One year as CEO: Ian Scott reflects on Ocasa Homes’ growth and the future of renting

Looking back on your first year as CEO, what stands out most?

Real estate is a people business, but after more than a year leading Ocasa Homes, I’ve come to understand just how important that is. 

We have a team of more than 50 people who help to acquire, transform and manage our portfolio of more than 2,200 rental homes across the UK. 

One of the most rewarding parts of my role is seeing our people develop and flourish within the business we’re building together.

I’m a huge believer in creating opportunities for individuals to grow and push themselves professionally. Watching my colleagues take on more responsibility, build confidence and progress in their careers has been a real highlight for me.

On a personal level, my time as CEO has been a learning curve. My background is largely in transactional real estate, working on large-scale investments and developments. 

Ocasa Homes Homes is the Build-to-Rent asset manager and operator for the residential assets within Castleforge Partners – my bread and butter. 

But this is a distinctly operational business, with a strong focus on residential property management, which creates fresh challenges every day. 

Getting under the skin of how the operational side of the business works has given me an even deeper appreciation of how resident experience translates into long-term value.

How would you describe Ocasa Homes’ position in today’s rental market?

Ocasa Homes has always been committed to the mid-market and that’s exactly where we’ll remain.

There is a lot of attention on premium Build-to-Rent developments in major city centres, but that’s not the market we serve. 

We provide high-quality rental homes in towns and cities across the UK for people who want well-managed, affordable accommodation in the right locations.

The reality is that there is a large group of renters who sit between social housing and luxury rental products. These are key workers, young professionals and families who often don’t qualify for government support but still face significant housing costs.

They are the people who keep our towns and cities running, and they deserve access to good-quality homes at a price point that works for them. That’s our position in today’s rental market.

What market trends are having the biggest impact on the sector?

Rising house prices, higher borrowing costs and the challenge of saving for a deposit mean that renting is the long-term reality for many people. 

However, there is a perfect storm of imbalance between supply and demand for good quality rental homes.

At some of our developments, we’re seeing as many as 40 enquiries for every available apartment. That level of demand highlights the scale of the housing challenge facing the UK.

When it comes to supply, new housing delivery is constrained across both the private and affordable sectors. At the same time, many private landlords are leaving the market, which places even more pressure on available stock.

The Renters’ Rights Act has rightfully attracted plenty of attention, and we’re supportive of what it’s set out to do. 

Greater security and clarity for renters is only a positive thing; professional landlords should already be operating in a way that aligns with the new policies.

How is the mid-market rental sector evolving?

I think we’ll see more institutional investors and professional operators entering the mid-market rental sector over the coming years.

Historically, much of the focus has been on high-rise city-centre developments with best-in-class amenities. Increasingly, investors are recognising the opportunity in delivering quality homes for the broader rental market.

That’s a positive shift. The growth in professional landlords entering the mid-market should lead to better experiences for residents, greater consistency and a stronger focus on service. 

Our sector is becoming more customer-focused – something we practise daily and welcome with open arms.

What’s next for Ocasa Homes?

Our focus remains on expanding our portfolio through our proven retrofit-to-rent model.

New-build residential schemes are increasingly unviable in many parts of the UK, but there remains huge potential in retrofitting existing real estate. 

There are countless unused buildings that can be transformed into high-quality homes, helping address the housing need while supporting regeneration.

Over the past year, we’ve invested heavily in our portfolio and our ambition is to fully manage more than 4,000 homes over the next few years.

We’re also developing a stronger social impact strategy. We want to work with developers and local authorities to support regeneration projects where residential development can be the catalyst for long-term social change.

What does success look like for Ocasa Homes moving forward?

Success starts with our people and our customers.

I will ensure we continue building a culture where talented people can develop their careers and achieve their potential. 

At the same time, we remain focused on delivering the best possible experience for our residents.

Longer term, our ambition is clear: to establish Ocasa as one of the UK’s leading institutional operators in the mid-market rental sector.

The demand is there and the need for quality housing has never been greater. Our job is to keep delivering homes for the people who need them most.