THE world’s first property crowdfunding platform, based in Hale, has raised a whopping £44m in capital in just five short years.

Trailblazer The House Crowd paved the way for property crowdfunding, which enables people to invest in property and receive predictable and consistent returns with a minimum investment of £1,000.

Crowdfunding allows investors to pool resources with other investors, spreading risk over multiple projects and investment types.

The House Crowd, which launched in 2012, now serves over 15,000 investors who have received over £9 million in returns.

To mark its fifth birthday, The House Crowd has been investing in the next stage of business growth.

CEO Frazer Fearnhead has published The Alternative Guide to Property Investment – a book about how people can build their wealth through property crowdfunding; and the company is hiring its first chief technology officer, chief marketing officer and new business development managers, taking its staff count to 20.

The House Crowd is also funding its own multi-million pound new build developments to help “get Britain building”; and it will be introducing a specialist bridging finance service.

Messenger Newspapers:

Frazer Fearnhead, founder and CEO of The House Crowd, said: "We set out to make property investment accessible to as many people as possible, and five years on we've done just that.

"Despite having to fight through reams of red tape to make it happen, property crowdfunding is already worth £700 million a year in the UK, with numerous other platforms having followed in our footsteps.

"We've got the most experienced team available, and now provide a range of investment options to help investors diversify their portfolios. With our own developments underway, we're enjoying helping to get Britain building and look forward to another active five years."

The Alternative Guide to Property Investment is available on Amazon from Monday April 24.