Six years ago, Zoe was working hard to provide a home for her and her young daughter. She dreamt of owning her own home but as a single mum and paying high rents, she thought that getting onto the housing ladder would take her a very long time, and she doubted if it was possible at all because: “saving for a deposit and legal fees is incredibly difficult when renting on the open market.”
In 2016 she heard about Rentplus and approached Tamar Housing (now Willow Tree Housing). She went through the applications process and a 20 year purchase plan was agreed with her. This mean that Zoe would move in with no deposit and pay an affordable rent for 20 years, giving her time to get her finances on track and to save for her deposit and legal fees.
In 2025, one of the Rentplus tenants on a five year purchase plan was not in a position to buy. Rentplus and Willow Tree contacted other tenants on the estate, to see if they wanted to bring their
sale forward. Zoe’s circumstances had changed, as she explains:
Because Zoe was in a position to buy the home she lived in, Willow Tree and Rentplus worked together with Zoe to make the substitution policy work. It meant there was no upheaval for her or her daughter – and no boxes to pack up! “It was also a great reassurance to know that I was buying a home that had been well maintained by Willow Tree Housing throughout my tenancy. Important aspects such as electrical testing and boiler servicing had already been taken care of, which removed a significant amount of stress from the purchasing process.
Rentplus and Willow Tree are so proud to have helped another tenant move from being a renter to being a homeowner. Congratulations Zoe – we wish you and your family every happiness in your “new” home.
“Thank you to Rentplus and Willow Tree Housing for giving me the opportunity to become a homeowner. I am absolutely over the moon and excited for this next chapter.”
Are you a Rentplus tenant who is buying or has bought their home? Come and talk to us and help us persuade more local authorities to adopt Rentplus across the country. Email [email protected] for more information about how to get involved.
Rentplus-UK welcomes the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee’s report into the Affordability of Home Ownership, describing it as a significant and timely contribution to one of the most pressing social and economic challenges facing the country.
The report concludes that the ability to buy a home increasingly depends on access to family wealth rather than personal effort, income or aspiration, something Rentplus recognised back in 2014, and why its’ Affordable Rent To Buy proposition has proved popular with tenants.
The committee acknowledges that increasing housing supply alone will not solve the affordability crisis and that a range of innovative tenure solutions are required alongside increased housebuilding.
Rentplus-UK believes this is where Affordable Rent to Buy has a critical role to play.
The Rentplus model provides homes requiring no upfront deposit, let at affordable rents, typically up to 20% below market levels, whilst allowing households to save for ownership for a period of 5-20 years. At the point of purchase, Rentplus gifts tenants a 10% sum towards their deposit, helping families overcome one of the biggest barriers to home ownership.
Unlike many traditional affordable housing products, Rentplus is specifically designed for those who fall between social housing eligibility and open market affordability.
Since its inception, the Rentplus model has enabled tenants who otherwise would have remained permanently excluded from the housing market to become home owners, buying 100% of the home they live in.
Steve Collins, Chief Executive of Rentplus-UK, said: “The Committee’s report highlights what many of us have known for years: that the current housing system fails a significant proportion of working people.
“There are now around 1.5 million households trapped in what we often describe as the ‘forgotten middle’ – not poor enough to qualify for traditional affordable housing, yet not affluent enough to access home ownership through the open market.
“These are our nurses, teachers, police officers, care workers, delivery drivers, construction workers, retail staff and countless others who contribute every day to their communities but find themselves locked out of home ownership.
“Home ownership is out of reach for millions of working households with house prices more than seven times average earnings compared with less than four times average earnings in the 1990s.
“For too long, housing policy has focused on either social housing or market housing, with insufficient attention given to the growing number of households caught between the two.
“We need to take the bull by the horns and create a fairer housing system that reflects the reality of modern Britain. Government should do more to support Rentplus and others who are investing private funds into housing, giving an that forgotten middle an affordable route to home ownership to key and essential workers – and at no cost to the public purse.
The Committee’s findings reinforces the need for innovative intermediate housing products that genuinely bridge that gap.
Collins added: “The question is no longer whether we need alternative routes into home ownership. The evidence is overwhelming. The question is how quickly we can scale those solutions to meet the need.
“Every year that passes without action means more young families delaying life decisions, more key workers priced out of the communities they serve, and more people resigning themselves to a lifetime of renting despite doing everything society asks of them.”
Rentplus-UK also welcomed the Committee’s recognition that housing affordability is not simply a housing issue but a wider economic and social challenge affecting productivity, labour mobility, health outcomes and community stability.
The organisation is calling upon Government, local authorities, housing associations, institutional investors and housebuilders to work together to create a broader range of affordable home ownership opportunities that reflect local housing need.
“Home ownership should not be determined by whether your parents can write you a cheque: it should be determined by aspiration, hard work and opportunity,” continued Steve Collins.
“If we are serious about restoring the dream of home ownership, we must create pathways that work for the forgotten middle. Affordable Rent to Buy is one of those pathways and we stand ready to work with Government and partners across the sector to help deliver it at scale.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
• Rentplus-UK is the UK’s leading Affordable Rent to Buy provider.
• The Rentplus model provides affordable rented homes with a pathway to home ownership through a route that requires no upfront deposit, a 10% gifted deposit on purchase at fixed purchase points from 5-20 years.
• Rentplus homes are allocated through local authority nomination agreements and supports local housing priorities.
