The Build to Rent (BTR) sector is continuing to evolve, with Single Family Housing (SFH) gathering real momentum. Since 2023, over £3.7 billion has been invested in funding or acquiring SFH schemes, accounting for nearly 40% of all BTR investment in that period.

As architects, we are seeing a market shift that mirrors how people actually want to live. Houses already make up more than 60% of UK rental stock and half of renters live in suburban areas, yet institutional BTR has until recently been focused on high-density urban apartment blocks. That is changing.

Knight Frank’s Next Gen Living report shows 71% of investors plan to target SFH by 2029, and 2024 has already seen a 24% increase in completed deals compared to the previous year. It is a sign that the sector is waking up to the needs of families, downsizers and others looking for long-term, stable rental homes in more suburban and community-focused settings.

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