CBRE data shows UK build to rent market booming
H1 investment volumes for UK BtR totalled £1.9 bn with £2.2 bn under offer.
9 July 2025
UK BtR investment volumes in H1 2025 totalled £1.9 bn, according to real estate advisor, CBRE. A further £2.2 bn of investment is currently under offer.
The preliminary figures are almost 60% higher than the same time in 2024, and one of the largest pipelines recorded to date, highlighting an increase in activity levels amongst those investors currently active and those preparing to re-enter the market.
The figures show that single family housing build-to-rent (SFR) properties are poised for further growth. In Q2 2025 SFR investment reached £643.1 million, more than double the previous quarter. Overall, almost £1bn has so far been invested into this sector in 2025.
Multifamily BTR (apartments) investment in Q2 2025 was more subdued at £265.2 million, including a number of standing assets, highlighting continued appetite for operational income producing stock. A strong Q1 means approximately £1bn has also been invested into multifamily BTR so far in 2025.
According to CBRE, several key transactions took place in Q2, highlighting increasing levels of confidence from investors as we enter the second half of 2025. These included Slate Yard, a standing multifamily BTR asset in Manchester comprising 424 homes, a single-family portfolio of 600 homes forward funded for approximately £188m between Barratt and Lloyds Living and Solasta Riverside, a standing multifamily BTR asset in Glasgow of 324 homes.
The pipeline points to strong momentum for the remainder of the year, with a total of £2.2 bn of transactions under offer, of which £1.5 bn is Single Family BTR.
CBRE Head of UK Residential Capital Markets, Andrew Saunderson says: “Over the last six months we have seen improving levels of sentiment from investors. While still seen as an emerging market, Single Family Housing BTR continues to attract significant levels of interest, with a noticeable pick-up in the last quarter.
“The significant pipeline of investment into the sector is a result of both domestic and international capital and demonstrates the growing appetite for investment into the living sector and points to a busy second half of the year.”