Build to rent or build to sell? The participants of CEE Property Forum in Vienna were sure that in the current residential market environment of high inflation and rising interest rates, building for PRS purposes is the only valid option.

The PRS market accounts for a mere 1% of all rental flats in Poland. Despite being in its infancy, it is likely to become a strong investment alternative and gain popularity in light of the current macroeconomic conditions and challenges facing the housing sector. The latest report prepared by experts of CRIDO and Savills looks at what’s next for this commercial real estate sector in the coming years and legal and tax issues that an investor needs to take into account in investment planning.

Sławomir Imianowski, CEO of Resi4Rent talked to Property Forum about the development of the Polish PRS market, residential demand among Ukrainian refugees and the challenges related to surging materials and energy prices.

Like years ago, the Polish Private Rental Sector is going through a blooming time as each commercial real estate sector segment. It requires a unification of offers, greater standardization of available space, and self-professionalization. One of the first spectacular transactions involving the PRS was in 2016 and the purchase of 72 apartments in the Złota 44 building in Warsaw by the German investment fund Catella Residential Investment Management. At the end of September 2022, this segment is formed by an offer of more than 8,500 apartments for rent spread across Poland's largest cities. The prospects for the development of the market remain very high, and it is mainly favored by market conditions and the structure of the residential sector in Poland. AXI IMMO, together with industry experts Inquiry and ThinkCo, presents data for the Polish institutional rental market in a publication, "Development prospects for the PRS market in Poland."

Despite rising costs and rents, the rented residential sector continues to ride high as demand booms and is poised to remain a more lucrative investment opportunity than asset classes such as office or retail. Bonard has spoken to leading real estate specialists to investigate the factors behind the sector’s success.

Greenberg Traurig advised Marvipol Development on the sale of 138 residential and non-residential units in the Unique Tower complex, situated in Grzybowska Steet in Warsaw, to the Heimstaden Bostad Group.

Grzegorz Kawecki, Vice-President of the Management Board, Marvipol Development talked to Property Forum about the current slowdown in the Polish residential market, interest of the PRS investment funds and the forecasts for the rental sector.

Zeitgeist Asset Management has obtained a loan from Česká spořitelna for the largest ever refinancing of its portfolio in the amount of €113 million (CZK 2.7 billion). In total, it concerns 23 properties with a total value of €220 million, located in various Prague locations. These are mainly residential properties with apartments for rent and private campuses for student accommodation.

Developer AFI Europe has announced the completion of the Tulipa residential project on a five-hectare brownfield site in Prague 3 Strašnice. This latest, fifth phase with an eight-storey apartment building cost the developer more than CZK 250 million and will be the only one dedicated exclusively to rental housing with 61 apartments.

Challenging times are still going on, thus investment market participants are closely following the impact of the turmoil in Europe on the economy and its long‑lasting consequences. In spite of the record-high inflation as well as continuously raised interest rates, the Polish investment market keeps track with 32 investment deals closed in Q2 2022, exceeding €1.2 billion, Avison Young reports.