Build to Rent sees global surge

Social Housing 2019

Build to Rent Goes Global: New Data Reveals Surge in UK, US, Australia and New Zealand

New global data from Inventory Base reveals that Build to Rent (BTR) is no longer a UK phenomenon. n, it’s a rapidly expanding housing model gaining serious traction across New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. Nowhere is this clearer than in New Zealand, where completions rose an astonishing 34.5% year-on-year, outpacing growth in any other major market.

The BTR revolution in the UK is well established, with industry observers tracking the sector’s meteoric rise for several years.

According to Inventory Base, by Q1 2025, 1,824 new BTR homes were delivered in the UK, bringing the cumulative total to 127,156 – a 15.8% year-on-year increase from 109,847 in Q1 2024.

However, BTR is far from being a UK-only success story. Inventory Base’s analysis of global data shows a growing momentum in markets including the US, Australia, and New Zealand.

United States: Though still in its early stages, the BTR sector is beginning to pick up pace. Data from 2024* shows that 5,200 new BTR homes were completed last year, pushing the national total to 39,000 – an annual increase of 15.4%.

Australia: Completions reached 4,878 in 2024, with 2025 projections at 5,928 – a forecasted increase of 21.5%..

New Zealand: Despite a population of 5.2 million (just over half the size of London) the country delivered 1,949 BTR homes by 30 April 2025 – a remarkable 34.5% year-on-year increase.

Eyes on Dubai

Dubai’s BTR market is too young to provide any meaningful data right now, early indicators are that the sector is picking up real speed and is widely expected to become one of the most active sectors in the world within a short period of time.

Dubai’s growing population and its position as a leading international business hub means there is significant demand for rental housing. The Dubai government has recognised the potential of the BTR market and has introduced policies that encourage the development of BTR properties.

There is also real institutional interest in BTR with government policies encouraging long-term residency and rising expatriate demand positioning BTR as a strategic investment focus.

Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, Operations Director at Inventory Base, commented:

“Build to Rent is reshaping rental markets across continents.

The sector’s growth reflects a fundamental shift in how people view renting, no longer a temporary step, but a lifestyle choice driven by flexibility, convenience, and service quality.

This shift brings new responsibilities for landlords and property managers. BTR residents expect a professional, customer-centric experience, supported by operational excellence, proactive maintenance, and real-time responsiveness. Governments also have a part to play.

In the UK, the ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes – backed by planning reform and local authority targets – creates both urgency and opportunity for the BTR sector.

Technology will be key to delivering on that promise. Digital inspections, automated workflows, and integrated maintenance platforms are essential to running efficient, scalable operations.

Delivering a modern rental experience takes more than spreadsheets, patchwork tools, or good intentions and the BTR boom isn’t waiting for outdated systems to play catch up.”

EAN Breaking News

Breaking News from the team at Estate Agent Networking. Have a new story to share with us? Then please get in contact today! When and where we can we will refer to third party websites with a 'live link back' where news was released first.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

Why September is the Most Expensive Month for Your Boiler

As households prepare to switch their boilers back on after summer, heating engineers are warning that September is often the most expensive month of the year for boiler breakdowns, repairs, and inefficiency. Rob Jones, heating engineer at UK Radiators, explains: “After months of being idle, boilers are suddenly put under pressure when temperatures drop in…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

What AI Can and Can’t Fix in Block Management

By Robert Poole, Director – Block Management, Glide Property Management, part of LRG In an industry increasingly shaped by regulation, rising expectations and squeezed margins, the promise of AI and automation in block management is understandably appealing. The idea of freeing property managers from repetitive tasks, improving compliance, and streamlining communication offers significant operational value.…
Read More
Crowded beaches - Clacton-on-Sea in Essex
Overseas Property

The top holiday property hotspots for UK buyers

Greece’s property market sees highest level of property transactions since 2009 The latest analysis from international property consultancy, Astons, reveals that Greece’s property market is in the middle of an extraordinary growth period with the past decade seeing transaction numbers increase year after year, with 2025’s total sales set to hit the highest point since…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Regulation overload?

Reapit report shows concerns over Renters’ Rights Bill as government plans improvements to bailiffs and tribunals There is widespread concern across the property sector over incoming regulatory changes – including the Renters’ Rights Bill – according to research by leading PropTech provider, Reapit. Their Property Outlook Report 2025 reveals letting agents, landlords, and sales professionals…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Later life living – turning a corner for investors?

By Daniel Austin, CEO and co-founder at ASK Partners By 2072, almost 30% of Britons will be aged 65 or over. This stark demographic shift is already taking shape, with profound implications for the housing market. Despite an estimated shortfall of at least 4.3 million in the UK today, less than 1 million are specifically…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 27/08/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Symple helps speed mandatory Electrical Installation Condition Reports for 5.9M tenancies As of August 2025 there are over 5,986,000 privately rented properties in the UK and a large number of these will in the very near future need a ‘new’ mandatory electrical installation condition…
Read More