Residential investment sectors are gaining traction across Europe, with the volume of capital targeting student accommodation, the private rented sector and purpose-built age-targeted housing continuing to rise, according to Knight Frank’s European Residential Investment Survey 2022.

Dariusz Węglicki, Country Manager of Catella Residential Investment Management talked to Property Forum about the attractiveness of Poland for PRS investors, luxury rental projects and private student housing development.

Hungary-based residential property developer Cordia is continuing its expansion in the UK residential property market. Its local subsidiary is building a complex of 366 rental apartments, bringing the total number of homes planned for the West Midlands region to over 1,800.

The construction of over 800 living units has started at the intersection of Postępu and Domaniewska Streets in Warsaw. The project has been developed by YIT for the leading Nordic real estate investor NREP. Unibep has been chosen as the general contractor. Smartti Mokotów will be the largest professionally run lease facility in Poland.

Hungary-based Alfa Group is entering the dynamically growing private rental sector (PRS) and will deliver the second and third phases of its Ha11er residential project in District 9 of Budapest with apartments for rent. Residential-for-rent is an already well-established market segment in Western Europe that has attracted significant interest from institutional investors. This is increasingly true for certain CEE countries as well, such as Poland or the Czech Republic, but in Hungary, Alfa Group is entering the PRS market as one of its pioneers.

Rising construction costs and strong demand from investors are at play, of course, but the picture is a lot more complicated than that. Players of the dynamically growing private rental sector (PRS) discussed market trends at Living Investment Forum 2021, Property Forum's annual event in Warsaw. 

Resi Capital, PRS subsidiary of Cavatina Holding has bought an 11,590 sqm plot located on Tuwima Street in the New Center of Łódź area (Nowe Centrum Łodzi). JLL advised the vendor during this transaction.

As part of the restructuring of the Avestus Real Estate business, a new residential development entity, SHD Real Estate (SHD) has been established. The new company will continue to work on residential opportunities with a remit to develop across all residential sectors, including residential for rent and student accommodation. SHD will be operated and managed by the original Avestus Real Estate residential team based in Prague and they will be investing in opportunities across the country. Avestus will continue to focus on its existing commercial development portfolio, the latest project under construction being the Infinity office complex in Wroclaw.

Roger Andersson, Managing Director of Vastint Poland talked to Property Forum about the accelerating residential property prices, faith in hotel investments in Poland, and constantly rising construction costs.

Zeitgeist Asset Management has announced that on January 1st, 2022, Maximilian Mendel, one of the most experienced practitioners in PRS, student housing and other fields in the living sector, will assume the position of Managing Director of their Polish subsidiary.