Rental boom promises windfall for builders

The 'build-to-rent' sector in Scotland is in prime position to take advantage of a flood of international money expected to be invested in the market in the UK in the years ahead, according to a property expert.

John Boyle, director of research and strategy at Rettie & Co, said Scottish cities were now “comparing very favourably on yields, entry prices and growth potential against similar areas in the rest of the UK” in the sector which is rapidly becoming a key part of the market in Scotland. Boyle said recent news that developers such as Moda Living and Apache Capital are acquiring sites north of the Border was fuelling hopes that the build-to-rent sector is poised for major growth.

Figures released last year show the sector in Scotland has already almost tripled in size over the past 16 years and a report by Rettie has identified more than 2,500 built-to-rent units in the pipeline in