© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
Leading deposit alternative provider flatfair has announced an exciting new partnership with award-winning build-to-rent (BTR) developer and single-family housing (SFH) specialist, Placefirst, further enhancing its residents’ experience by offering them significant upfront savings and granting the business greater financial security.
This collaboration aligns with the rapid growth of the UK’s BTR sector, which has surged by 173% over the past five years, according to Excellion Capital. Investment into the sector hit a record high of £5.2bn in 2024 alone, highlighting the expected demand for purpose-built rental homes across the UK. The detached or semi-detached homes which Placefirst specialises in delivering, also known as single-family housing, has also rapidly emerged as a major part of the BTR sector – with Savills recording that in 2024, 51% of all BTR investment was into SFH.
Gary Wright, CEO of flatfair, said: "We're thrilled to partner with Placefirst, a forward-thinking developer whose focus aligns perfectly with our own commitment to making renting more affordable and secure for everyone involved. As a supply and demand imbalance continues to increase rental prices, traditional deposits grow increasingly burdensome for tenants, our No Deposit solution not only significantly reduces upfront moving costs but also provides landlords with double the protection of traditional deposits, ensuring peace of mind for all parties."
Simple and flexible
Mark Hawley, Operations Director at Placefirst, said: “Our priority is making renting as simple and flexible as possible for our residents, and this partnership with flatfair helps us do just that. For some, finding the upfront cash for a deposit can be a challenge, and flatfair’s deposit-free alternative will make the moving process easier. It’s important that our customers have as much choice as possible.”
flatfair’s innovative No Deposit solution has proven popular, with a 26% increase in adoption year-on-year. It allows tenants to save an average of £1,291 in upfront costs, funds which can be redirected towards furnishing their new homes or supporting their cost-of-living expenses.
This new partnership underlines the significant shift within the property sector towards solutions that prioritise flexibility, affordability, and tenant satisfaction, demonstrating the forward momentum and transformative potential within the UK's build-to-rent market.