6 September 2019
Rentplus-UK were the winners of the Most Innovative Home Ownership Solution awards at the National Housing Awards 2019.
The Rentplus affordable rent-to-buy model offers hope to those for whom home ownership is an unobtainable dream due to the current demand for high deposits and clean credit history. High private rents, student loans, debt levels and high outgoings to income ratios make it impossible for people to save the £15,000 - £30,000+ needed for a deposit. It is impossible for key workers and low /middle income workers to save. Poor credit ratings from historic debt stops mortgage applications.
Rentplus is an innovative breakthrough giving hardworking families their only real opportunity to own their home. Aspirant home-owning families move into an affordable rent-to-buy Rentplus home, placed through a housing association, for five to 20 years. During the first five years before the offer to buy, they clear debts, repair credit, start to save, and put down roots in their community. With cross-party political support and a pipeline of 10,000 homes, Rentplus is rapidly building momentum with a phenomenal response from councils across England keen to sign up to affordable rent-to-buy.
Judges' comments
It’s great to see that institutional investors are funding this clever product, with few downsides to people who want to buy. It’s an innovative scheme with the potential to help a wide range of people who cannot currently access home ownership.
Winner: Rentplus-UK
Rentplus is the leading provider of affordable rent-to-buy housing. Rentplus offers an innovative way for aspirational homeowners with no saving, unable to access traditional mortgage products, a route into owning 100% of their own home through their unique *rent. save, own* model. Working closely with local authorities and housing associations, they offer working families the opportunity to purchase their own home through a combination of affordable rent and a gifted cash deposit.