Investment in the UK build-to-rent (BTR) sector rose 14% year on year to almost £4.7bn, pointing towards a “measured rebound in the market”, according to CBRE.

In its preliminary data, CBRE revealed that single-family BTR saw the highest volume of investment last year, totalling £2.71bn – marking a 56% increase from the £1.74bn invested in 2024. Around £1.56bn was transacted in single-family BTR in Q4 alone.

The £1.1bn acquisition of PRS Holdco by Northern LGPS and Local Pensions Partnership Investments in December marked the largest transaction in the single-family BTR market last year.

However, multifamily BTR investment volumes fell 16% year on year, from £2.36bn in 2024 to around £1.98bn last year, with £563m transacted in Q4 2025.

By share of total investment, single-family BTR accounted for 58%, while multifamily BTR represented 42%. Single-asset transactions contributed £2.69bn, with portfolio deals totalling £1.93bn.

CBRE added that investment in the BTR market totalled £4.1bn in 2024.

Andrew Saunderson, head of UK residential capital markets at CBRE, said: “Our figures show attraction to the UK market remains strong, and looking ahead to 2026 we anticipate a continuation of increased transactional activity, as cautious optimism manifests into positive sentiment across the living sector.”

Other significant deals throughout the year included the sale of Gatehouse Living Group and TPG Real Estate’s 610-home Start Living portfolio to Lloyds Living; Penta and Ballymore’s joint venture to build 680 homes at Isle of Dogs and Nine Elms; and Blackstone’s portfolio sale to Placefirst in the South East.