Build to Rent Partnerships in Belfast
If you are an institution or registered provider seeking new rental homes in Belfast, Land to Homes can bring forward sites designed for build to rent. Homes are planned for renting from the start, with management, layouts and shared spaces to suit. The partnership can be structured as forward funding or forward purchase, agreed privately with each party taking its own advice.
Belfast · BT1Start a conversation
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Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6248.
- Private conversationsEvery arrangement documented
- Land to homesLand, planning and construction
- Housing partnersCouncils and housing associations
- No public offerNothing here is an offer to invest
- UK-wideEngland, Wales, Scotland and NI
Schemes around Belfast
Belfast is the main town we cover in County Antrim, centred on postcode district BT1. Nearby, we also cover Castlereagh, Newtownabbey and Lisburn, all within 7 miles.
Partnerships we can discuss around Belfast include mixed-tenure developments, forward-funded build to rent and social rent homes. As Belfast is in Northern Ireland, applications are judged against the Strategic Planning Policy Statement, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
If you are considering a partnership around Belfast, we are happy to talk privately.
What you get in Belfast
Designed for renting
Layouts, storage, specifications and amenities are chosen for long-term letting and management, rather than adapted from homes designed for sale.
Nation-aware tenancies
Each nation has its own tenancy law, and schemes are planned with the rules that will apply to tenants and landlords in mind.
Forward purchase
The partner commits to buy the completed homes, while construction is financed separately until the scheme reaches practical completion.
Management in mind
Bin stores, parking, cycle storage, parcel rooms and plant are designed for efficient day-to-day management and low maintenance.
How the rules work in Belfast
Social homes in Belfast are built mainly by registered housing associations through the Social Housing Development Programme. The Department for Communities funds the programme and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive manages it, assessing need and drawing up a rolling three-year plan. Housing associations are regulated by the Department for Communities. Land to Homes can bring forward land and build homes for housing association partners.
In Northern Ireland, rented homes are let under the Private Tenancies Order as amended by the Private Tenancies Act 2022, and private landlords must register with the Landlord Registration Scheme. Stamp Duty Land Tax applies, title is registered with Land & Property Services, and planning agreements are made under Section 76 with the council.
| National planning policy | Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS, Edition 2), applied with retained Planning Policy Statements until each council adopts its Plan Strategy |
|---|---|
| In-principle consent | Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later |
| Land registration | Land & Property Services (Land Registry and Registry of Deeds) |
| Developer contributions | Section 76 planning agreements under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (there is no Community Infrastructure Levy) |
Build to Rent Partnerships in Belfast: questions
What is build to rent?
Build to rent is housing designed and built specifically for renting, held in single ownership and professionally managed. It can take the form of apartment blocks or single-family houses. Homes are let directly by the owner or its operator rather than sold, and schemes often include on-site management and shared facilities for residents.
What is the difference between forward funding and forward purchase?
With forward funding, the partner buys the site and pays for construction in stages as the scheme is built. With forward purchase, the partner agrees to buy the finished homes on completion, while the developer arranges construction finance in the meantime. The structures share risk differently, so each party takes its own legal and tax advice.
Is this an investment opportunity?
No. Nothing on this site is an offer or invitation to invest, and we do not take money from members of the public. Build to rent partnerships are agreed privately with institutions, registered providers and other professional parties, each relying on its own advisers and due diligence. We do not publish projected profits or performance figures.
How do tenancy rules affect build to rent?
Build to rent homes are let under the private tenancy law of each nation. In England, most new private tenancies are assured periodic tenancies under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Wales uses occupation contracts, Scotland the private residential tenancy and Northern Ireland the Private Tenancies Order regime. Schemes are planned with these rules in mind.
Do you work with partners on schemes in Belfast?
Yes. We discuss schemes in Belfast and elsewhere in County Antrim, including Newtownabbey, Lisburn and Antrim privately with professional partners. Nothing on this website is an offer or invitation to invest.
Read more: Build to Rent Partnerships · Guide: Renting a new-build home: tenancy rules in England, Wales, Scotland and NI