Rent to own is a great concept for the housing market as it stands now. With few signs of the recent fall in market values being reversed, and availability of new mortgage funds remaining low, it is an answer to the prayers of many. But, as I'll explain, rent to own needs to come of age, to be a really effective force in the marketplace.

For occupiers who might have been ideal first time buyers a couple of years ago, the world has changed. It is no longer possible to obtain large mortgages, or high loan to value advances. For many of these people, the dream of purchasing their own home seems to have evaporated - they are looking for a new ladder to get onto.

Investors, particularly those owning residential property bought in the last two or so years are facing equally tough decisions. With property holdings worth significantly less than they paid for them, now is not the time to sell out at a loss. Yet some solidity in planning for the future would be most welcome. And the potential for tenant voids means there could be some holes in the income plan.

Rent to own has the potential to create a match made in heaven for both these parties. For the tenant buyer, there's the chance to occupy a home, not just a rental property, on terms that provide an opportunity to improve their financial status prior to switching into being a homebuyer.

For the investor, there's the opportunity to find a responsible tenant (how many of us dream of one of those?), who makes a long term rental commitment. And there's an agreed future purchase option that underscores the property's value and offers an exit option which is far more attractive than open market sale.

The only problem is that of market liquidity. While the home sales market in the UK, and to a large extent the rental market too, thrive on liquidity, it is this that the still young and evolving rent to own market is lacking. However, as rent to own comes to be better understood, its legitimacy as a method of getting onto the housing ladder will be reinforced.

And until we can really match tenant buyers with investor landlords, providing them with a home they will want to buy, in the right location at the right price point, we risk the rent to own concept remaining just that - a concept.

Doug Hedley is a UK based residential property expert who heads http://www.rent2own.me.uk a site dedicated to helping renters become first time buyers in the UK housing market. And for property owners looking to sell their property fast, Doug provides a home buying service through http://www.propertyfinancialsolutions.co.uk

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