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3 min read
Phil Spencer MBE Founder Move iQ

Build to Rent Properties: Should You Live in One?

Build to rent properties are housing complexes created by a big developer to rent out to private tenants. Some consider them the future, while others have their reservations. So, should you live in one? To help you decide, we’ve taken a closer look at some important information, pros and cons.

Build to rent UK explained

They’re also known as purpose-built apartments, co-living developments, and multi-unit apartment blocks. No one’s come up with a catch-all name yet.

They claim to offer high-quality fixtures and fittings. They also promise a better level of management compared to traditional properties within the rented sector.

Build to rent is growing quickly. According to the latest BPF / Savills sector data, there are now 147,670 completed BTR homes in the UK. There are also thousands more coming through the pipeline. Even so, it remains a relatively small slice of the overall rental sector.

Are these properties more expensive?

In return, rent tends to be higher than traditional properties in the private rented sector. However, the rent often includes utility bills (electricity, gas and broadband). It also covers shared facilities including resident lounges, rooftop gardens, bike parking, concierge services and gyms.

Many of the providers also promise not to charge any moving-in or other fees. They offer flexible tenancies, are pet friendly, and do not charge a rental deposit (or charge a much smaller one).

In England, most private renters now have assured periodic tenancies under the Renters’ Rights Act. Instead of fixed-term Assured Shorthold Tenancies, this model is preferred.

And if you want to keep a pet, landlords in England cannot unreasonably refuse your request.

What’s the appeal?

Because of all these services and features, build to rent schemes tend to be more social and more suited to younger tenants overall. Additionally, they often have a more ‘student’ vibe to them.

It’s an American concept that’s been imported into the UK and is beginning to take off. If you’ve ever overpaid for a dingy flat and rubbish service from a landlord or letting agent. The purpose-built rental blocks can be very appealing.

Is build to rent the future of private rented accommodation?

The sector is expanding well beyond its early London base. The same report shows strong growth across regional cities as well as the capital. New schemes continue to appear in large urban areas and commuter locations.

They’re springing up in other big cities too, including:

  • Birmingham
  • Cardiff
  • Leicester
  • Leeds
  • Liverpool
  • Manchester
  • Nottingham
  • Southampton
  • Stoke-on-Trent
  • York

There are also 55,302 BTR homes under construction and 100,022 in planning across the UK. Therefore, there’s a good chance one is planned or under way near you.

Where can I find a build to rent apartment?

Build to rent properties can be hard to spot because they’re mixed in with other types of rental property on portals when you’re finding a rental property. But, one usual giveaway is ‘utilities included in rent’.

Another way to track them down is to look out for the main players in this market who operate the developments. There are two types, roughly speaking.

These are either ‘co-living’ developments, where the apartments can be quite small but there are loads of shared social areas including lounges and dining areas. Or, they can be more traditional developments where tenants have larger apartments and fewer shared amenities.

These include Be:here (Wilmott Dixon), Co-Living Spaces, Essential Living and Get Living, to name a few.

Purpose-built rental developments have several advantages over those in the rest of the private rental market. It’s all about cost and service:

  • Build to rent apartments tend to be rented out and managed directly by their developer. Therefore, because there’s no ‘middle man’, moving in fees are minimal or non-existent. This makes budgeting when renting much easier in the long term
  • The rent a tenant pays may cover more than just the home itself, with some providers including bills, shared amenities and extra perks. That can make monthly costs easier to plan, although it does not necessarily make BTR the cheapest option
  • Most of the larger blocks are serviced by 24-hour concierge teams. Therefore, getting leaking taps or broken toilets fixed can be much easier and quicker than with traditional landlords
  • Because they have concierge services, parcels for tenants can be delivered and then picked up after work. This way, tenants do not have to traipse to the nearest Yodel or Royal Mail office
  • Tenancies at many developments are flexible. In England they now usually sit within the new periodic tenancy system. This gives renters more flexibility than the old fixed-term model

Are there any downsides?

Although build to rent developments are often good value when you take the services and facilities into account, they’re not always the most affordable.

Research suggests they are usually within the upper price range ‘per square foot’ for rental properties wherever they are built.

But, this isn’t surprising given the high quality of the apartments and services. It’s worth remembering that not every development includes all bills in the rent.

Want to know more about an area you’re looking to rent in? Get one of Phil Spencer’s Property Reports today.­

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Last Updated: June 4th, 2026