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It’s been a busy year in the Midlands with many of the cities seeing rapid expansion across the BTR landscape. Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham have seen more new schemes emerge than previous years, driving a need to differentiate the offerings and attract residents. Gathering data and knowledge to assist in better understanding what residents want, and what truly adds value, has been vital.

Many funds and developers are chasing the premium market, but there’s a real need to serve the middle of the market; not all residents value the vast number of amenities on offer. For those who do, however, there’s a great selection of schemes offering private dining rooms, pet spas, cinema rooms, large co-working spaces and much more.

We have also been navigating the challenge of Selective Licensing whilst retaining value in the sector, though it’s clear that any additional compliance will ultimately be absorbed into the rents. Compliance is important, as is the need to ensure quality homes are provided and maintained, but the impact of the licensing and all the administration it generates means it hasn’t been universally welcomed. We have spent time meeting with Birmingham City Council to both air our concerns and offer our support where appropriate.

The Midlands hub have hosted a variety of workshops and study tours aimed at educating the industry on the benefits and the lessons to be learned in BTR. But it’s not all work, and the Midlands hub hosted their end of summer drinks at Patrizia’s Corkfield in Edgbaston in September. It perfectly demonstrated the need to have flexible space for events as the rain saw off any chance of enjoying their beautiful roof terrace. It is still England, after all!