With peer-to-peer lending, individuals provide unsecured loans to those in need of finance, rather than saving their money in a bank or building society. Though quite a recent phenomenon in the UK, peer-to-peer lending is predicted to continue to grow rapidly, especially as the reputations of our high street banks continue to be damaged by seemingly unremitting revelations of malpractice.

Peer-to-peer lending websites, such as Zopa, Yes-secure and Ratesetter have already achieved significant success, with more than Â£200m estimated to have been lent through Zopa since its inception in 2005.

Whilst peer-to-peer lending has the benefit of cutting out money-grabbing middlemen, the risk of reintermediation is becoming an increasingly likely problem. As peer-to-peer lending companies grow, their marketing, regulatory and operational costs increase, which could potentially cause companies such as Zopa, Yes-secure and Ratesetter to lose the benefits which currently sets them apart from traditional banks.

Despite recent Government support, only time will tell whether peer-to-peer lending will become a norm of borrowing and lending in the UK. Here at The House Crowd, we support the practice of peer-to-peer lending, but would remind those lending their funds that with us you can get a very good return on your money and need do nothing at all!

The House Crowd is a brand new concept in property investment which allows people to invest small amounts via crowdfunding (for more information on the process, visit www.http://thehousecrowd.com/thehousecrowd//how-it-works/). We are committed to breathing life into empty, rundown properties whilst giving investors great returns on their investments (for more information about us, visit www.http://thehousecrowd.com/thehousecrowd//about/our-manifesto/). If youâ€™ve read enough and want to invest now, visit www.http://thehousecrowd.com/thehousecrowd//invest-in-property/).