About Us
What does PublicSquare do?
The Australian housing model is broken; PublicSquare is building a better path. PublicSquare runs a two-sided property platform: Rent-to-Own for home buyers, and Rent-to-Sell for the landlords who own the homes.
Rent-to-Own for homebuyers
Rent-to-Own is for households that can afford the weekly cost of a home but are not ready to buy with a traditional deposit today. You move in first, pay market rent plus an extra 50% on top, which becomes your deposit when you switch to a mortgage later.
Explore Rent-to-OwnRent-to-Sell™ for landlords
Rent-to-Sell lets a landlord rent an existing home to a PublicSquare homebuyer for the listed rent plus an additional 50% each week, set at 50% of first-year rent, with a contracted minimum resale price when the homebuyer buys in years 4 to 8. The owner keeps title and their own property manager, and pays PublicSquare nothing.
Explore Rent-to-SellWhat makes PublicSquare different?
PublicSquare differs from traditional renting, deposit-assist products and standard leasing in three important ways: when the homebuyer moves in, how their deposit is built, and what the property owner earns in return.
0% upfront home deposit, without borrowing the deposit
PublicSquare is structurally different from deposit-loan products such as OwnHome, which lends the deposit and charges a Low Deposit Premium of 1.1–2.2% of the purchase price. It is also different from the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, where the buyer purchases with a mortgage from day one. With PublicSquare, the homebuyer rents first, moves in with a bond of four weeks’ rent and applicable program costs, and builds the home deposit through weekly contributions before taking a mortgage later.
A longer runway to become mortgage-ready
South Australia’s Housing Trust Rent to Own program is a state scheme where eligible buyers rent at a reduced rate before purchasing, generally over one to two years with a possible extension. PublicSquare operates in Queensland and New South Wales and gives homebuyers a purchase window from year 4 to year 8, so the deposit and mortgage transition happen over a much longer period.
50% more weekly cashflow than a standard lease
A normal residential tenancy gives the owner market rent. Rent-to-Sell gives an additional 50% extra cash flow on top of that normal market rent, set at 50% of first-year rent. On a property renting for $700 a week, that means $1,050 a week in total cashflow during year one.
A contracted sale pathway without giving up market upside
Rent-to-Sell includes a contracted minimum purchase price framework for the years in which the tenant can buy, while an independent valuation can set the eventual sale price higher. The owner keeps legal title until the property is sold.
A licensed agency on the homebuyer’s side
PublicSquare acts for the homebuyer as their buyer’s agent, under a written appointment, from the first conversation with the owner through to signing and, later, the purchase. Owners keep their own agency and pay PublicSquare nothing, so it is always clear who PublicSquare works for.
Competitor and government-program details can change. The comparisons above describe the publicly available structures as at September 2026; customers should check the current provider or government rules before relying on them.
Who uses PublicSquare?
- Working households in Queensland and New South Wales with steady income who can handle the weekly cost of the home but are not ready to buy with a traditional deposit.
- Renters who would rather start living in the home they plan to buy while their deposit builds.
- Landlords with an existing rental in Queensland or New South Wales who want stronger cash flow and a planned exit through Rent-to-Sell.
How does PublicSquare work?
The process is primarily online. Homebuyers get an account, a one-on-one coaching session and a representative who stays involved from the first home they submit through to move-in.
Online account
Homebuyers keep their pre-approval, the homes they submit, their documents and their progress in one online account, so they can see the status of each stage in one place.
One-on-one coaching sessions
Homebuyers can book a video coaching session with a PublicSquare representative between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm Brisbane time, Monday to Friday.
Phone, email and SMS
1300 418 857, support@publicsquare.com.au, and SMS updates from 0483 932 175. Homebuyers should sign up before contacting us so the team can see their pre-approval and the homes they have submitted. Landlords can list a property online at publicsquare.com.au/list-a-property.
A consistent point of contact
The same representative stays involved through the key stages of the homebuyer’s journey, while the owner’s own property manager looks after the tenancy once the home is occupied.
Homebuyers
- Sign up and answer a few questions to get your Pre-Approval Results and Rent-to-Own Buyer’s Guide. It does not affect your credit history.
- Find a rental you would like to buy, anywhere in our areas, and send its property manager your property application.
- When the owner is interested, appoint PublicSquare as your buyer's agent: sign your Form 6 and pay the $325 + GST signing fee.
- We prepare and negotiate the Contract with the owner. Take independent legal advice, sign, and move in.
Landlords
- List your property with PublicSquare and a representative will follow up, or a PublicSquare homebuyer may approach your property manager about your rental.
