Housing

The challenges of build to rent for UK housing providers

Vidhya Alakeson
Vidhya Alakeson

This briefing note looks at the challenges that build to rent poses for housing providers. It is based on a six month project conducted by the Resolution Foundation and Social Finance to develop a financing model for institutional investment in a build to rent portfolio of 778 rental units nationwide aimed at middle income households. 

Key findings

  • Britain’s housing crisis is well documented. Supply has failed to keep up with demand for many years, keeping prices historically high despite a prolonged downturn. This has become particularly pronounced in the private rented sector which in many parts of the country is now more expensive than owning a home.
  • Over half of all younger low to middle income households now live in the private rented sector compared to just over a quarter in 2003-4.

Recommendations

  • Kick starting the development of purpose built rental accommodation in the UK to increase the supply of private rented homes for those who are shut out of home ownership must now be a priority. As well as growing supply, build to rent could bring to market a new rental offer for tenants: purpose built accommodation, greater security of tenure, more transparent rental increases and more consistent management quality, with a new breed of lettings agents and asset managers.

Further reading

Building blocks
Assessing the role of planning reform in meeting the Government’s housing targets
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Camron Aref-Adib, Jonathan Marshall, Cara Pacitti
Housing Outlook Q2 2024
·
Felicia Odamtten
Home truths
Putting housing policy in context for the 2024 general election
·
Camron Aref-Adib, Lindsay Judge, Felicia Odamtten, Cara Pacitti
Vidhya Alakeson
Vidhya Alakeson