It's to pull you out of private renting and into corporate renting. Once you're in, private landlords will lose tenants and be forced to sell off to corporations. Once they have a larger share of the market they can do whatever they want with the prices. Don't fall for it. Let them fail.

Meanwhile this “free rent” that they are offering is on a 15-16 month lease. So you’re still paying for the full 12 month lease.