How It Works | Silver Key Property

Discovery callA short, no-obligation call to understand your goals, timeline, and available capital, and answer any questions you have.
Opportunity selectionWe put forward live opportunities that fit your budget and objectives: unit price, target yield, location, and the housing association managing it.
ReservationOnce you've chosen a property, you reserve it with a reservation deposit under a Reservation Agreement, taking it off the market while contracts are prepared.
Instruct a solicitorYou appoint a solicitor to act for you, either your own or one from a panel we can recommend. You're never obligated to use a panel firm.
Due diligenceYour solicitor carries out standard property due diligence and reviews the terms of the housing association's management agreement on your behalf.
Exchange of contractsContracts are formally exchanged, the agreed deposit is paid, and a completion date is set. From this point the purchase is legally binding on both sides.
CompletionThe remaining balance is paid and legal ownership transfers to you. Your name goes on the title deeds, the same as any other property purchase.
Handover to the housing associationThe management agreement activates. The housing association takes over placing residents and running the property day to day.
Your income beginsYou start receiving monthly rental income under the terms of the agreement, with regular reporting from that point on.

The Comparison

Supported Housing vs Traditional Buy-to-Let

Where the model actually differs from the buy-to-let you already know.

	Traditional Buy-to-Let	Supported Housing
Finding tenants	Subject to market demand, with possible void periods	Residents placed by an approved housing association
Rental income	Tied to occupancy and local market conditions	Structured through a long-term management agreement
Day-to-day management	Handled by the landlord or an appointed agent	Handled by the housing association
Maintenance	Landlord's responsibility, sometimes offset by a sinking fund	Typically covered under the terms of the lease
Your involvement	Hands-on	Hands-off

This doesn't make supported housing risk-free, and it isn't a substitute for buy-to-let in every situation. It's a genuinely different model that suits a different kind of investor.

The Income

Understanding Your Rental Income

Rental income in supported housing is government-funded, through Housing Benefit and Universal Credit housing cost payments, administered by the relevant local authority and paid to the approved housing provider, who in turn pays you as the property owner.

Across our current opportunities, this typically works out to a target net yield of around 12%, though the exact figure varies property by property depending on purchase price, location and the specific lease terms agreed with the housing association. Most agreements also include an annual rental increase, commonly a minimum of 1%, often linked to inflation.

As with any income-producing asset, none of this is guaranteed. Payments depend on the continued operation of the agreement and the financial position of the housing association involved.

From First Call To First Rent Payment

Supported Housing vs Traditional Buy-to-Let

Understanding Your Rental Income

See What This Looks Like In Practice?