Build to rent

The Build to Rent (BTR) sector has rapidly become a key asset class, addressing the UK’s housing shortage while offering prime opportunities for developers, funds, investors and operators. With funding tied to rental and capital growth, success hinges on financial viability, location, transport links and amenities.

Our specialist teams support clients across every stage of the BTR lifecycle. Our expertise covers advise on:

  • Site assembly and development constraints
  • Development finance and forward funding
  • Structuring of platforms for the operation of schemes, including propco/opco models
  • Planning advice from application stage through to Section 106 Agreements, including viability assessments and reviews
  • Tax advice, including structuring to mitigate risk
  • Golden brick disposals to affordable housing providers
  • Construction advice, including traditional design and build models, construction management packages and investor protection via warranties and latent defects policies
  • Buying and selling of stabilised assets

Our highly experienced lawyers are able to take complex development schemes and demystify the jargon for you, advising on the most effective ways to structure deals and avoid pitfalls. Throughout, we’re committed to securing the value of your development or investment. We work collaboratively both internally and with intermediaries, put clients’ goals and objectives front and centre and offer truly commercial advice throughout.

If you’d like to learn how we can work with you, get in touch with our specialist Build to Rent team.

Nadine Gibbon
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Nadine Gibbon

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Building safety

Our Building Safety team specialises in advising on this complex area of law. With expertise in the Building Safety Act 2022 and related Building Regulations, we offer advice to developers, real estate funds, investors, freeholders and leaseholders.

We can advise on the legal aspects arising from the following areas:

Compliance: We advise freeholders and leaseholders of higher-risk buildings on their obligations in relation to the new dutyholder regime and management of building safety risks.

External Wall Systems: In conjunction with experts in fire engineering and façade engineering, we advise on claims arising out of defects in external wall systems.

Lease Terms and Legislation: We review lease terms and relevant legislation, assessing the current position and advising on the respective parties’ rights and obligations.

Service Charges Challenges: We assist in challenging service charges related to remedial works.

Government Funds Applications: We advise clients who are applying for relevant government funds and seeking recovery from the parties responsible for the fire-related defects.

Nadine Gibbon
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Nadine Gibbon

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Helen Streeton

Helen Streeton

A Partner in the Commercial Real Estate team and Head of Build to Rent (BTR), Helen has lots of enthusiasm for real estate; she enjoys the industry’s tangible nature and working with a diverse range of stakeholders in the sector. She is proactive and a creative thinker who always endeavours to understand the client’s perspective, its strategic priorities and the risks it faces.

Helen constantly prioritises clear and succinct advice, while keeping deals and projects moving towards completion.

She has an extensive background in advising developers and funders of large-scale business, leisure and mixed-use projects, build to rent schemes and other complex development sites. Helen has worked on key developments and schemes in the UK, particularly in and around London. She has particular expertise in development.

Given the scale and complexity of matters that Helen routinely works on, she has become an adept collaborator, frequently working alongside colleagues, clients and other professional advisers to ensure that targets and desired outcomes are achieved.

Nadine Gibbon
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Nadine Gibbon

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Sara Branch

Sara Branch

Ranked in the Chambers UK Guide for over 17 years including 2024, Sara is praised for her expertise in the acquisition and development of mixed-use sites.

Sara is a Partner in the Commercial Real Estate team and is Head of Affordable Housing. She has a strong real estate development and regeneration practice with extensive experience working for both public and private sector organisations.

In the affordable housing field, Sara acts for registered provider clients on a range of projects from complex projects involving multi-party joint ventures, profit-sharing arrangements, development and construction documents, and disposals including build to rent, to the acquisition of the affordable provision under section 106 agreements. She also frequently advises on transaction structuring as well as strategic acquisitions and disposals.

Nadine Gibbon
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Nadine Gibbon

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