FAQs

The security of your investment in Citygate’s model is supported by its strategic approach, which includes careful property selection in desirable locations, conversion into modern residential units, and strong partnerships with government agencies for social housing. This ensures a stable demand and consistent revenue stream, mitigating market fluctuation risks. The financial model is designed for sustainability, covering all costs while promising attractive returns, highlighted by a 13.6% annual return over 5 years for institutional partners and 20% - 22.05% annual return over 3 years with a slight decrease in contractual security of the investment.

The focus on housing vulnerable populations aligns with social objectives, potentially attracting government support and public goodwill, and enhancing the project’s stability. While the comprehensive approach aims to secure investments by leveraging real assets, government collaboration, and social impact, it’s important to recognise that all investments carry inherent risks. However, Citygate’s method is crafted to reduce common property investment risks through its holistic and strategic model.

The process is mapped out to be straightforward:

1. Citygate Housing secures the property by placing a holding deposit to the property developer/landlord approximately 1-3 months before the property becomes available to the market.
2. Clients purchase packages directly through Citygate Housing or our third-party partners and funds are being used to pay for the required costs for the property (rent upfront, deposit, sourcing fees) funds are also utilised on some occasions to furnish and decorate the properties to our uniform standards that meet criteria of the providers we will be working with. This process normally takes up to 4 weeks.
3. While the property is being furnished and staged we will start interacting with several local and national providers to secure the best rate for the units. We also utilise similar websites like Social Housing Gateway, where the providers can submit their offers, but we prefer working with a list of trusted providers that we have worked with over several months/years. This process normally takes up to 2 weeks.
4. We finalise the offer, review the pre-let agreement/lease from the provider and sign it. After that, we are starting preparation for key & property handover. This process normally takes up to 2 weeks.
5. After the handover process has been completed, we patiently await for the first payment to arrive from the housing provider/local authority. This process normally takes up to 4 weeks.
6. When we get the payment in, we pay the landlord/developer, we pay our client (yourselves), we pay our managing partners and keep our margin.
7. Afterwards payment will be made monthly via standing order. > Payment from the provider to Citygate Housing > Payments from Citygate Housing to the Landlords/developers; Clients; and Managing partners; we will have our Accounts Payable department sending out constant reminders so the payments reach all the parties on time.

Not with the current structure. Citygate Housing signs the lease with the Developer/Landlord and then signs a Sublease with the client as a JV partner, which is also being attested by our Lawyer/Non-Executive Trustee. So the correct answer would be - you will own the right to the sublease of the property you are financially committed to.

We often achieve high rates after going through a bidding process with the housing providers. The starting point of negotiations is 25% on top of the LHA rates and we usually agree on a rate of 45% - 75% above LHA rates from the providers depending on the needs in those specific areas.

This way it creates enough margin for all parties:

• The Developers/Landlords
• The Clients/JV Partners
• Managing Partners
• CityGate

Also some of the providers are paying us incentives that vary from £1,000 - £3,000 per unit.

You can see our availability spreadsheet after you have signed the NDA and one of our Sales Representatives has gone over all the packages and availability of the Properties/Blocks of flats.

You can do it by all means, we will never stop you. We wish we could help to guide you through the process, but unfortunately, our time is very limited trying to solve the housing crisis and meet the required quotas set to us by local authorities and housing providers. It took us years of combined experience to get to the position where we are right now and the ability to negotiate terms and conditions with them.

The agreed term is fixed and we won’t be able to change it from our end. If there is still the requirement to extend the lease/agreement for a longer term we will update our clients and partners and will come to an amicable agreement.

Yes, of course. We are hosting property networking events every 4 weeks in our offices to teach people, raise awareness of the housing problem and teach people more about social housing and other property-related tips. We also have started a podcast called “The Property Circus” and we are aiming to open our Property Educational program from April 2024 onwards.

You can have access to the extensive Data Room after you have signed the NDA and one of our Sales Representatives has gone over all the packages and availability of the Properties/Blocks of flats. After that, you will be able to go over all necessary documents as part of the due diligence process.

We are actively working with 28 different Local Authorities, and over 25 Supported Living & Housing providers and through our partners have access to a vast network of over 1000 registered housing providers and social housing landlords. We are also partnered up with 3 organisations that hold major mandates with the Home Office and Ministry of Justice.

In the event of a housing provider stopping paying us will most likely be due to mismanagement of their accounts or lack of funding for that particular provider. If it happens to a Registered

Social Housing provider they will get bought out by another bigger provider or another Housing Association which will inherit the lease that provider had in place with us and payments to CityGate won’t be affected.

We have an in-house legal and accounting team to prevent us as a company and our clients from being affected by situations like this.

Also, bear in mind in case we as a company become insolvent or bankrupt we have our appointed non-executive trustee, who will step in and with the help of qualified team of auditors will attach what our clients and JV partners are entitled to and bridge that gap so every party can continue receiving their payments until the end of their legal agreement.

Our company is dedicated to redefining social housing by empathising with those in need, creating more than just shelters but homes that empower and reintegrate vulnerable individuals back into society. We aim to innovate and adapt, working collaboratively with investors and partners to scale our impact across the UK and Europe. By aligning investor incentives with our mission, we strive for sustainability and scalability, maintaining transparency and accountability in all our endeavors. Our goal is to transform social housing into a force for positive change, providing dignity, support, and opportunities to those we serve.