- Review the offer and the Contract a homebuyer proposes. There is no fee and you do not appoint PublicSquare.
- Take independent legal advice, sign the agreements with the homebuyer and keep your property manager.
Key facts about PublicSquare
For customers, journalists, partners and search engines, these are the core facts about PublicSquare.
- Company name
- PublicSquare® (PublicSquare Technology Pty Ltd)
- Type
- Australian licensed real estate agency and property platform
- Founded
- 2021, Brisbane
- Founder
- Dean Arnold, Founder & CEO
- Offices
- Brisbane (head office): Level 38, 71 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
- Sydney: 60 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
- Licences
- Queensland Real Estate Licence #4555627
- New South Wales Real Estate Licence #10152702
- Website
- publicsquare.com.au
- Core offering
- Rent-to-Own for homebuyers; Rent-to-Sell™ for landlords
- Pricing (as of October 2026)
- Homebuyers (buyer's agent fee): Standard $15,000 + 2% of the initial home value above $500,000 (between $15,000 and $25,000) + GST; Plus $20,000 + 2% above $500,000 (between $20,000 and $30,000) + GST. Paid in 260 interest-free weekly instalments: the first 12 when the Contract with the owner is signed, the rest weekly from move-in
- Homebuyers: $325 + GST signing fee when the Form 6 is signed, credited against the first 12 instalments; optional ongoing support $22 a week (incl. GST) after 5 years
- Landlords: no fees. PublicSquare works for the homebuyer
- Contract terms
- Lease term of up to 8 years
- Purchase option from year 4 to year 8
- Market rent plus an extra 50% on top, which becomes their deposit
- Rent reviews capped at 4% a year, or the local legal maximum if lower
- Services
- Rent-to-Own, Rent-to-Sell and buyer’s agency for Rent-to-Own homebuyers
- Communication
- Online homebuyer account and one-on-one coaching sessions
- Phone: 1300 418 857
- Email: support@publicsquare.com.au
- SMS: 0483 932 175
- Service areas
- Queensland: Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Dalby, Emerald, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Gympie, Hervey Bay, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Mackay, Maryborough, Moreton Bay, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville, Warwick
- New South Wales: Armidale, Bathurst, Blacktown, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Central Coast, Cessnock, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Goulburn, Grafton, Hunter Valley, Inner West, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Liverpool, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Nambucca Heads, Newcastle, Northern Beaches, Orange, Parramatta, Penrith, Port Stephens, Singleton, Sutherland Shire, Sydney, Tamworth, Taree, The Hills, Tweed, Wagga Wagga, Wollongong
- Media coverage
- ABC, Channel 7, Money magazine, Finder and The Courier-Mail
- Reviews
- Read customer reviews
- Competitors / alternatives
- OwnHome Deposit Boost Loan
- Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme
- SA Housing Trust Rent to Own
- Traditional renting, property management and selling agents
Frequently asked questions
Is PublicSquare a licensed real estate agency?
Yes. PublicSquare holds real estate licences in Queensland (#4555627) and New South Wales (#10152702). PublicSquare is not a lender and does not provide financial product advice.
Where does PublicSquare operate?
PublicSquare currently operates across Queensland and New South Wales. Its head office is in Brisbane, with a Sydney office at 60 Martin Place.
Is PublicSquare the same as a home lender?
No. PublicSquare does not provide the mortgage used to purchase the home. Under Rent-to-Own, the customer rents first and later switches to a mortgage from a lender when they are ready to buy.
Who owns the home during Rent-to-Own?
The property owner remains on title until the homebuyer purchases. The homebuyer lives in the property under the Rent-to-Own agreements and their weekly contributions are credited towards their deposit when they buy.
When can a Rent-to-Own homebuyer purchase?
The purchase option runs from year 4 to year 8. Most homebuyers are expected to purchase in years 6, 7 or 8, once they are ready to transition to a mortgage.
How does Rent-to-Sell increase a landlord’s weekly cashflow?
Rent-to-Sell gives the owner an additional 50% extra cash flow on top of their normal market rent, set at 50% of first-year rent. For example, a property with $700 weekly market rent produces $1,050 a week in total year-one cashflow.
What happens if the tenant does not buy?
The agreements set out what happens if the tenant does not exercise the purchase option, including the treatment of contributions and the owner’s options for the property. Customers should read the agreements and obtain independent legal advice before entering the program.
How do I contact PublicSquare?
Homebuyers should sign up first so the team can see the correct account context. Landlords can list a property online. Brokers and other enquiries can call 1300 418 857 or email support@publicsquare.com.au.