Apache Capital launches Present Made, the UK’s first purpose-built and designed single-family rental housing business

Apache Capital has launched Present Made, the UK's first purpose-built and designed vertically integrated single-family housing for rent platform.

The company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apache Capital, is the first in the UK to design, build and operate family homes for rent.

Present Made will deliver over 3,000 smart homes using ‘Modern Methods of Construction’ as part of its first phase, with a focus on suburban locations across southern England. Present Made will then own and operate these homes for the long-term.

The first three sites in the company’s £1.6bn development pipeline are located in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, one of the UK's most productive and innovative regions but with some of the highest housing costs outside of London.

Present Made is Apache Capital's second UK build-to-rent (BTR) platform after its £2bn multifamily joint venture with developer-operator Moda Living, which is delivering over 6,000 apartments for rent in the UK's largest cities and is backed by major investors including NFU Mutual and Harrison Street.

Richard Jackson, managing director and co-founder of Apache Capital and CEO at Present Made said: “Four years in the making, Present Made from the outset has been designed around our future residents' needs and the growing importance of ESG considerations to both our residents and investors alike.  

“Despite record numbers of families renting, no purpose-built single-family rental housing exists in the UK. Present Made will cater to this growing but under-served segment of the rental market by providing high quality smart homes designed and built specifically for rent, delivered through precision engineering and operated by our own dedicated in-house team.

“The biophilic designs, amenities and services provided at Present Made communities are all intended to help promote mental and physical health and wellbeing, where living sustainably is second nature.”Sue-Lin Heng, managing director at Eastdil Secured, said: "The disruption caused by COVID-19 has encouraged investors to explore new emerging asset classes that are structurally supported and less vulnerable to technologically-driven trends. As such, we are seeing clear and growing investor interest in the UK single family housing market.”

Modern Methods of Construction

Present Made homes will be precision engineered in a factory environment to create higher quality homes with fewer defects.

By using ‘Modern Methods of Construction’ (MMC) such as off-site manufacturing, Present Made will deliver more energy efficient homes at a faster pace and with less waste, energy consumption and disruption to local communities compared to traditional construction.

The reduced construction time means Present Made developments will be income- producing and stabilise quicker than a BTR scheme delivered through traditional methods – a key benefit for investors.

Net zero operational carbon

The use of MMC is key to Present Made’s net zero carbon operational target by creating homes that are more energy efficient and in turn reduce living costs for residents.

MMC typically reduces carbon emissions during the construction by 50 percent through high levels of recycling, less waste and reduced vehicular traffic to the site as a constant flow of materials is not required.

To further enhance their energy efficiency, Present Made homes will integrate the latest smart home technologies such as sensors that monitor and control energy usage.

Present Made developments more widely will incorporate low carbon technologies such as Photovoltaic panels, District Heating System, Combined Heat and Power System and Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery.

Sustainable and healthy lifestyles

Present Made homes will sit in master-planned, landscape-led communities that have been designed to promote active and healthy lifestyles that support mental and physical wellbeing.

Residents will benefit from access to extensive in- and outdoor amenities, as well as from the presence of a professional onsite team responsible for security, maintenance and organising regular social events. All these extras will be included in the rental cost to provide an aspirational yet attainable housing option.

Single Family Housing

Single family rental housing is drawing increasing attention from major investors such as Blackstone in the US and Legal & General in the UK. 

Yet whereas other companies are buying existing homes or forward funding housebuilder sites that would have otherwise been for sale, Present Made is developing homes specifically designed and built for rent.

To make them suitable for renters of all ages, Present Made communities will have a soft play area for children as well as onsite dining, working and exercise facilities.

By offering high quality, purpose-built homes for rent, Present Made is looking to cater to the 1.8m families with children who rent in England. It is estimated that over half of the children born today will grow up in rented accommodation.