The Future of Build to Rent: Why Single-Family and Multi-Family Rentals are Here to Stay

The UK housing market is undergoing a quiet revolution. Build to Rent (BTR) has moved from niche concept to established sector in little more than a decade, transforming both how investors view rental housing and how tenants experience it. Today, both multi-family developments and the rapidly growing single-family rental (SFR) sector are reshaping the rental landscape, and the momentum shows no sign of slowing.

A Sector Built for Growth
Investment in the UK’s single-family rental homes has now surpassed £2 billion annually, underlining the growing confidence in this sector’s long-term prospects. Multi-family schemes remain an important part of the BTR picture, but it is SFR that is increasingly seen as the next frontier – delivering professionally managed, high-quality homes across suburban locations where demand continues to outstrip supply.

As David Reed, Legal & General recently noted: “Single-family rental is a tremendously exciting opportunity in the UK — delivering a better quality of product and speeding up delivery, which should be music to the ears of government.”

Shifting Perceptions of Renting
Renting in the UK has historically been viewed as a fallback – something you did before buying a home. That perception is changing fast. Today’s tenants are looking for stability, service, and community, and BTR provides exactly that. From on-site management to predictable rental terms and a commitment to quality, BTR is proving that renting can be a lifestyle choice rather than a temporary compromise.

Meeting the Needs of Modern Tenants
Tenant priorities have also evolved. Financial certainty and sustainability are now high on the list. Searches for “all-inclusive bills” are among the most common in the rental market, reflecting the pressure on household budgets and a growing demand for transparency. Developers and operators are responding with homes that integrate energy-efficient technologies, from solar and battery storage to flexible pricing models, reducing costs while supporting the UK’s wider net zero goals.

Collaboration Will Be Key
The growth of both single and multi-family BTR is undeniable, but challenges remain. Policy bottlenecks, from navigating the Renters’ Reform Bill to delays in planning, continue to slow delivery. As Richard Berridge of Blackbird Real Estate Consultants highlighted: “We need to collaborate… policymakers, planners, investors… to enable delivery at scale.”

A Stable Future for Investors and Communities
The consensus is clear: Build to Rent is here to stay. The UK is recognised globally as a stable market for investment, and both single and multi-family schemes are proving their ability to deliver long-term financial returns while addressing a pressing social need – the delivery of quality rental homes.

Looking ahead, the focus will be on balancing affordability with innovation, ensuring the homes we build today foster communities that will thrive tomorrow.

Conclusion
Whether through urban multi-family developments or suburban single-family communities, Build to Rent is cementing its place as a core pillar of the UK housing market. For investors, developers, and tenants alike, the message is simple: the future of renting is professional, sustainable, and built to last.