate();
+    },
+
+    onRoomReceipt: function(receiptEvent, room) {
+        // because if we read a notification, it will affect notification count
+        // only bother updating if there's a receipt from us
+        if (Receipt.findReadReceiptFromUserId(receiptEvent, MatrixClientPeg.get().credentials.userId)) {
+            this.forceUpdate();
+        }
+    },
+
+    onRoomStateEvents: function(ev, state) {
+        this.forceUpdate();
+    },
+
+    onRoomMemberName: function(ev, member) {
+        this.forceUpdate();
+    },
+
+    onAccountData: function(ev) {
+        if (ev.getType() == 'm.direct') {
+            this.forceUpdate();
+        }
+    },
+
     _updateStateForNewMember: function(member) {
         var newState = this._calculateOpsPermissions(member);
         newState.devicesLoading = true;
@@ -416,33 +419,16 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         }
     },
 
-    onChatClick: function() {
-        var ErrorDialog = sdk.getComponent("dialogs.ErrorDialog");
-
-        // TODO: keep existingOneToOneRoomId updated if we see any room member changes anywhere
-
-        const useExistingOneToOneRoom = this.state.existingOneToOneRoomId && (this.state.existingOneToOneRoomId !== this.props.member.roomId);
-
-        // check if there are any existing rooms with just us and them (1:1)
-        // If so, just view that room. If not, create a private room with them.
-        if (useExistingOneToOneRoom) {
-            dis.dispatch({
-                action: 'view_room',
-                room_id: this.state.existingOneToOneRoomId,
-            });
+    onNewDMClick: function() {
+        this.setState({ updating: this.state.updating + 1 });
+        createRoom({
+            createOpts: {
+                invite: [this.props.member.userId],
+            },
+        }).finally(() => {
             this.props.onFinished();
-        }
-        else {
-            this.setState({ updating: this.state.updating + 1 });
-            createRoom({
-                createOpts: {
-                    invite: [this.props.member.userId],
-                },
-            }).finally(() => {
-                this.props.onFinished();
-                this.setState({ updating: this.state.updating - 1 });
-            }).done();
-        }
+            this.setState({ updating: this.state.updating - 1 });
+        }).done();
     },
 
     onLeaveClick: function() {
@@ -583,24 +569,50 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     render: function() {
         var startChat, kickButton, banButton, muteButton, giveModButton, spinner;
         if (this.props.member.userId !== MatrixClientPeg.get().credentials.userId) {
-            // FIXME: we're referring to a vector component from react-sdk
-            var BottomLeftMenuTile = sdk.getComponent('rooms.BottomLeftMenuTile');
+            const dmRoomMap = new DMRoomMap(MatrixClientPeg.get());
+            const dmRooms = dmRoomMap.getDMRoomsForUserId(this.props.member.userId);
 
-            var label;
-            if (this.state.existingOneToOneRoomId) {
-                if (this.state.existingOneToOneRoomId == this.props.member.roomId) {
-                    label = "Start new direct chat";
-                }
-                else {
-                    label = "Go to direct chat";
+            const RoomTile = sdk.getComponent("rooms.RoomTile");
+
+            const tiles = [];
+            for (const roomId of dmRooms) {
+                const room = MatrixClientPeg.get().getRoom(roomId);
+                if (room) {
+                    const me = room.getMember(MatrixClientPeg.get().credentials.userId);
+                    const highlight = (
+                        room.getUnreadNotificationCount('highlight') > 0 ||
+                        me.membership == "invite"
+                    );
+                    tiles.push(
+                        <RoomTile key={room.roomId} room={room}
+                            collapsed={false}
+                            selected={false}
+                            unread={Unread.doesRoomHaveUnreadMessages(room)}
+                            highlight={highlight}
+                            isInvite={me.membership == "invite"}
+                        />
+                    );
                 }
             }
-            else {
-                label = "Start direct chat";
-            }
 
-            startChat = <BottomLeftMenuTile collapsed={ false } img="img/create-big.svg"
-                                            label={ label } onClick={ this.onChatClick }/>
+            const labelClasses = classNames({
+                mx_MemberInfo_createRoom_label: true,
+                mx_RoomTile_name: true,
+            });
+            const startNewChat = <div
+                className="mx_MemberInfo_createRoom"
+                onClick={this.onNewDMClick}
+            >
+                <div className="mx_RoomTile_avatar">
+                    <img src="img/create-big.svg" width="26" height="26" />
+                </div>
+                <div className={labelClasses}><i>Start new direct chat</i></div>
+            </div>
+
+            startChat = <div>
+                {tiles}
+                {startNewChat}
+            </div>;
         }
 
         if (this.state.updating) {
diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/RoomList.js b/src/components/views/rooms/RoomList.js
index 1265fc1af0..98ec789a7c 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/RoomList.js
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/RoomList.js
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ var sdk = require('../../../index');
 var rate_limited_func = require('../../../ratelimitedfunc');
 var Rooms = require('../../../Rooms');
 var DMRoomMap = require('../../../utils/DMRoomMap');
+var Receipt = require('../../../utils/Receipt');
 
 var HIDE_CONFERENCE_CHANS = true;
 
