Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about OpenHouse.
Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is OpenHouse? OpenHouse is a platform that lets you invest in real property by buying shares. Instead of needing hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy a whole property, you can start with as little as $20 and build ownership over time.
How is this different from a property fund or REIT? When you invest through OpenHouse, you own shares in a specific property—not a pooled fund of many properties. You know exactly which home your money is tied to, and you receive yield from that property's rental income.
Do I need to understand cryptocurrency? No. While the technology runs on blockchain, the interface is designed to feel familiar. You see dollars, properties, and percentages—not technical complexity. We handle the blockchain part.
Is OpenHouse regulated? OpenHouse operates within UK financial regulations. We require identity verification (KYC) for all users and follow anti-money laundering (AML) requirements. See our regulatory disclosures for details.
Account & Verification
Why do I need to verify my identity? UK regulations require us to verify who our users are before allowing investment. This protects you, other investors, and the integrity of the platform.
How long does verification take? Most verifications complete within a few minutes. Occasionally, manual review is needed, which can take up to 24 hours.
What documents do I need? A government-issued photo ID: passport, driving licence, or national ID card. You'll also take a selfie for comparison.
What if my verification is declined? You'll receive guidance on why and how to try again. Common issues include poor image quality or expired documents. If problems persist, contact support.
Can I change my email or linked accounts? Yes. Go to Wallet → Settings to manage your account details and connected login methods.
Investing
What's the minimum investment? $20. You can invest any amount above that, up to available supply.
What does "Synthetic" vs "Real Asset" mean? Synthetic means the property hasn't been acquired yet. Your shares are backed by OpenHouse's treasury, and yield comes from treasury funds—not rental income. You hold contractual rights to receive property-backed shares if the acquisition succeeds.
Real Asset means the property has been purchased by an SPV. Your shares represent economic rights in that SPV, and yield comes from actual rent minus the 8% property management fee.
The same shares carry through both phases. There's no swap or migration. The app clearly labels which phase each property is in.
When do my shares appear in my portfolio? Immediately after your purchase is confirmed. The transaction typically completes within seconds.
Can I invest in multiple properties? Yes. You can spread your investment across as many properties as you like. Diversification is a personal choice. We don't provide financial advice.
Is there a maximum investment? There's no account-level maximum, but each property has a limited number of shares. Once sold out, you'd need to buy from the secondary market.
Yield & Returns
How is yield calculated? Yield is your share of the property's net rental income, proportional to how many shares you hold. If a property earns $10,000/year in net rent and you own 1% of shares, your annual yield is $100.
When is yield distributed? Monthly. Each distribution is based on a snapshot of who held shares at a specific date that month.
How do I claim my yield? Go to your Wallet and click Claim. You can claim from individual properties or all at once. The USDC goes directly to your wallet.
What if I don't claim my yield? Unclaimed yield remains available until you claim it. There's no expiration, but we recommend claiming regularly.
Is yield guaranteed? No. Yield depends on the property being tenanted and rent being paid. Void periods reduce or eliminate yield during that time. In the synthetic phase, yield is funded by treasury and may differ from eventual real performance.
Selling & Liquidity
Can I sell my shares at any time? Yes, subject to available liquidity in the pool. The platform maintains liquidity so you can exit without waiting for a buyer.
How quickly do I receive funds when I sell? Immediately. USDC is credited to your wallet as soon as the transaction confirms, typically within seconds.
What fees apply when I sell? A sell fee of around 1.5% is deducted from your proceeds. The exact amount is shown before you confirm.
What if there's not enough liquidity? In rare cases, large sales may exceed available pool liquidity. The app will show you the maximum you can sell at that moment. Liquidity is replenished through ongoing trading activity.
Can I transfer shares to another person? Shares can only be held by verified users. Direct transfers between wallets are restricted to maintain compliance. If you need to move shares, sell them and have the recipient purchase on the platform.