• c70% of Rentplus tenants buy their homes at the proscribed time – and they are buying 100% of their home aided by the 10% gifted sum: no staircasing
• Rentplus Homes, the Registered Provider arm of Rentplus-UK consistently demonstrates some of the highest levels of customer satisfaction in the industry
Rentplus has flat available for affordable rent to buy in Bordon, Hampshire.
Move into your own flat with no deposit and pay an affordable rent inclusive of maintenance fees and repairs during the rental period of 6 years before purchase.
On purchasing the property at the end of the 5.6 year rental period, Rentplus will gift you a 10% sum towards your purchase.
This property consists of a 1 bed ground floor flat in the Prince Phillip Park of Bordon, with a rent of £744.19 pcm.
You will need a local connection to the area such as work, close family, or currently already residing in the area. You can apply through Hampshire Home Choice or email us at [email protected].
Please read more information our marketing brochure here.
*Now all allocated*
Rentplus has two rarely available 2 bedroom apartments for affordable rent to buy.
There is NO DEPOSIT to move in and the rent is 20% lower rate than comparable local properties. The rents are inclusive of all service charges and repairs during the rental period.
On purchasing the property at the end of the rental period, Rentplus will gift the tenant a 10% sum towards their purchase.
The properties are two bed apartments with fabulous views across the town. Both have induction hob, fitted oven, dishwasher, washer dryer and integrated fridge freezer. There is carpet to all bedrooms.
The 5th floor property is £1,131.84 per month, inclusive of all service charges and repairs during the 4-year rental term before purchase – property is currently vacant
The 7th floor property is £1,131.84 per month inclusive of all service charges and repairs during the 9-year term before purchase
Please read more information in our Marketing Brochure here.
Watch our Eagle House walkthrough video below.
Rentplus Homes and West Devon Borough Council have a 3 new build homes available for rent to buy.
Move in with £0 deposit, pay an affordable rent from an agreed 5-20 years and when it comes to purchase your home, Rentplus will gift you a generous 10% sum towards your deposit. Unlike shared ownership, you will be buying 100% of your home.
We have three 2 bedroom homes with rents of £756 pcm.
Nominees and direct applicants can apply either through the Council’s Housing Register, Devon Home Choice or by emailing [email protected].
Applicants must meet the criteria for local connection having resided for three years or more in the West Devon Borough Council area.
Please read more information in our Marketing brochure here.
Rentplus Homes and Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council have a 23 new homes in the town of Loggerheads, Staffordshire.
Move in with £0 deposit, pay an affordable rent from an agreed 5-20 years and when it comes to purchase your home, Rentplus will gift you a generous 10% sum towards your deposit. Unlike shared ownership, you will be buying 100% of your home.
A selection of 2 and 3 bedroom homes. Rents start from £800pcm to £1012pcm.
Applicants will need to have a local connection to the Newcastle-Under-Lyme borough in order to apply – please read more important information on how to apply in our marketing brochure here.
To send an application, email [email protected] or call 01908 738400.
Rentplus and Rentplus Homes have a 14 new build properties available for affordable rent to buy in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.
Move in with £0 deposit, pay an affordable rent from an agreed 5-20 years and when it comes to purchase your home, Rentplus will gift you a generous 10% sum towards your deposit. Unlike shared ownership, you will be buying 100% of your home.
Rents are from £728 pcm – £857.79 pcm.
Applicants will need to have a local connection to the Fenland District area in order to apply.
For more information, view our marketing brochure here.
To apply, email [email protected] or call 01908 738400.
Rentplus and Rentplus Homes have a 10 new build properties available for affordable rent to buy in Great Wakering, Southend-On-Sea.
Move in with £0 deposit, pay an affordable rent from an agreed 5-20 years and when it comes to purchase your home, Rentplus will gift you a generous 10% sum towards your deposit. Unlike shared ownership, you will be buying 100% of your home.
Rents start are from £732 – £1,1312pcm.
Applicants will need to have a local connection to the Great Wakering area in order to apply.
For more information, view our marketing brochure here.
To apply, email [email protected] or call 01908 738400.
*Now allocated*
Rentplus and Rentplus Homes have a 2 bedroom home available in the village of Over, Cambridgeshire.
Move in with £0 deposit, pay an affordable rent from an agreed 7.5 years and when it comes to purchase your home, Rentplus will gift you a generous 10% sum towards your deposit. Unlike shared ownership, you will be buying 100% of your home.
The 2 bedroom property includes a washing machine, dishwasher and allocated car parking, with a rent of £929.29pcm.
Applicants will need to have a local connection to the South Cambridgeshire area in order to apply.
For more information, view our marketing flyer here.
To apply, email [email protected] or call 01908 738400.
Rentplus and Rentplus Homes are proud to offer local people new, affordable rent to buy homes at The Broadway, Rainham. The scheme consists of two 1 bedroom flats and four 2 bedroom flats.
Move in with £0 deposit, pay an affordable rent from an agreed 5 to 20 years, and when it comes to purchase your home, Rentplus will gift you a generous 10% sum towards your deposit. Unlike shared ownership, you will be buying 100% of your home.
Applicants will need to have lived in the London Borough of Havering for at least 3 out of the last 6 years OR have close family who have lived in the borough for at least 5 years OR are in permanent employment within the borough at a minimum of 16 hours per week.
For more information, view our marketing flyer here.
To apply, email [email protected] or call 01908 738400.