@@ -154,13 +155,8 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     onRoomReceipt: function(receiptEvent, room) {
         // because if we read a notification, it will affect notification count
         // only bother updating if there's a receipt from us
-        var receiptKeys = Object.keys(receiptEvent.getContent());
-        for (var i = 0; i < receiptKeys.length; ++i) {
-            var rcpt = receiptEvent.getContent()[receiptKeys[i]];
-            if (rcpt['m.read'] && rcpt['m.read'][MatrixClientPeg.get().credentials.userId]) {
-                this._delayedRefreshRoomList();
-                break;
-            }
+        if (Receipt.findReadReceiptFromUserId(receiptEvent, MatrixClientPeg.get().credentials.userId)) {
+            this._delayedRefreshRoomList();
         }
     },
 
diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/RoomTile.js b/src/components/views/rooms/RoomTile.js
index ac79da9851..bac8f5aa07 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/RoomTile.js
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/RoomTile.js
@@ -30,10 +30,9 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     displayName: 'RoomTile',
 
     propTypes: {
-        // TODO: We should *optionally* support DND stuff and ideally be impl agnostic about it
-        connectDragSource: React.PropTypes.func.isRequired,
-        connectDropTarget: React.PropTypes.func.isRequired,
-        isDragging: React.PropTypes.bool.isRequired,
+        connectDragSource: React.PropTypes.func,
+        connectDropTarget: React.PropTypes.func,
+        isDragging: React.PropTypes.bool,
 
         room: React.PropTypes.object.isRequired,
         collapsed: React.PropTypes.bool.isRequired,
@@ -41,11 +40,15 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         unread: React.PropTypes.bool.isRequired,
         highlight: React.PropTypes.bool.isRequired,
         isInvite: React.PropTypes.bool.isRequired,
-        roomSubList: React.PropTypes.object.isRequired,
-        refreshSubList: React.PropTypes.func.isRequired,
         incomingCall: React.PropTypes.object,
     },
 
+    getDefaultProps: function() {
+        return {
+            isDragging: false,
+        };
+    },
+
     getInitialState: function() {
         return({
             hover : false,
@@ -281,7 +284,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         var connectDragSource = this.props.connectDragSource;
         var connectDropTarget = this.props.connectDropTarget;
 
-        return connectDragSource(connectDropTarget(
+        let ret = (
             <div className={classes} onClick={this.onClick} onMouseEnter={this.onMouseEnter} onMouseLeave={this.onMouseLeave}>
                 <div className={avatarClasses}>
                     <div className="mx_RoomTile_avatar_menu" onClick={this.onAvatarClicked}>
@@ -298,6 +301,11 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                 { incomingCallBox }
                 { tooltip }
             </div>
-        ));
+        );
+
+        if (connectDropTarget) ret = connectDropTarget(ret);
+        if (connectDragSource) ret = connectDragSource(ret);
+
+        return ret;
     }
 });
diff --git a/src/utils/DMRoomMap.js b/src/utils/DMRoomMap.js
index d92ae87e64..0089ebbe5b 100644
--- a/src/utils/DMRoomMap.js
+++ b/src/utils/DMRoomMap.js
@@ -21,18 +21,13 @@ limitations under the License.
  */
 export default class DMRoomMap {
     constructor(matrixClient) {
+        this.roomToUser = null;
+
         const mDirectEvent = matrixClient.getAccountData('m.direct');
         if (!mDirectEvent) {
             this.userToRooms = {};
-            this.roomToUser = {};
         } else {
             this.userToRooms = mDirectEvent.getContent();
-            this.roomToUser = {};
-            for (const user of Object.keys(this.userToRooms)) {
-                for (const roomId of this.userToRooms[user]) {
-                    this.roomToUser[roomId] = user;
-                }
-            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -41,6 +36,24 @@ export default class DMRoomMap {
     }
 
     getUserIdForRoomId(roomId) {
+        if (this.roomToUser == null) {
+            // we lazily populate roomToUser so you can use
+            // this class just to call getDMRoomsForUserId
+            // which doesn't do very much, but is a fairly
+            // convenient wrapper and there's no point
+            // iterating through the map if getUserIdForRoomId()
+            // is never called.
+            this._populateRoomToUser();
+        }
         return this.roomToUser[roomId];
     }
+
+    _populateRoomToUser() {
+        this.roomToUser = {};
+        for (const user of Object.keys(this.userToRooms)) {
+            for (const roomId of this.userToRooms[user]) {
+                this.roomToUser[roomId] = user;
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/utils/Receipt.js b/src/utils/Receipt.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..549a0fd8b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/Receipt.js
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+/**
+ * Given MatrixEvent containing receipts, return the first
+ * read receipt from the given user ID, or null if no such
+ * receipt exists.
+ */
+export function findReadReceiptFromUserId(receiptEvent, userId) {
+    var receiptKeys = Object.keys(receiptEvent.getContent());
+    for (var i = 0; i < receiptKeys.length; ++i) {
+        var rcpt = receiptEvent.getContent()[receiptKeys[i]];
+        if (rcpt['m.read'] && rcpt['m.read'][userId]) {
+            return rcpt;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return null;
+}