Our Build to Rent (BTR) team is at the heart of the private rented sector in Scotland, with almost £1bn in assets under management. We provide a range of BTR services and have the research expertise, experience and network to make Build to Rent work north of the border.

Our Expertise

Unique in Scotland

Our Build to Rent (BTR) team is at the heart of the private rented sector in Scotland, with almost £1bn in assets under management. We provide a range of BTR services and have the research expertise, experience and network to make Build to Rent work.

Research

Build to Rent market insights, courtesy of the Rettie research department, Scotland's largest dedicated property research team.

Site Acquisitions

Our forensic knowledge of the Scottish market means that we can pin-point sites that will make successful BTR projects. Our services include site sourcing and acquisition and the provision of granular market knowledge.

Funding

We can provide advice on the various different financing options available for BTR projects. We also have the contacts to help our clients lay down a firm financial foundation for their BTR projects.

Viability

Our in-depth knowledge of the Scottish development, rental and investment markets means that we can provide accurate input for the viability assessment and due diligence phases of our clients' BTR projects.

Design and Layout

We know exactly what the nation's renters want. We can therefore provide clear guidance throughout the design phase of a BTR project to ensure that it embodies the lifestyle of its target consumers.

Lease Up

We are experts in Scotland's unique tenancy regime. We have proven experience of leasing up new builds for rent, to implementing marketing strategies for rentals, with our 'time to let' consistently exceeding KPIs. We also offer optional 'white labelling' for clients and 'deposit-free' for residents. Our referencing, through Canopy, provides more robust checks for clients, while protecting renters.

Management

We manage risk for clients by taking full responsibility for the ongoing management of their property, whether inside the home, common areas, any onsite amenities or the wider estate. We create a welcoming environment for residents to live, and support and encourage communication between us and them, and between residents themselves to help build a thriving community.

Asset Optimisation

Drawing on our successful track record with landlords, our BTR team provides a range of services that optimise the profitability and sustainability of our clients' investments.

COLLABORATIONS

We comply fully with the Letting Agent Code of Practice, and Letting Agent Register, and also offer optional 'white labelling' for clients and 'deposit-free' for residents. Our referencing, through Canopy, provides more robust checks for clients, while protecting renters, and our online rsidents portal through Engage is bespoke for each development.

Western Harbour, Edinburgh

Featured Case Study: Western Harbour

Western Harbour, Edinburgh

Working as long-term retained Real Estate adviser to Forth Ports, Rettie are currently delivering a 2,000+ unit residential-led masterplan in the flourishing Leith Docks area of north Edinburgh. In April 2022, land for 118 private units was sold to CCG with construction now underway. Further land and funding opportunities are available, please get in touch with the team for more information.

Map of Scotland

PFP CAPITAL MMR FUND

Acting as exclusive acquisition agent on behalf of the fund, from 2019 to 2021 Rettie successfully acquired and Forward Funded 1,000+ Mid-Market Rent homes across the central belt of Scotland, deploying £170m+. Rettie are currently involved with a new fund raise which will aim to spend a further c. £65m aimed at providing affordable, brand new and professionally managed energy efficient homes.

Springside housing development

SPRINGSIDE

Fountainbridge, Edinburgh

"Rettie's deep multi-layered understanding of Scotland's housing market was vital in supporting this deal. The firm's market leading position, strategic thinking and its understanding of the legislative and political context was vital in supporting such a major milestone for Moda Living and for Edinburgh's property market." - Tony Brooks

Harbour Point

Western Harbour, Edinburgh

Our brief from the client, Forth Ports, was to help deliver a long-term rental-backed asset.

Our services included; project development on behalf of the landowner, sourcing funding streams for the construction and operational phases, 3,650 applicants for 96 properties, lease up, on-going management, and 10 year interest only funding. Rettie oversaw the delivery of the units over 2016 and are currently managing this MMR property on behalf of Forth Ports.

Harbour Point is fully occupied with a current void rate of <0.5%. The success of this project led to us being retained to develop a further 138 units, commenced in February 2017.

Western Harbour, Edinburgh

Harbour Gateway

Western Harbour, Edinburgh

Harbour Gateway forms the second stage of community building at Western Harbour by Forth Ports and consists of two adjacent sites that provide Mid Market Rental homes.

The 138 homes were delivered under the NHT funding package Rettie arranged for Forth Ports and are managed and maintained by our BTR team as part of the wider portfolio of properties at Western Harbour.

The ambition for Western Harbour is to draw on exemplary placemaking to create a community attractive to both residents and visitors. Harbour Gateway forms the entrance to the new masterplan which will add parkland, shops, a new school and waterfront promenade to the existing amenities of sports centres, restaurants and shops.

