Real Estate
While much of the media noise has focused on the Renters Reform Bill, the real threat to landlords in Harrow and Wembley is flying under the radar, the rise of Build To Rent (BTR) institutional landlords.
Across Wembley Park, Harrow town centre, Alperton and Wealdstone, large-scale developments are being built exclusively for rent backed by pension funds, REITs and global investors. These aren’t just flats, they’re professionally managed rental communities offering gyms, concierge services, co-working spaces, and responsive maintenance.
Why it matters:
Traditional landlords are now competing with multi-million-pound operations that can offer tenants, all-inclusive rents, no deposits, seamless digital platforms and premium amenities
As more of these BTR schemes come online, they will absorb tenant demand, especially from young professionals and small families putting downward pressure on rents and increasing void periods for private landlords.
What should landlords do?
- Professionalise your offering from repairs to tenant experience
- Consider offering value-added extras (Wi-Fi, furnishings, flexible leases)
- Upgrade your property interiors, furniture, EPC ratings
- Engage a professional estate agent to manage your property
The landscape is changing fast. The biggest risk for landlords in Harrow and Wembley isn’t regulationit’s being priced out and out-serviced by better-funded, better-organised rental giants.
If you are a local landlord and would like to discuss how you can stay ahead of the Built to rent competition, please feel free to contact our Lettings Team on 0208 4227722, lettings@empirechase.co.uk
