Build to Rent group secures more than 1,000 lettings post-lockdown

Build to Rent (BtR) specialist, Ascend, has secured more than 1,000 lettings and reservations since the coronavirus lockdown eased.
Despite COVID-19, the past few months have been the busiest of 2020 so far.

In the period May-July 2020, Ascend attracted prospective residents to key rental developments, primarily across the North West and Midlands.

Overall, this was a 56% increase on the same timeframe in 2019.

A total of 455 lettings and reservations were across BtR sites for customers including Simple Life, Different, Grainger & Affinity.

Anticipating an even larger growth in the demand for high-quality rental properties, as a result of lockdown easing and the impact of the ever-growing BtR market, Ascend has invested in its team, appointing nine new employees at its Manchester and Midlands offices.

Ascend conducts every step of the lettings process for its customers, including lettings, resident liaison and maintenance of the properties.

Managing director, Ged McPartlin, said: “It’s incredibly encouraging to see the appetite for high-quality, aspirational rented homes, despite the coronavirus restrictions uprooting everyone’s lives significantly.

“The growing BtR sector, rooted in its new approach to how and why people rent, shows just how vital it is to understand what residents want from a rented home.

“This is at the heart of what we do at Ascend and is why we have a proven track record as a leading BtR and lettings specialist.”

Ascend manages more than 5,000 units for customers nationwide.

To drive further growth in this market, Ascend intends to grow its BtR team by an additional 30 people as its portfolio rises to more than 8,000 properties by the end of 2021.

Ascend is based in Manchester, with further offices in Liverpool, Salford, Leeds, London and the Midlands.