The Home Purchase Plan (HPP) is a product which enables the customer to buy their own home in a Sharia compliant way, without interest. The overall objective of the HPP, therefore, is to allow the customer to purchase the property over a period of time, so that, ultimately, they become the owner.
For an Islamic bank to be able to offer the HPP at a competitive rental rate, it does not take on the responsibility of maintenance and insurance as part of the Ijara agreement. If the bank were responsible for carrying out maintenance, procuring buildings insurance and the subsequent administration, the rental rate would need to be higher.
This would therefore affect the customer’s long-term objective of buying their home in a Sharia compliant, and affordable, way. With an Al Rayan Bank HPP, the Bank appoints the customer as a Service Agent responsible for maintenance of the property and ensuring that it is covered by appropriate insurance. This is permissible according to Sharia and is beneficial for the customer; it means the Bank can charge a lower rental rate that is competitive with conventional banking and ultimately enables the customer to buy their home without paying interest.
Hence, the responsibility for maintenance and insurance rests with the customer, who will ultimately own the property after they have bought the Bank’s share over a period of time.