Richard Saville’s Break Your Lease app has more 1.5 million users worldwide

An Ipswich man whose app shot to the top of global charts says a simple idea to help the Covid-19 rental crisis started it all.

Two international rap stars have helped an Ipswich businessman’s app shoot to the top of global charts after an idea to help the Covid-19 rental crisis.

The Break Your Lease app has piqued interest from almost 1.5 million users around the world since Richard Saville’s vision became a virtual reality in May last year.

Mr Saville, 30, had a passion for property but little tech knowledge when his big idea landed in front of some big names.

Richard Saville’s app Break Your Lease has topped the global Apple charts due to its popularity in helping those struggling in the Covid-19 rental crisis. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The leasing agent had a side gig hosting stars of the One Love tour when rappers Shaggy and Sean Paul encouraged him to pursue his dream.

“In between their concerts I would take them to afterparties, restaurants, out and about to have fun,” Mr Saville said.

“I ran the idea by them and it was all go with their tech team when they heard about it.

“Because they did so much work with Apple, Spotify and YouTube for Sean Paul’s music, we were able to get featured on the App Store in America so that was a massive achievement for us.”

Shaggy inspire Richard Saville to pursue his dream.

The social platform which allows people to advertise the remainder of their lease had 470,000 active users in November and shot to Apple’s top Lifestyle app earlier this year.

Mr Saville believed users were coming from other property platforms to get their foot in the rental market by settling for shorter leases.

“There were also a lot of people who were struggling in financial situations when Covid-19 hit so it gave them that flexibility, if they could no longer afford the lease, to find an easy way out,” he said.

“That’s where most of the drive has come from and it’s often people with high rents who have had their work hours reduced because of Covid-19.”

Sean Paul.

Residential, commercial leases and gym memberships were the initial focus but the app has expanded to advertise a range of loans including cars, motorbikes, jet skis and boats.

It works like most listing applications where the user uploads images, a description and the remainder of their lease.

“From there it’s uploaded to a news feed where everyone can see and it’s up to people who are interested to message, go see the property and start the application process with the landlord,” Mr Saville said.

He has high hopes for his app with patents in the United State and United Kingdom.