Member Article

Changing Times Ahead For SDL Group’s 1000th Tenant

A watchmaker, who left London after landing his dream job in Salford, says that renting an apartment in nearby Walkden has eased the stress of settling into a new life.

John Pyle (36) has become the 1000th tenant to move into a property delivered by build-to-rent specialist SDL Group. To celebrate the landmark, the firm welcomed him to his new home with a luxury food hamper and bottle of champagne.

“Choosing to rent has made my life so much easier, particularly because my job can be hectic at times,” he explained.

“A lot of my friends, even those in London, have bought houses and they seem to spend all their time having work carried out on their homes, which can also be pretty expensive. Having just moved to a new area and job, I didn’t want to worry about repairs or maintenance. Renting has also given me the chance to get to know the area – I’d have to be far more settled before I put my money down and bought a property.

“Although I have only lived in Walkden for a matter of weeks, I really like it so far. Everyone is so nice and friendly and I can also walk to work in 20 minutes. You can tell there has been a great deal of investment in the town centre because it feels clean and new and there are plenty of amenities like supermarkets.”

John added that he was excited to have been named 1000th tenant:

“Relocating is usually stressful but my experience has been so positive and this has really been the icing on the cake. I’ve told everyone I know – my friends, family, colleagues and other people on the development.”

Paul Staley, director of PRS at SDL Group, said that John’s story was typical of the changing rental market:

“Renting used to be the preserve of people in their 20s, but is now popular with professionals in their 30s, families and retirees. Lifestyle changes, such as the fact that people tend to settle down later, have contributed to this – but it has also been fuelled by the availability of high quality rental properties.

“This has mainly been due to the government’s recent emphasis on the importance of the rental market. We’ve not only seen the stock improve, but also the standard of management of the properties, which is great news for all concerned.”

Last year, SDL Group announced plans to secure a 20 per cent share of the burgeoning build-to-rent market by 2020, with 10,000 properties. The firm is also forecasting that it set to let over 100 B2R properties per month for the next year, with a run rate of more than 150 per month by 2018.

For further information on SDL Group visit www.sdlgroup.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Eileen Pegg .