The Property Investor Show 2025, held on 11-12 April at ExCeL London, once again cemented its status as the UK’s leading property‑investment event. Bringing together seasoned investors, private equity professionals, developers, and property service providers, the show offered a rich mix of networking, learning, and deal‑making.
Yield Migration & Diversification Strategies
In a high-interest environment, investor appetite is shifting toward non-core locations and asset classes. Panels explored:
- HMO conversions and co-living models
- Holiday lets and serviced apartments as higher-margin alternatives
- Second-tier UK cities (Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds)
- International opportunities in Portugal, Dubai, and Montenegro—offering residency programs alongside attractive IRRs
Serviced Apartments & Aparthotels
Hybrid models—sitting between hotels and residential short-term lets—are drawing fresh attention from both developers and operators. As regulations tighten on individual STR units (especially under Airbnb-style models), institutional investors are increasingly channelling capital into branded aparthotels that ensure compliance, scalability, and operational control. These serviced apartment projects offer higher ADRs (Average Daily Rates) than long-term rentals and more predictable occupancy than traditional hotels.
Private Equity & Build-to-Rent (BTR)
Private equity and institutional capital were strongly represented. BTR was noted as a booming sector, with record volumes in 2024. Pension and insurance vehicles are increasingly favouring PBSA, retirement living, and integrated living schemes.
Proprium Capital's $100 M investment in Milan and Padua student housing demonstrates how private equity is targeting specialist real assets
Permitted Development Rights (PDR) & Small‑Scale Opportunities
Permitted Development Rights remain a powerful mechanism for small-scale developers, offering a streamlined route for value-enhancing projects—often alongside other strategies like holiday lets and serviced apartments.
- High returns on compact schemes: Leveraging PDR enables developers to manage projects in their spare time with strong six-figure returns and lower entry costs than traditional buy-to-let or large-scale developments.
- Office-to-residential (Class MA) conversions: The 2024 update removed the 1,500 m² cap and the vacancy requirement, accelerating conversions and boosting project viability.
- Proven success through real-world case studies: PropertyCEO’s co-founder Ritchie Clapson has led numerous schemes—from old printworks to Class MA projects—showing that PDR projects, when well-managed, can yield strong outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- Hybrid models are rising: Serviced apartments and aparthotels offer a sweet spot between hotel-grade flexibility and residential comfort—backed by institutional capital and regulatory resilience.
- Private equity is leaning into living sectors: Build-to-Rent, PBSA, and retirement living are attracting long-term capital due to their stable income profiles and demographic tailwinds.
- PDR is a game-changer for small developers: With policy updates improving viability, office-to-resi conversions under Class MA now offer high returns with minimal planning risk.
- Operational control and compliance are key themes: As regulation tightens around STRs, scalable and compliant models are winning investor favour.
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