The Build to Rent (BTR) model, once seen as a predominantly British solution to urban housing pressures, is rapidly evolving into a global asset class with new data revealing sharp year-on-year growth across key international markets including the US, Australia, and New Zealand.
According to figures from property technology firm Inventory Base, the UK continues to lead in scale, delivering 1,824 new BTR homes in Q1 2025, taking the total number of completed BTR units to 127,156 – a 15.8% increase from 109,847 in Q1 2024.
But while the UK’s BTR sector is now a well-established pillar of the rental market, Inventory Base’s global analysis shows that the model is gathering pace abroad, bolstered by demographic trends, investor appetite and policy shifts aimed at professionalising the rental experience.
New Zealand recorded the most dramatic expansion, with BTR completions rising 34.5% year-on-year to 1,949 homes by the end of April 2025, despite a population just over half the size of London.
DOWN UNDER
In Australia, completions reached 4,878 units in 2024, with a projected 21.5% rise to 5,928 by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, the United States delivered 5,200 new BTR homes last year, taking the national total to 39,000, representing a 15.4% annual increase.
Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, Operations Director at Inventory Base, says: “Build to Rent is reshaping rental markets across continents.
“The sector’s growth reflects a fundamental shift in how people view renting – no longer as a temporary step, but a lifestyle choice driven by flexibility, convenience, and service quality.”
She adds that the rise of BTR brings new operational and regulatory challenge, with tenants expecting a more professional, customer-focused experience – backed by real-time maintenance and digital-first property management.
HOUSING STRATEGY
In the UK, BTR is increasingly central to the government’s broader housing strategy, including its ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes backed by planning reform and local authority targets. This creates significant opportunity for institutional investors, particularly those equipped with the technology to scale operations efficiently.
Looking further afield, Dubai is emerging as the next potential growth hotspot. While current BTR data from the emirate is limited, early signs suggest strong momentum. A combination of long-term residency reforms, expatriate-driven demand, and proactive government policy is positioning BTR as a key strategic focus for both developers and sovereign-backed investors.
GLOBAL EXPANSION
The sector’s global expansion also underscores the increasing institutionalisation of rental housing – attracting capital from pension funds, private equity, and real estate investment trusts (REITs), all drawn by its long-term income stability and resilience to cyclical homeownership trends.
Hemming-Metcalfe adds: “Delivering a modern rental experience takes more than spreadsheets, patchwork tools, or good intentions.
“The BTR boom isn’t waiting for outdated systems to play catch-up.”