Fees & Costs
What fees does OpenHouse charge? Buy fee: around 1.5% added to your investment. Sell fee: around 1.5% deducted from your proceeds. Gas fees: none—OpenHouse covers blockchain transaction costs.
Are there any ongoing fees? No annual management fees are charged to your holdings. The only ongoing deduction from rental income is 8% property management. Other property costs like insurance and maintenance reserves are funded from the initial raise, not deducted from rent.
Why do fees exist? Fees fund platform operations: development, compliance, customer support, and the liquidity infrastructure that lets you trade freely.
Wallet & Funds
What is USDC? USDC is a stablecoin—a cryptocurrency that maintains a 1:1 value with the US dollar. It's widely used, regulated, and backed by cash reserves. On OpenHouse, all transactions happen in USDC.
How do I add funds? Go to Wallet → Fund. You can buy USDC with a card through MoonPay, or transfer existing USDC from another wallet.
Can I withdraw to my bank account? Currently, you can withdraw USDC to an external wallet. From there, you can convert to your local currency through exchanges like Coinbase or Kraken. Direct bank withdrawal may be added in future.
What if I send funds to the wrong address or network? Funds sent to incorrect addresses or networks cannot be recovered. Always double-check the address and ensure you're sending USDC on the Base network. OpenHouse cannot recover misdirected funds.
Is my wallet secure? Your wallet is secured through Privy using your login credentials. Enable two-factor authentication for additional security. OpenHouse cannot access or move your funds without your authorisation.
Properties
How does OpenHouse select properties? We evaluate properties based on location, rental yield, tenant quality, condition, and growth potential. Not every property we review makes it to the platform—only those meeting our criteria.
Can I visit a property I've invested in? Properties are tenanted, so visits aren't possible during tenancy. We provide detailed photos, documents, and property information on each listing.
What happens if a tenant stops paying rent? The property management company handles tenant issues, including arrears and eviction if necessary. During void periods, yield is reduced or paused until the property is re-let.
What happens if property values fall? Your share value reflects the underlying property value. If property prices decline, so does the value of your shares. Property investment carries risk—values can go down as well as up.
Can I vote on property decisions? For material decisions affecting the SPV, shareholders will be consulted. Day-to-day management decisions are handled by appointed managers.
Technical
What blockchain does OpenHouse use? Base, an Ethereum layer-2 network. It offers Ethereum's security with lower costs and faster transactions.
Do I need ETH for gas fees? No. OpenHouse covers all gas fees. You only need USDC.
Can I see my shares on a block explorer? Yes. Your property shares are standard ERC-20 tokens visible on BaseScan. Your wallet address and transaction history are public and verifiable.
What happens if OpenHouse goes offline? Your shares exist on the blockchain, independent of the OpenHouse website. In an extreme scenario, you could interact with the smart contracts directly. That said, we maintain robust infrastructure and redundancy.
Support
How do I contact support? Email us at hello@openhouse.finance. We aim to respond within 24 hours.
Where can I report a bug? Email hello@openhouse.finance with details of what happened, what you expected, and any screenshots that help explain the issue.
Is there a community? We're building one. Follow us on social media for updates and join our waitlist to be notified of community channels when they launch.
Legal & Tax
Is this financial advice? No. OpenHouse provides a platform, not financial advice. Consider your own circumstances and consult a financial advisor if needed.
Do I need to pay tax on my returns? Likely yes, depending on your jurisdiction. In the UK, rental income and capital gains may be taxable. Keep records of your transactions and consult a tax professional.
What are my rights? During the synthetic phase, you hold contractual rights to receive property-backed shares upon acquisition. These are not securities and do not represent ownership in any property or company until acquisition completes.
During the real asset phase, you hold shares representing economic rights in a UK limited company (the SPV) with proportional entitlement to net rental income.
The same shares carry through both phases. There is no swap, burn, or migration.
Can't find your question? Email hello@openhouse.finance and we'll help.
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