flatfair signs partnership with Placefirst to boost choice for residents in booming build-to-rent sector

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.

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Learn more

flatfair offers an innovative rental solution providing landlords with up to double the protection alongside significantly lower move-in costs for tenants. Discover flatfair’s No Deposit solution at https://www.flatfair.co.uk/.

Placefirst is an award-winning UK build-to-rent and single-family rental provider, specialising in creating neighbourhoods of high-quality, well-maintained homes that delight residents.

Every development is designed bespoke to the needs of the residents and Placefirst is responsible for all aspects of the process from design, through to developing, letting and maintaining the homes and neighbourhoods. Placefirst’s commitment to placemaking is shown through a strong track record of existing developments, creating communities with a real sense of place, supported by dedicated on-site resident services managers. Established in 2010, Placefirst has over 1,500 homes in the current portfolio, with a projection of reaching 6,500 in the coming years. Placefirst makes renting stress-free so residents can get more joy from their home life.