Q&A with Factored, Co-Founder Ben Schuldenfrei

Landlords today are navigating a very different landscape to just a few years ago.

From tightening regulation to shifting cash flow structures, property ownership in the UK is becoming more professionalised and demanding.

That’s why Rentr has partnered with Factored, a UK-based rent advance finance provider, to give landlords access to fast, flexible rent advances when they need them most.

But why now? And why does this solution matter? We sat down with one of  Factored’s co-founders to find out.

1. Tell us a bit about your background and experience in the industry so far.

My background is in management consulting. I started my career at Accenture and EY, specialising in financial crime and compliance. In 2018, I moved into the startup world, joining a digital asset business during the height of the Bitcoin and Ethereum cycle which was an incredible experience. In 2023, I decided to leave and launch Factored.

The idea for Factored came from personal experience. I’m what you might call an “accidental landlord.” I didn’t buy my property with the intention of renting it out.

One day, my downstairs neighbour contacted me about water leaking into her bathroom. When I investigated, I discovered the bathroom had been poorly installed by the previous owner and needed to be completely stripped out and rebuilt. The cost? £10,000 – with £8,000 required upfront.

I didn’t have that kind of cash available, so I approached my mortgage lender, as I had equity in the property. Though my income hadn’t changed, I’d had a second child since taking out my mortgage, so was informed by my lender that my affordability had reduced due to the additional dependent. They subsequently declined my request.

This was during a time when interest rates were around 2%. If I couldn’t access capital then, I realised many other landlords must face similar challenges. It led me to wonder; why can’t landlords access an advance on their future rental income? Tenants typically prioritise paying rent above almost everything else. If I was willing to pay a fee to unlock that income early, why didn’t this product exist?

I searched for a solution and couldn’t find one. So I decided to build it.

My co-founder David joined shortly after. He previously worked at Matterport, the prop tech company known for virtual tours. I initially approached him get his thoughts and arrange introductions with his network, but much to my delight, he expressed an interest in joining as a co-founder.

He came on board in early 2023 and we’ve been building the business ever since.

2. How does that mission shape the way you work with landlords today?

Our personal experiences directly shape how we operate.

We focus on three things: speed, flexibility and relationships.

Landlords often tell us the biggest frustrations with traditional lenders are accessibility and timing. Even when funding is approved, it can take weeks or months for funds to come through – especially if legal processes are involved.

We offer same-day or next-working-day funding wherever possible. We’re accessible, straightforward and responsive.

Importantly as part of our service, every landlord speaks to a real person. We prioritise genuine conversations because property is personal and finance should feel human not transactional.

3. What motivated Factored to partner with Rentr? What are the key benefits of partnering with a tech platform?

I’d been following Rentr on LinkedIn and was impressed by the platform’s mission to streamline the rental experience for landlords. I reached out because the partnership felt like a natural step for us – Rentr has relationships with landlords, and we provide a solution many of them can benefit from.

From a business perspective, partnering with a tech platform is efficient and scalable. Rather than acquiring thousands of landlords individually, we can collaborate with a trusted platform already serving them.

I also see our product as a complementary feature within Rentr’s ecosystem. Rentr is building a comprehensive suite of landlord services and rent advances fit naturally within that offering.

4. Are there any market trends or regulations reinforcing why Factored needs to exist?

Absolutely. When I first developed the idea in 2023, a major driver was energy efficiency regulation. The UK’s Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) come into effect in 2030. Landlords who want to proactively upgrade their properties will need access to capital as retrofitting can be expensive.

If everyone leaves upgrades until the last minute, there simply won’t be enough skilled labour to complete the work. Access to flexible funding will be crucial.

More immediately, the Renters’ Rights Act is reshaping landlord cash flow. From May, landlords can no longer request more than one month’s rent upfront. Many landlords historically structured their cash flow around six months’ to a years’ rent paid in advance.

That shift to strictly monthly payments creates cash flow pressure and that’s where rent advances can bridge the gap.

5. How does Factored’s rent advance differ from a traditional loan?

Structurally, this is not a loan it’s a receivables purchase arrangement.

That means there’s no traditional borrowing, no new secured charge on the property and typically, no impact on the landlord’s credit score.

Traditional property finance, such as second charges, bridging loans or remortgaging, often involves solicitors, lender approvals (deeds of consent) and lengthy underwriting processes.

Our model avoids that complexity. It’s faster, simpler and tied directly to rental income rather than personal affordability assessments.

6. How do you see the rental finance landscape evolving in the UK?

We’re entering a period of adjustment. While EPC regulations will become more urgent over time, the immediate pressure comes from changes introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act. Landlords who relied on upfront rent payments will need to adapt their cash flow strategies.

I expect to see increased demand for alternative finance solutions that are flexible, asset-backed and income-based rather than reliant solely on personal income metrics.

The rental sector is becoming more regulated and professionalised and as such, finance solutions do need to evolve alongside it.

7. What are Factored’s plans moving forward?

We’re currently a team of five and our goal is to double that by the end of the year. We’re focused on growing responsibly while expanding our funding capacity.

In terms of product development, we’re exploring:

• Rent-to-rent solutions for operators rather than property owners
• Advances for short-term rental income (e.g. Airbnb and similar platforms)

At present, we primarily provide advances against Assured Shorthold Tenancies and commercial leases. But we’re seeing strong demand from short-term rental operators and that’s an area we’re actively developing.

Our vision is to become the go-to rent advance finance partner for landlords across the UK, not just in 2026 but long term.

.

8. …and very finally, as a landlord yourself; having learnt more about the benefits of the platform and now partnering with us, do you see yourself becoming part of the Rentr landlord community?

Yes, absolutely, I’ve already downloaded the app ahead of our partnership and have been very impressed!

Rent Advances Becoming Essential for Modern Landlords

Factored’s service complements Rentr’s mission to empower landlords by providing financial flexibility.

Landlords using the Rentr platform can now apply for a rent advance from Factored and could receive funds the same day.

Ultimately, this will help landlords UK-wide, unlock their cash flow instantly to improve their properties, ensure they meet regulatory standards and enhance their financial stability.

Interested in speaking with the Factored team? Click here now.