Town of Nantucket Launches Innovative Rooted Renters Program
NANTUCKET, MA - The Town of Nantucket is pleased to announce the launch of Rooted Renters, a new three-year housing preservation program designed to help keep existing year-round rental homes affordable for Nantucket’s workforce and community.
Funded by the Affordable Housing Trust and administered by Placemate, the program provides financial incentives to property owners who commit to maintaining qualifying rentals at affordable rates for current and future year-round residents. Unlike programs designed to create new year-round rentals, Rooted Renters focuses on preserving existing rentals that are already housing Nantucket residents.
To qualify, a rental unit must have been rented to year-round tenants for at least the past 12 months. Owners accepted into the program are eligible for incentive payments totaling $18,000 for a whole home or $6,000 for a room in a shared home, issued over three years in addition to regular rent collection. Payments are structured in four installments: $2,700 at sign-up, $2,700 at the end of year one, $5,400 at the end of year two, and $7,200 at the end of year three. The payments progressively increase to encourage long-term participation.
To apply, owners should visit placemate.com/nantucket-rooted-renters and submit a preliminary application form at the bottom of the page. Applications open Monday, August 24, 2026, and close Friday, October 2, 2026. Placemate will then evaluate submissions, prioritizing the most affordable rentals, and contact selected owners to begin the program.
“Rooted Renters is about protecting the year-round rental housing we already have and recognizing the property owners who make that housing available to our community,” said Kristie Ferrantella, the Town’s housing director. “By helping landlords keep rents affordable and providing greater stability for existing tenants, this program is another important tool in our broader effort to ensure that the people who work in and contribute to Nantucket can continue to call the island home.”
The Town of Nantucket has allocated $540,000 in incentives for a first cohort of owner applicants. To review full program details or apply, visit placemate.com/nantucket-rooted-renters.
About Placemate:
Placemate has deep experience and operational capacity to help solve the workforce housing crisis in destination communities by unlocking new and preserving existing housing opportunities for locals. They have operated housing programs across the country in California, Idaho, Nevada, Vermont, Colorado, and Massachusetts. Through their trusted and secure online platform, they connect local tenants with homeowners who have underutilized properties available for rent. They partner with local governments and nonprofits to incentivize property owners who convert and preserve their units into seasonal and long-term rentals for locals.
Tenants and property owners can learn more about Rooted Renters by visiting placemate.com/nantucket-rooted-renters, calling Placemate at (508) 332 - 5183, or emailing them at hello@placemate.com. Tenants can create a rental profile by visiting placemate.com/create-renter-profile to inquire about available listings on Placemate’s site. Additionally, if you are a Nantucket homeowner interested in becoming a new landlord you may qualify for a separate set of incentives through the Lease to Locals program - visit Placemate.com/nantucket to learn more.
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