Leeds build-to-rent market set for major boom, report claims
Leeds is experiencing a boom in build-to-rent (BTR) development, with the number of operational units on the market set to more than double in size, according to new research from global real estate firm JLL.
JLL’s latest Big Six Residential Development Report, covering Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow, found that more than £850m was invested in build-to-rent across the regions in the first half of 2025 – up 64 per cent on the five-year H1 average.
Over £100m of this investment was in Leeds, where there are currently 7,000 operational and pipeline units across the city, 61 per cent of which are currently in development or have planning approval.
Tom McWilliams, head of Yorkshire and the North East at JLL, said: “Leeds has experienced a boom in residential investment over the past five years, and despite uncertain macro-economic conditions, rents and values are continuing to prove resilient. The city has the potential to accommodate further investment and development.
Notable schemes currently under construction in Leeds include Kirkstall Road, a 618-home joint venture between Glenbrook and Barings.
This is expected to underpin a 17.6 per cent rental growth between 2025 and 2029 – although ongoing challenges including planning bottlenecks threaten to stymy this growth, according to JLL’s research.