'Seminal guide to Build To Rent' launched

A publication described as a seminal industry guide to the UK's Build To Rent sector has been launched, just as the largest BTR scheme has been announced by the government.

The Urban Land Institute's Best Practice Guide for Build to Rent has a forward by housing minister Kris Hopkins and offers advice to builders, agents and landlords.

The guide considers everything from site selection to building form, sustainability, fit out and management - it even provides advice on the best way to fit a bath tub.

But the guide's main purpose is to urge new institutional BTR landlords to operate as if tenants are renting not just a flat but also the whole building. This is in a bid to create new private rented communities' and make Build To Rent a lifestyle rather than simply a functional accommodation sector.

The guide comes as the government announces that the Genesis Housing Association is to receive £45.5m to build 485 homes for private rent at the former Anglia Ruskin University site in Chelmsford, at Grahame Park in Barnet, and at sites in Ealing and Newham.

This is the fourth deal under the government's £1 billion Build to Rent scheme and the largest to date. By late 2015 work will be underway on 10,000 new homes for private rent, funded by the scheme.