A new analysis by property industry consultancy TwentyEA lifts the lid on the comparative costs between conventional buy to let-style rental accommodation, and purpose-built Build To Rent (BTR) units.
The consultancy’s latest snapshot says: “The impact of the Renters’ Rights Act is … likely to have differed by landlord type.
“Build To Rent operators, with larger portfolios and dedicated management teams, are generally better placed to absorb additional regulatory requirements than smaller private landlords.
“Despite the changing regulatory landscape, BTR properties have continued to command a rental premium across almost every region … and underline the sector’s resilience and the continued demand for professionally managed rental homes.”
| Scotland | 14.2% |
| North East | 20.7% |
| North West | – 5.2% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 31.9% |
| East Midlands | 17.0% |
| West Midlands | 12.5% |
| Wales | 47.6% |
| East of England | 16.7% |
| Outer London | 38.3% |
| Inner London | 8.6% |
| South East | 8.5% |
| South West | 20.3% |
The consultancy says the growth of the BTR sector explains a statistical paradox in the private rental market.
It says that on the one hand, some 850,000 traditional buy to let-style properties have been lost in the past decade, with accelerating losses close to the time of the Renters Rights Act.
But on the other hand, rental supply now has actually reached its highest level in seven years, rising by more than 17% so far in 2026 versus 2025.
It’s now at its largest point for seven years, and some of this at least is down to Build To Rent.
You can download the TwentyEA Property & Homemover Report here.
