UK Build to Rent
Ringley supports UK Build to Rent owners, investors, developers and operators across the full lifecycle of BTR assets - from mobilisation and lease-up to stabilised operations, resident experience, compliance, PropTech and long-term asset performance.
“With nearly 1.74 million homeowners expected to reside in BTR by 2030, the spotlight is on 20 key cities where the UK Government has upped its housing targets by 35%.”
Build to Rent (BTR) is a lifestyle phrase for purpose-built long-term rental property given by professional landlords in the United Kingdom, BTR is the UK equivalent of their multi-family sector.
We're growing. We need strategic land and partnership opportunities for new rental homes in well-connected UK commutable locations.
Contact our land team.Demand for Build to Rent in UK
Low inflation and stagnant salaries, set against house price inflation have together priced young people out of homeownership and fuelled demand for the Build to Rent sector, as well as those leaving professionally run purpose build student housing expecting more. Enter BTR. BTR delivers purpose-built housing designed for rent set in a serviced environment with tech enabled front-of-house staff for immediate service delivery.
Rental households have grown by 74% in the last decade, and despite the fact that 20% of private landlords are selling up, demand for rental housing is predicted to increase from 4.5 million to 7.2 million by 2025. As a result, the fastest-growing segment of the housing industry is Build to Rent (BTR).
Build to Rent, is a rapidly expanding segment of the UK housing market, and is increasingly contributing to overall housing supply. The British Property Federation (BPF), in collaboration with Savills, report the sector is growing by 14%+ a year. The UK Government has signalled to the industry the critical role that they want high-quality rental housing to play in upping its housing target by 35% in 20 key cities including London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol, and Manchester.
The rise of second cities
Affordability has driven many graduates to stay in university cities, where good-quality supply is scarce. Since the 2020 pandemic, work-life balance has shifted towards home; eight-days-a-month commuter rail passes and high-speed trains mean London is losing its allure. Together, these are ideal catalysts for increasing demand for flats in cities and single-family homes in "garden suburb commuter zones" just outside.
City Spotlight - Top UK BTR hotspots
With nearly 1.74 million homeowners expected to reside in purpose built BTR homes by 2030, the UK must address the housing issue by constructing a variety of houses and tenures to fulfil everyone's demands.
London
Birmingham
Manchester
Bristol
Newcastle upon Tyne
Leeds
Nottingham
Sheffield
Brighton and Hove
Leicester
Liverpool
Southampton
Affordability
Rising capital value dictate that the design/use of space is becoming increasingly significant. Depending on location and unit mix, affordability can start at 20% of income attracting people out of the poor quality Houses in Multiple Occupation 'HMO' market..
Age targeted living
BTR is age targeted. Many see it as the obvious progression from professionally run student housing and bedroom clusters around a shared kitchen. BTR is a step up from coliving's lack of personal square footage and home comforts. BTR offers renters spaces where most bedrooms are double and the square footage per person is more fairly apportioned. Simple, durable, bright and clean well designed spaces within places that are community driven.
UK BTR is more than just city centre. The surge in keenly priced, commutable single family housing is driven by infinitely greater supply of suitable sites and recognition that many young renters mature and need more space to start a families.
In recent years, UK legislation to raise standards in rental housing has been a plenty. As well, barriers to renting such as up front tenant fees have been banned and deposit alternative products introduced. The institutional landlord is focused on 'customers' not 'tenants' and ensuring that renting is a pleasant experience, a lifestyle choice and is seriously focused on creating some of the UK's newest and most dynamic neighborhoods.







