Build to Rent Partnerships in Merseyside
Build to rent partnerships in Merseyside are arrangements where homes are designed and built specifically for renting and owned long term by an institution or registered provider. Land to Homes brings land, planning and construction, and discusses forward funding, where the partner funds the build, or forward purchase, where the partner commits to buy the finished homes. This is not an offer to invest.
MerseysideStart a conversation
Tell us about your organisation or opportunity and we will call you back.
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
Working together in Merseyside
Across Merseyside, we cover Liverpool and 16 other towns, among them Heswall, Halewood and St Helens. Next door, we also cover Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
Typical partnership structures for Merseyside: mixed-tenure developments, joint ventures with landowners and design and build for a registered provider. As Merseyside is in England, applications are judged against the National Planning Policy Framework, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
Tell us about the opportunity near Merseyside and the right person will call you back.
What you get in Merseyside
Houses or apartments
Single-family rental houses on suburban sites or apartments in towns, depending on the site, the planning context and the partner's requirements.
Not an offer to invest
Nothing here is an offer or invitation to invest. Arrangements are agreed privately with professional partners, each taking its own advice.
Forward funding
The partner acquires the site and funds construction in stages, with Land to Homes delivering the scheme under a development agreement.
Affordable element planned in
Where policy requires affordable homes, we agree the right tenure with the council at planning stage, such as affordable private rent in England.
The English system, as it applies in Merseyside
Councils and housing associations around Merseyside can bid for grant through Homes England's Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which funds Social Rent, Affordable Rent at up to 80% of market rent, and shared ownership. Landlords of the rented homes must be registered with the Regulator of Social Housing. National policy also expects local plans to set a minimum Social Rent proportion for major development. Land to Homes is ready to discuss sites, partnership and delivery.
In England, the National Planning Policy Framework recognises build to rent as a distinct housing type, with affordable private rent as the usual affordable tenure. New private lets are assured periodic tenancies under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Appraisals must allow for Stamp Duty Land Tax, Section 106 obligations and, where charged, the Community Infrastructure Levy.
| National planning policy | National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Plan |
| Who decides applications | The local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority) |
| In-principle consent | Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later |
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) |
| Land registration | HM Land Registry |
| How a sale becomes binding | A land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry. |
| Developer contributions | Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it |
Questions about Build to Rent Partnerships in Merseyside
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.
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.
Can registered providers take on build to rent homes?
Yes. Registered providers can acquire rental homes through forward purchase or package deals, including homes for social rent, affordable rent, mid-market rent or market rent, depending on the nation and their own objectives. We discuss schemes with providers and plan them around the provider's standards and funding conditions.
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.
Can we discuss a partnership in Merseyside?
We are happy to talk about specific opportunities across Merseyside, including Formby, Liverpool and Birkenhead. Conversations are private and every arrangement is documented by each party’s own advisers. Nothing here is an invitation to invest.
Read more: Build to Rent Partnerships · Guide: Renting a new-build home: tenancy rules in England, Wales, Scotland and NI