NEWS & INSIGHTS
Our SAY
The most expensive word in Build to Rent leasing
54% of Build to Rent viewings included an objection. Drawing on hereSAY’s 2026 benchmark, we look at what prospects push back on and how to respond.
Esme Webb and Debra Yudolph win at The ARL Awards
Shortlisted for Rising Star and Lifetime Achievement, Esme Webb and our founder Debra Yudolph both went on to win at the ARL Awards 2026.
Leasehold reform: We finally have the dates. Are landlords and managing agents ready?
The Government has confirmed when the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 service charge changes take effect. We set out the four key dates, what changes at each stage and what landlords and managing agents can review now.
Build to Rent’s leasing teams are its strongest asset, hereSAY report finds
Over the past year, hereSAY's mystery shoppers posed as prospective residents at 137 Build to Rent schemes across the UK and Ireland, following the full journey from the first enquiry to the viewing and the follow-up.
Budget 2026: What does it mean for UK residential property?
Budget 2026 brings targeted support for UK housing, from higher property income tax for individual landlords to new funding for affordable homes. Caspar Courage, Managing Director, looks at what it means for the property market.
New Vic, Homes by PIC and Pall Mall Press win the hereSAY Lead to Lease Awards 2026
The winners were chosen from mystery shops at 137 Build to Rent schemes across the UK and Ireland, and none of them knew they were being judged.
An update on BTR rents at the end of Q2 FY26/27
London BTR rents are up 2.4% and Manchester’s are up 4.9% since May, while Cardiff holds flat. Our latest look at how advertised rents have moved since the Renters’ Rights Act.
Getting service charges right on mixed-tenure and mixed-use estates
Louise Bell MRICS, Director of Mixed Use at SAY, reflects on what affordable housing providers told us about service charge accuracy, transparency and value for money.
Preparing for STAIRs: the operational challenges for housing associations
Housing associations must now publish specified information under STAIRs, and from April 2027 they must respond to tenant requests within 30 days. We look at the practical challenges ahead, from locating records and managing contractors to disclosure decisions and staffing, and how providers can prepare.
Integrated Retirement Communities: Do Residents Really Need to Own?
Integrated Retirement Communities offer a strong lifestyle, but most still expect residents to sell one home and buy another. We look at how rental could remove the barriers to moving, keep capital flexible and give residents more choice over how they pay for later living.
What do the latest leasehold service charge reforms mean?
The government has confirmed how it will implement the leasehold service charge reforms from 2027
Why defect management is more than fixing problems
Discover why defect management sits at the heart of compliance, cost control and resident trust, and how a structured process protects owners, leaseholders and residents alike.
Should we rethink the 25% gross-to-net standard?
For years, 25% gross to net has been treated as the gold standard in residential investment. It's comfortable, it's comparable, and it slots neatly into an underwriting model. But is a single benchmark still the right way to judge an operating asset shaped by its size, location, and amenity offering?
Why resident surveys are no longer optional for BTR
Minimum tenancy lengths are gone, and with them, guaranteed retention. Discover how purpose built resident surveys help BTR operators understand what residents actually think, and turn that insight into stronger retention, sharper capex decisions, and evidence investors trust.
Is commonhold the best model for the Later Living sector?
The Government has put commonhold back in the spotlight as the future of residential ownership. But later living is not a single product, and a tenure model built for an apartment block may not suit a service-intensive retirement community.
Management fees under the 2026 RICS code: Where the opportunity lies for agents
The 2026 RICS Code no longer dictates how managing agents set fees. We explore the models now open to you, and where the new flexibility creates real opportunity.
How are BTR rents and incentives shifting under renter's reform?
We tracked advertised BTR rents across London, Manchester and Cardiff to assess how pricing and incentives shifted as operators responded to the Renters' Rights Bill, revealing a mixed picture across key markets.
Incentives in a more regulated rental market
Now that the Renters' Rights Act is in place, the UK rental living sector has entered a more regulated phase. Tighter control over rent increases, greater scrutiny of landlord behaviour, and a growing expectation that pricing decisions can be justified and evidenced are no longer a direction of travel, they are the current reality.
What the 2026 Residential Management Code update means for service charges in mixed-use developments
The 2026 Residential Management Code raises the bar for service charge management in mixed-use developments, with greater emphasis on transparency, governance, record-keeping and building safety.
SAY Property Consultants becomes a partner of ARCO
SAY Property Consultants is pleased to announce that, after working alongside ARCO as an Affiliate for the past seven years, it has now become a Partner of ARCO, the main body representing the Integrated Retirement Community sector in the UK.
