There are more than 50,000 completed buildings across the UK, with London leading the way of build to rent homes. But while the capital might have more than 100 completed build-to-rent (BTR) neighbourhoods, other major cities also house stylish BTR homes.
Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds and Bristol all have BTR properties just for renting. With that in mind, this guide covers the top seven build-to-rent locations and some of the top developments.
Build to rent homes London
There’s no denying that London is the UK’s unofficial home of build-to-rent: it has the most properties in the capital, in a wide variety of neighbourhoods like Canary Wharf, Wembley, Greenwich and Islington. Professional renters enjoy exclusive properties with all the trimmings, including concierge services, on-site social spaces and fast maintenance repairs.
Some of the most popular build to rent homes include:
Get Living / East Village
Stratford, E20, East Village really does offer something for everyone, with more than 6,500 people calling it home. Get Living rents privately 2,445 homes, with Triathlon Homes managing 1,379 homes for social rent. There isn’t much you can’t do at the location and there’s more to come. Get Living have development plans to build a further 1,348 homes and also to enhance it’s retail and leisure.
Vertus 10 George Street
Sitting 37 stories above Canary Wharf, Vertus 10 George Street comprises 327 homes overlooking scenic waterside gardens. On-site features include a 24/7 concierge, residents’ lounge, games area and a gym studio.
Vantage Point
Residents soak up London‘s iconic skyline at Vantage Point, a build-to-rent community offering impressive views over the capital. Along with stylish apartments, there are over 7,000 square feet of social spaces, including a gym, lounge and co-working areas.
Build to rent homes Manchester
Manchester is arguably the UK’s second-largest build-to-rent city. The skyline continues to grow with plush properties offering all the perks of build-to-rent, such as 24-hour concierge, rooftops with scenic views and even swimming pools in some cases.
Popular Manchester build-to-rent communities include:
Moda Angel Gardens
Located in the NOMA innovation district, Moda Angel Gardens offers more than 450 high-end homes, a residents’ sky lounge and a rooftop sports court where renters can enjoy a kick about. There’s also a cinema room, BBQ area and a library.
Build to rent homes Birmingham
More and more people are moving to Birmingham, and build-to-rent operators have taken note. Indeed, it’s flourishing in the Midlands, with the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods now home to high-end BTR properties offering an experience crafted solely for renters.
Popular Birmingham build-to-rent communities include:
The Whitmore Collection
The Whitmore Collection offers canal-side living in several one and two-bedroom apartments, as well as townhouses. Residents can make the most of 100mbps broadband options and on-site social spaces, including a courtyard, gym, clubhouse and private dining. Its location in the city’s famous Jewellery Quarter only adds to the appeal of The Whitmore Collection.
Build to rent homes Liverpool
Liverpool is undergoing extensive regeneration, ensuring this iconic city surpasses its potential. It’s always been a special place, whether you support Liverpool Football Club or love The Beatles. The property scene here continues to impress, and there are now several build-to-rent options for tenants.
Popular Liverpool build-to-rent communities include:
The Cargo Building
Located in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, the Cargo Building has modern apartments and on-site amenities like a private gym and a concierge service. There’s also free broadband, on-site parking and bike storage. Apartments are bright and spacious, with open-plan lounges and balconies.
Build to rent homes Leeds
The build-to-rent scene in Leeds continues to grow, with a new 375-apartment scheme recently given the green light by the council. With a high intake of professionals and students, it’s easy to see why Leeds has been earmarked for potential BTR investment.
Popular Leeds build-to-rent communities include:
Moda Living
Moda Living also has a property in Leeds. New York Square 515 has one, two and three-bedroom apartments right in the heart of Leeds City Centre. Residents can take advantage of flexible working spaces, private dining and a cinema and games room. But perhaps most impressive of all is the panoramic views you can enjoy of the city.
Build to rent homes Bristol
In the southwest, Bristol is enjoying an increase in build-to-rent properties to meet the growing demand for homes. The sought-after city is well known for its suspension bridge, cobbled streets and charming boutique shops, restaurants and cafes. Now, it has a range of impressive BTR homes.
Popular Bristol build-to-rent communities include:
Redcliff Quarter
Grainger, the UK’s largest residential landlord, has just acquired a third site in Bristol. Called Redcliff Quarter, the new development is a short walk from Bristol Temple Meads rail station and will be completed in 2025. In the meantime, Grainger’s two other Bristol properties, Hawkins & George and Millwrights Place, offer 194 and 231 apartments, respectively.
Build to rent homes Cardiff
It’s not just England that currently enjoys high-end build to rent homes. BTR schemes are rising in Cardiff, offering a young generation of professionals a range of options for living in Wales’ capital.
Popular Cardiff build to rent homes include:
Bridge Street Exchange
Designed for the large number of students in the city, Bridge Street Exchange is a 26-storey high-rise building with 477 apartments. Other noticeable BTR options include a project from Grainger, which features a striking copper facade and contains more than 300 homes.
The best of build-to-rent
Expect to see more homes built exclusively for renters in the coming years in cities and towns across the UK. But for now, these cities in our list lead the way when it comes to five-star build-to-rent properties offering renters an alternative to traditional buy-to-let private renting.
Build to rent (BTR) is still relatively unknown to renters. That’s because it’s a relatively new concept here in the UK, and most developments don’t advertise themselves specifically as build-to-rent properties. Yet, BTR is growing exponentially, with more than 150,000 developments already completed and thousands more in the pipeline. But who lives in build to rent homes? Here, we explore the BTR space to learn more about the sector and the renters it attracts.
Last Updated: November 9th, 2022
