Across the UK, the Living Sector is raising the bar for modern rental accommodation — and raising new buildings to match.

Developments like Graham’s topping-out of the Biscuit Factory in Newcastle showcase the sector’s confidence: high-quality, purpose-built homes that combine professional management, sustainability, and a genuine sense of community.

But beneath the momentum lies a quieter challenge. Delivering new beds is one thing; filling them is another.

The new frontier: leasing with intent

In a market shaped by inflation and evolving tenant expectations, leasing has become the new frontier of competition. Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) and Build-to-Rent (BTR) operators are discovering that success is now measured less by cranes in the skyline and more by the seamlessness of the resident journey.

The fundamentals remain strong. The UK continues to attract record numbers of domestic and international students, while demand for professionally managed rental homes continues to outstrip supply. Yet affordability pressures — for both tenants and guarantors — are exposing the limits of traditional referencing systems. Capable tenants are being delayed or declined, and every void period carries weight on balance sheets finely tuned for long-term stability.

Technology and trust

As the Living Sector matures, operators are blending human empathy with digital precision. Leasing technology, automated referencing, and professional guarantor platforms are quietly transforming the speed, security and fairness of move-ins.

This isn’t just process optimisation — it’s part of a broader cultural shift. The Living Sector understands that rental housing is not a transient commodity but an experience of belonging. Technology is enabling that ethos: creating access, reducing friction, and ensuring that opportunity, not bureaucracy, defines who gets the keys.

RentGuarantor works with operators within the Living Sector to bridge precisely that gap. By providing fast, flexible guarantor cover, the platform helps operators maintain occupancy while ensuring tenants who can afford the rent are not excluded by outdated systems.

The Living Sector mindset

The Living Sector’s intent is long-term by design. Assets are built to be owned and operated for decades, so every aspect — from ESG compliance to community cohesion — carries strategic weight. Leasing, in that context, becomes not just an operational process but a reflection of purpose: how a building welcomes, includes and retains its residents.

As the cranes continue to rise, the sector’s most important construction work may be invisible — building systems of trust, inclusion and access that turn accommodation into community.

For fast, flexible guarantor cover designed specifically for Living Sector operators, email residential@rentguarantor.com, call 0208 161 0141, or visit rentguarantor.com.

By Ben McBain, New Business Director – BTR, PBSA & Co-Living, RentGuarantor