Housemartin
Formerly Assetz Exchange. UK property equity crowdfunding platform focused on supported living and social housing. Fractional ownership in SPV-held properties with monthly rental income. Rebranded to Housemartin in 2024. Housemartin Property Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 668931).
General Information
Housemartin (formerly Assetz Exchange) was founded in 2014 and describes itself as a UK property equity crowdfunding marketplace focused on supported living and social housing properties operated through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). The company is registered as Assetz Exchange Limited (company no. 09285310) with Peter Read identified as a director and founder.
The platform rebranded to Housemartin in 2024. Housemartin Property Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm registration number 668931. The platform connects retail investors with properties leased to charities and housing associations for supported living, with rental income paid monthly to investors.
How it works
Investors buy fractional equity units in individual property SPVs, with a minimum investment of £1 per unit. Properties are unleveraged at the SPV level and leased to operators (charities and housing associations) who manage tenants.
What they offer
Product: Fractional equity in UK supported living and social housing properties via SPVs, with monthly rental distributions and potential capital growth from property valuation changes.
Minimum: £1 per unit.
Fees: The platform advertises no platform, commission or trading fees for buying and selling on its Exchanges. Other fees (management, administration, exit, FX spreads) are not clearly disclosed in third-party sources and should be confirmed directly with the platform.
Returns: Housemartin's website displays advertised AERs (for example, 'up to 7.59%'); these are platform-stated headline rates and should be treated as illustrative rather than guaranteed. No comprehensive, independently audited historical return series or default-rate dataset is publicly available.
Tax wrappers: Availability of IFISA or SIPP wrappers is not documented in the provided research and should be verified with the platform.
Who it's for
Housemartin is suitable for retail investors seeking exposure to UK property equity with a low monetary entry point and who accept the risks of: limited liquidity, property valuation volatility, operational risks at the property/SPV/operator level, and no FSCS protection for these equity investments.
The platform's social-impact focus (supported living) may appeal to investors prioritising impact alongside potential income.
Strengths & risks
Strengths:
- Low minimum (£1) widens access to property exposure, lowering the monetary barrier to entry for small investors and allowing portfolio diversification at small sizes.
- Social impact focus — partnerships with charities and housing associations for supported living provides an impact angle that may attract ethically minded investors and may align investments with stable tenancy arrangements.
- Secondary market exists and the platform advertises no trading fees, which can improve the theoretical ability to exit holdings compared with strictly buy-and-hold models, though buyer demand is the limiting factor.
- FCA-authorised — Housemartin Property Limited is directly authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 668931), providing regulatory oversight.
Risks and limitations:
- No FSCS protection: investments in property equity on the platform are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
- Limited public performance data: no independent, audited long-term track record or default-rate data was found, making it harder to assess risk-adjusted returns historically.
- Liquidity risk: secondary market liquidity depends on other investors; in thin markets or stressed conditions exit may be delayed or require price discounts.
Red flags & watch points
- Clone/impersonation warning: the FCA has published warnings about clone firms using the Assetz name and similar digital contact details — confirm you are using the official site and contact details.
- Limited publicly available audited performance data and default statistics for the platform; treat headline AERs as illustrative and request historical performance and property-level data directly from the platform before committing capital.
- Fee transparency: while secondary-market trading is advertised as fee-free, other fees are not clearly documented in third-party sources — request a full fee schedule and examples of net returns after fees.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. In particular, it does not constitute personal advice — please consult a qualified financial adviser to address your particular personal requirements. Other is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), its authors are not financial advisers and it is therefore not authorised to offer financial advice. This article is not intended as an offer, invitation or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any investment, nor is its issuance intended to give rise to any other legal relations whatsoever and must not be relied upon for the purposes of any investment decision. The information contained in this article is subject to updating, revision and amendment.
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