Our Living Sectors Consultancy & Advisory team were appointed to provide consultancy advice to our client in October 2021 on the purchase of five buildings in South-West London from a national developer, within a larger housing development.

Our client was a new entrant to the UK Build to Rent market, looking for support in three main areas relating to the purchase:

1. Testing the vendor provided rental assumptions and rent levels
2. Establishing local market depth and likely lease-up rates for the units
3. Establishing the high-level operational costs for the development

Utilising a variety of data sources including Realyse, Rightmove Plus and Molior, alongside our own bespoke data analysis tools, we provided a comprehensive overview of the local market, including demonstrating how the units within the scheme mapped across to the local rental market.

Having established the market depth, the comparative centile position of the units within the market, and level of local demand, we were able to advise the client on the scheme feasibility and plan an appropriate leasing strategy.

Using our in-house modelling tools and first-hand operational knowledge we were also able to establish initially a high-level, and then detailed operational budget for the proposed scheme.

As the purchase progressed and contracts were exchanged on the buildings, the clients then had a further need for commercial due diligence support and further area analysis, commenting on viability and competitor positions.

We completed the due diligence consultancy and advisory activities, assisting through to the successful completion of the purchase, leasing up and operational management of the scheme.