Holland Park, PItt Street, Glasgow

Holland Park

Pitt Street, Glasgow

We worked with Moda Living Apache C.P. to deliver a a mix of Studios and 1-3 bedroom homes.

We conducted a review of Glasgow residential sales, lettings, student housing and serviced apartments markets, and analysed development options through site appraisals to inform on potential risk-reducing strategies.

Teague Homes, Leith, Edinburgh

Sailmaker Apartments

Leith, Edinburgh

We worked on behalf of Teague Homes. Rettie lined up a £15.2m 10-year Interest Only debt package through the National Housing Trust to underwrite the construction of 145 flatted units.

The sale of the completed Investment Asset was pre-agreed in advance of construction commencing, and the project is now complete and fully let.

Shrubhill, Edinburgh City Centre

Shrubhill

Edinburgh City Centre

We worked on behalf of Places for People for a site acquisition.

The project is on-site with construction well underway. Rettie maintain an on-going role assisting the developer with the arrangement and roll out of a rental re-financing package for 150 properties.

Croftfoot St. Julies

Croftfoot St. Julies

Southside, Glasgow

For the Wheatley Group, analysis and creation of financial models for client.

This award winning development is complete and fully let. Rettie have been retained to analyse and create financial models for 28 homes and 4 flats for mid market rent and a shared equity sale during the project appraisal stage.

Brunstane Apartments

Brunstane Apartments

West Edinburgh

On behalf of Dunedin Canmore we created a new model to release the potential of a moth-balled site.

Rettie co-ordinated a rental guarantee to unlock finance, through collaboration between local council, government and developers, delivering the client a long-term rental-backed asset.

Agnes Hunter's Trust Residential Portfolio

Agnes Hunter's Trust Residential Portfolio

Leith, Edinburgh

We were commissioned to manage a substantial BTR residential portfolio on behalf of the A H Hunter's Charitable Trust.

Our services included the provision of disposal advisory services to assist in the reallocation of the Trust's assets; managing and facilitating a successful investment asset disposal, as well as covering a high profile, sensitive portfolio, requiring careful reputational risk management.

Testimonials

  • Since partnering with Rettie in mid 2016, Pinnacle Places has been nothing less than impressed with the way they have conducted the day-to-day management of the Greenlaw Park site in Newton Mearns. Rettie has been both attentive and conscientious to tenants' needs and to the Pinnacle Group's business needs as a whole. We very much look forward to a continued and productive working relationship in the future.

    Nick Marston
    Propert Manager, Pinnacle Places
  • The Team at Rettie supported us throughout our promotion of Edinburgh's Garden District. Their recent analysis of phase 1 Redheughs village played an important part in us securing a positive planning result.

    Jestyn Davies
  • We are delighted with the outcome of this initiative. Rettie brought us the investment proposal, backed by detailed analysis and research. Their team has delivered on the project on time and on budget. The exceptional demand for homes that have been built underpins the viability of this type of collaborative development, which is delivering precisely the long term yield our institutional investors are looking to achieve, as well as developing the available site at Western Harbour to the benefit of the local community.

    Stuart Paterson
    Chief Financial Officer at Forth Ports
  • Pfp Capital are delighted to be working with Rettie. The firms extensive development experience, exceptional research base and track record in organising the funding and delivery of mid-market rent homes in Scotland over the last 5 years makes them a natural fit as advisor to Pfp Capitals mid-rent fund.

    Chris Jones
    Managing Director, Pfp Capital
  • Rettie's deep, multi-layered understanding of Scotland's housing market has been vital in supporting this deal. The firm's market leading position, strategic thinking and it's understanding of the legislative and political context was vital in supporting such a major milestone for Moda Living and for Edinburgh's property market.

    Tony Brooks
    Managing Director, Moda Living Ltd

    Awards

    CIH AWARD 2018

    Rettie were recognised for being the first in Scotland to introduce a new solution for referencing, through their work with the Canopy app.

    Sponsored by Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL)

    Homes for Scotland Award 2018

    Best Supporting Organisation of the Year 2018

    Rettie were one of only 5 organisations shortlisted for the award. Our submission focused on the breadth of our expertise in the residential property market, our dedicated BTR/MMR team, diverse client base and successful collaboration of the teams within Development Services.

    The Herald Property Awards for Scotland 2017

    Commendation for Affordable Housing Development of the Year

    Mid Market rent project in Harbour Point, Edinburgh, led by Nick Watson, on behalf of Forth Ports. The success of this project led to us being retained to develop a further 138 units, commenced in February 2017, on behalf of the client.

    Meet The Team

    • Matthew Benson
      Director - Development Services
    • Gillian McLees
      Director of Build to Rent Operations
    • Sharon Ross
      BTR - Operations Manager