Updated / Tuesday, 21 Apr 2026 10:50
Rent-to-own homeownership platform Homely has today launched a new scheme at Riverside Manor, a 180-unit residential development in Kilcullen, Co Kildare.
Homely allows people to find a home, rent it from Homely for a set period and ultimately buy it with Homely’s advice and support.
This is the first time that Homely has made homes available in Co Kildare and options range from one-bedroom apartments to three-bedroom duplexes.
The scheme at Riverside Manor will initially involve a total of seven homes, but Homely said it has the potential to add more units to the scheme, depending on interest levels.
As part of the scheme, qualifying applicants will be able to move into their new home immediately and use Homely’s platform to build savings that will ultimately allow them to secure a mortgage and buy the property.
Homely said its typical customer sits within the “forgotten middle” – people who can afford monthly payments but are unable to access traditional lending, leaving them stuck in the rental cycle.
It also purchases new and second-hand homes for clients and is increasingly involved in securing properties by building them directly or partnering with homebuilders before they are finished, allowing customers to plan well in advance for their big move.
At Riverside Manor, Homely has partnered with Alchemy Homes, the developer of Riverside Manor, to make new homes available as rent-to-own. Rents will start from €1,800 a month and occupants will also pay an additional monthly amount of between €400 to €600, which will be used as part of their mortgage deposit.
This payment will also secure the tenant’s legal right to purchase the property at the end of a three-year term.
Andrew Lynch, the CEO of Homely, said that Riverside Manor is exactly the type of development where rent-to-own should play a role.
“These brand new, high-quality and sustainable homes are being delivered by experienced building partners but are likely to be out of reach for many people who cannot immediately access a mortgage under the current system,” Mr Lynch said.
“At Homely, we are using our unique model to create a fair and transparent bridge between renting and owning, with the help of forward-thinking developers who see huge value in partnering with us,” he said.
“People can move in today, secure their legal right to buy their new home, and spend the next few years actively working towards it with our support, rather than standing still in the rental market,” he added.
