Rent to Buy eligibility

Right to rent 

You must have the right to rent in England. All applicants must provide their right to rent evidence prior to any financial assessment being undertaken. Gentoo will not be able to proceed without this evidence, which is a legal requirement in the UK.

Employment

At least one member of your household needs to be in paid employment. 

Home ownership status

The property must be your only home.

If you do already own a home you could still be eligible in some circumstances - if you’re not living in your home due to relationship breaking down for example. Contact us to find out more.

Income and affordability

To make sure your home is affordable, your rent should be between 25% and 45% of your household income.

You'll need to meet the minimum income requirement for the home you're applying for. There is no maximum income limit for the Rent to Buy scheme.

Rent to Buy is designed for people who are working and want to buy their first home in the future but cannot currently afford to buy on the open market, often because they do not have a large enough deposit.

The scheme allows you to rent a home at a lower-than-market rent for up to five years. This gives you the opportunity to save money towards a deposit while enjoying the security of a quality home.

At the end of the five-year period, you may be in a position to buy your first home.

You can read more information on Rent to Buy, in our Rent to Buy leaflet.