The Differences Between Rent-to-Own and Lease Purchases

A rent-to-own agreement gives a tenant more flexibility to turn his lease into a home sale contract than a lease-purchase contract. Rent-to-own gives him more time to save for a down payment or improve his credit. When the tenant signs the lease, he gains the exclusive right to buy the property at a prearranged price before the lease expires if he so chooses. Normally, he makes a monthly payment that includes rent and an additional amount, the rent credit, that goes toward the down payment. The landlord-owner retains the extra rent if the option to buy is not exercised.

In a lease purchase, the tenant agrees to buy a property at a preset price after leasing it for a period of time. The purchase price may be based on the future value of the home instead of the current market value. The tenant also takes on property repair and maintenance costs during the initial lease term. He pays an additional amount upfront or a monthly that may or may not be applied to the eventual purchase price. The tenant-buyer forfeits his payment if he doesn't complete the property sale at the end of the specified period.

Whether you sell or buy a house by a lease-purchase or rent-to-own agreement, you should define the lease term, purchase price, down payment and rent credit before signing it. Typically, the term runs anywhere from 12 to 36 months, but it can be any period of time agreed upon. Some landlords may refund some of your rent credit or make other concessions; all concessions should be negotiated and written into the agreement beforehand.

When you sign a lease-purchase or a rent-to-own agreement, both you and the landlord-owner are entering into a legal and binding contract. Have an attorney review the agreement before you and the landlord bind yourselves to the contract's terms and conditions.