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Written by rosalind renshaw

New rules could encourage institutional investors into the private rented sector – and be a game-changer. Big institutions could ‘build-to-let’ in major urban areas.

These would be huge, student-style residential blocks, focusing on high-quality accommodation for non-student, single people.

Knight Frank says in a new report that the whole sector ‘could be on the cusp of significant change’ thanks to a change in REIT rules.

Knight Frank’s Residential Investment 2012 report has been submitted as evidence to Sir Adrian Montague’s Government review of how to encourage greater investment in privately rented properties.

It explains how the perceived obstacles to institutional investment in the sector, namely stock, management and returns, can be addressed.

The firm’s residential investment team, headed by James Mannix, also outlines a new potential model for a ‘build-to-let’ investment in cities.

Mannix said: “A major issue for institutional investors is that the rental landscape in London, and other urban centres, does not yet provide an effective investment vehicle.

“Much of the existing stock has been designed for sale: apartment buildings in the best areas – where rents can be high enough to satisfy return thresholds – require significant capital outlay, which works to bring yields back down.

“Our ‘ideal’ PRS property for fund investment would have between 500 and 2,000 units, most of which would be designed for solo living, with concentrated floorplates; the block will have provision for other services – including a hotel-like concierge offering a ‘menu’ of add-ons such as laundry and room service, a basement with individual storage units, and large lifts for easy moving of furniture.

“Most of the units would be let on standard ASTs, although there would be a collection of short-term apartments for the commuter or pied-a-terre tenant.

“To make the model work, there would also need to be a rethink of the traditional valuation process for rental stock: one similar to student property assessment might be viable.”

The report also includes the latest update on Knight Frank’s forecasts for the rental market. It forecasts that while the increased need for property will keep demand high, rental growth may slow this year as tenants bump up against a natural ‘affordability ceiling’.

However, it foresees that rents will resume stronger growth from 2013.

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