Britain’s biggest mortgage provider is rapidly becoming one of the nation’s largest landlords through its rental housing division, which has surpassed 7,600 properties following recent major acquisitions.
Lloyds Living, the banking group’s residential rental arm, recently purchased the Start Living portfolio, comprising 610 properties. This collection of properties, originally developed through collaboration between Gatehouse Living Group and TPG Real Estate, pushed the division’s total holdings beyond 7,300 units.
The acquisition includes 578 family houses and 32 low-rise apartments spread across commuter-friendly locations including West Bromwich, Nottingham, Liverpool, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, and Coseley near Bilston. Construction firms Countryside and Vistry built the properties, with more than 550 already occupied and the remainder scheduled for completion by late 2025.
Energy-efficient focus
Every property is designed to meet stringent energy performance standards, achieving minimum EPC ratings of ‘B’ or higher—placing them among the top tenth of UK homes for efficiency. The portfolio offers one to four-bedroom configurations designed specifically for renters prioritising sustainability and community.
Matthew Burgess, serving as both Chief Investment Officer and recently appointed permanent CEO, emphasised the strategic importance of acquiring established portfolios. He noted that secondary market transactions remain relatively new for the private rental sector but prove essential for maintaining capital flow and supporting continued development investment.
Property management giant Ascend will continue to oversee the homes.
Yorkshire development partnership
Separately, Lloyds Living partnered with house builder Keepmoat on 294 new suburban properties across Yorkshire locations including Hungerhill, Firbeck, South Elmsall, and Upton. This agreement, featuring two to four-bedroom homes, brings the total portfolio valuation beyond £2 billion with approximately 7,600 units.
Notably, two-thirds of the Yorkshire properties will utilise all-electric systems, and all will achieve Next Generation Bronze certification—a recognised sustainability standard. The first residents are expected to move in this autumn, with Lloyds Living Property Management handling operations.
Rapid growth trajectory
Originally launched as Citra Living in July 2021, the division has expanded dramatically. The company initially targeted 10,000 properties by year-end 2025, though it will fall short of that goal. Nevertheless, growth has accelerated significantly, with the portfolio increasing 50% over the past twelve months alone.
The banking group set an ambitious 2030 objective of acquiring 50,000 rental homes, aiming to become Britain’s dominant landlord. Currently, Lloyds Living ranks among the top five UK-listed residential landlords, trailing behind Legal & General, M&G, and Grainger.
Long-term collaborations have proven crucial to expansion. Barratt Redrow supplies over 2,200 properties through a strategic partnership established in 2021, including 598 suburban houses purchased during summer 2024—the second major transaction between the companies.
Research firm Savills identified Lloyds Banking Group as among the UK’s largest suburban housing investors in 2024, reflecting the division’s focus on family-friendly locations outside major city centres.
Paul Stockwell from Gatehouse Living Group highlighted how single-family rental housing is becoming increasingly vital to Britain’s housing landscape, noting his organisation has delivered or commenced construction on 5,000 homes while deploying over £1 billion in capital.
The division now operates 42 developments nationwide, predominantly in suburban areas rather than urban cores. Properties range from compact one-bedroom units targeting young professionals to spacious four-bedroom houses accommodating growing families.