From Skeptic to Believer: My Build-to-Rent Revelation at Candleriggs

Homes for Rent - Candleriggs Apartments, Merchant City, Glasgow

I’ll admit it: I was a late convert to Build-to-Rent (BTR). For years I’d dismissed the phenomenon - perhaps because I grew up believing that “investire nel mattone” (investing in bricks and mortar) was the safest, most rewarding way to secure your future. Or maybe it was the miserable, uninspiring flats I could only afford when I rented in the UK.

By Sara Seravalli, Il Salotto

What changed my mind?It happened within forty-eight hours. First, I attended a panel discussion at ADP Architects in Edinburgh - where experts unpacked the challenges facing Scotland’s nascent BTR market (read more about it here). Two days later I was in Manchester interviewing Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital & Centric - a developer whose vision and commitment to quality architecture and social impact are nothing short of inspirational (interview soon on our YouTube Channel).

Both conversations sparked my curiosity. I asked my new connection at The Drum Group, Adam Russell, to give me a tour of the Candleriggs BTR development just a stone’s throw from Il Salotto and the Social Hub. He arranged for Sarah Doherty to show me around - and what an eye-opener it was.

Inside CandleriggsFrom the moment I stepped through the front door, I was blown away by the design:

• Interiors: Modern, funky, yet surprisingly homely; styled by Lister + Lister to feel both luxurious and welcoming.

• Resident facilities: Private dining room with lounge area, event space, a state-of-the-art gym and yoga studio, rooftop terraces, plus a tranquil internal courtyard.

• Apartments: From spacious studios to three-bed flats, cleverly laid out, furnished to a high standard, with well-equipped kitchens.

• Community calendar: From running and book clubs to wreath-making workshops - there really is something for everyone.

  
  

And the prices? Exceptionally reasonable for Merchant City location: studios from under £1,200 pcm (plus utilities and council tax), one-beds just over £1,200.

How does Glasgow compare?I spent some time researching the offering in the city centre to see what you’d get for a similar budget - and let’s just say the contrast is stark.

Who lives here?Sarah tells me students account for about 25% of tenants; the rest are a mix of young professionals, couples, even small families. Average stay is around twelve months, with studios and one-beds in perpetual demand (three-beds take a little longer to fill).

I remember when I moved to London from Milan and I knew 2 or 3 people in the City, such a place would have made such a difference to the two years I spent there before moving to Scotland. Had I known about BTR, it would have allowed me to live in much better flats and not depressing “I just want your money and I don’t care how you live” kind of places. But most importantly, it would have been easier for me to make friends and feel less lonely and isolated. As Sarah explained, through the events and activities people come together, a community is created, and they all start supporting each other. And that is priceless.