Breaking the rental cycle — a real rent-to-own story

A Waikato family is successfully breaking the rental cycle with Habitat for Humanity's Progressive Home Ownership programme. This rent-to-own scheme provided a clear pathway to owning a home by offering financial education and support.

Key features include:

- A locked-in purchase price to protect against market inflation.

- Reduced rent with a portion saved for a deposit.

- A requirement to complete 500 hours of "sweat equity" (volunteer work).

This opportunity is helping the family build a strong financial history and a deposit, putting homeownership within reach.