Proptech drives surge in UK Build-to-Rent growth

United Kingdom, August 28, 2025

News Summary

The UK Build-to-Rent sector is expanding rapidly where commercial property software platforms are used, with investors deploying significant capital into new development. Platform-powered developments report higher resident satisfaction across overall ratings, management, customer service and repairs, while operators benefit from faster onboarding, automated reporting and real-time analytics. The technology supports portfolio scaling, reduces operational overhead, and enables proactive maintenance and investor visibility. Single-family BTR is also attracting more investment. Despite construction and regulatory headwinds, proptech is creating a positive feedback loop that boosts occupancy, retention and institutional investor interest across multi-family and single-family rental models.

Yardi proptech seen as a key driver of Build-to-Rent growth in the UK as resident scores and investor money rise

The tech company Yardi is playing a growing role in the UK Build-to-Rent (BTR) market, with operator platforms linked to higher resident satisfaction and a wave of investor cash. In the first half of 2025 the BTR sector drew more than £2 billion in investment, while the national BTR pipeline surpassed 300,000 units and over 55,000 units were under construction.

Top-line findings: satisfaction, scale and money

Independent resident ratings show properties using Yardi systems outperform other BTR homes across several core measures. For the fourth year in a row, Yardi-powered developments averaged an overall resident rating of 4.55, above the industry average of 4.43. Management and customer service scores also sat ahead of peers, and repairs and maintenance ratings were higher for Yardi-backed sites.

• Overall rating: Yardi-powered 4.55 vs industry 4.43
• Management: 4.48 vs 4.33
• Customer service: 4.45 vs 4.30
• Repairs & maintenance: 4.33 vs 4.16

What Yardi provides and how it helps operators

Yardi offers a connected, end-to-end platform sold on a SaaS basis that combines property management tools with leasing and resident-facing apps. Core products include RentCafe for leasing, Voyager for property management, and custom resident apps that let people book shared spaces, report repairs and get support round the clock.

The platform speeds up onboarding of new developments, automates regular reporting and feeds real-time analytics to managers. Operators using the system report lower internal overhead, smoother lease workflows, automated accounting and clearer maintenance tracking. That allows teams to handle larger portfolios while keeping service levels steady.

Operators scaling with tech

Partnerships between Yardi and several BTR operators have shown how a single platform can help roll out the same brand and processes across multiple schemes. One operator used Yardi-powered templates for property websites and automated back-office tasks to grow from a single development to multiple sites across the country while keeping the customer experience consistent.

Verified resident reviews point to practical benefits: residents say apps make it easy to book amenities, log repairs and use 24/7 support. Examples from developments include a fridge repair resolved within 24 hours and a move-in process described as frictionless — examples that underline how digital tools are improving day-to-day living.

Investor demand and the sector flywheel

Investors are focusing on professionally run BTR homes that show strong resident retention and predictable income. In the first half of 2025, 83% of BTR transactions targeted new development, underlining appetite for fresh stock. Sector observers point to a possible flywheel: better resident satisfaction leads to stronger occupancy, which draws more capital, which in turn funds more development.

Single-family and other growth areas

Single-family BTR has also gained traction, pulling nearly £1.9 billion last year in recorded investment and accounting for a large share of recent flows. Panel work and operator data show single-family homes can rent faster than they sell in some markets, offer space for home offices and gardens, and suit a wider mix of households than commonly assumed.

Risks, tools and the road ahead

The sector still faces headwinds. Construction delays and increased regulatory oversight are common challenges. Yardi and similar digital platforms are framed as tools that lower operational risk by enabling remote management, predictive maintenance and automated reporting. Those functions can help reduce downtime, ease bottlenecks and give investors clearer visibility from the asset level up to the fund level.

Companies are also exploring AI and machine learning to boost predictive analytics — for example, better energy management and tenant-retention modelling. If widely adopted, these capabilities could sharpen running costs and further lift asset values by improving retention and lowering unexpected repairs.

Market scale and company context

The UK BTR market is expanding in scale and product types, including multi-family, co-living and single-family offerings. Tech partners are being used not just in the UK but in other regions too, where operators seek one connected platform for leasing, funds management, capex and reporting. Yardi marks a long company history and a global workforce that supports its software services.

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FAQ

Key features at a glance

Feature	What it does	Why it matters
RentCafe	Leasing and prospect management	Faster lettings and clearer leads
Voyager	Property and operations management	Streamlines day-to-day running and finances
Resident apps	Booking, reporting and 24/7 support	Better resident experience and faster fixes
Automated reporting	Real-time dashboards and scheduled reports	Improves transparency for managers and investors
Rapid onboarding	Quick setup for new developments	Speeds scale-up and reduces start-up errors
Predictive maintenance & analytics	Data-led issue spotting and cost forecasts	Reduces downtime and unexpected expenses
SaaS model	Subscription-based software delivery	Generates recurring revenue and steady support

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

Additional Resources

• Ainvest: Yardi strategic position — UK BTR sector
• Wikipedia: Build-to-rent
• Property Week: Is single-family the next big leap for BTR?
• Google Search: single-family build-to-rent UK
• Property Week: Can BTR help solve the housing crisis?
• Google Scholar: build-to-rent housing crisis
• PR Newswire: AptResidential selects Yardi’s technology to support BTR projects
• Encyclopedia Britannica: property management software
• Mingtiandi: Panel — Australian BTR investment 2025
• Google News: Build-to-Rent UK 2025