Casa by Moda opens first single-family home neighbourhoods in Yorkshire

Casa by Moda has launched a preliminary wave of homes at its first two developments in Yorkshire. The two single-family homes (SFH) neighbourhoods in Leeds and Doncaster mark a continuation of the Casa by Moda growth story, and are expected to redefine the local rental market.

Once complete, the neighbourhoods will provide 323 one, two, three and four-bedroom houses and apartments, with resident move-ins commencing this month for the first 40 units.

The Leeds neighbourhood, known as Casa, Abbey Court, is located in Kirkstall, one of the city’s most accessible fringe locations. Casa at Westmoor Grange is located within the desirable suburban village of Armthorpe in Doncaster.

Both locations were selected based on proximity to local amenity, namely transport network and good schools, which makes the neighbourhoods ideal for couples, families, sharers and key workers. Ahead of first residents moving in across both neighbourhoods this month, Casa launched their show homes in both Leeds and Doncaster, showcasing the high-quality product offered by Casa by Moda, which is the SFH arm of market-leading rental living business Moda Group.

The ambition for the new neighbourhoods is to follow on from the success of Casa, Vista Park in Glasgow, which fully let across its first three phases, with fourth phase move-ins commencing this month.

SFH is a significant driver for institutional flow of capital to the private rented sector, which has historically been controlled by individual private landlords. Recent research by Knight Frank reported that institutional investors spent a record £1.9 billion acquiring or funding SFH in the UK in 2023. This has marked a fivefold increase in investment levels, attributed to elevated mortgage rates and a shifting tax and regulatory landscape. SFH offers a viable alternative to home ownership through secure, long-term leases – the expectation is that high-quality SFH will experience robust and sticky tenant demand aligning with current data illustrating that one-third of UK renters have resided at their current address for more than five years.

All Casa by Moda neighbourhoods offer deposit-alternative, pet-friendly living which places service, technology, wellbeing, and sustainability at the heart of its rental communities. Rental packages include superfast broadband, renewable energy sources and smart technology such as home security systems, smart doorbells and environmental sensors from Casa by Moda’s technology partner Utopi. The smart home sensors enable renters to monitor everything from room temperature to air quality, assisting in cultivating a higher quality of life for tenants and creating energy efficiency through real-time data on energy usage.

Residents have access to the bespoke MyCasa app, which allows residents to communicate 24/7 with resident maintenance services. The app also supports the wider resident community, allowing residents to connect with their neighbours, form chats and clubs and engage with seasonal events run by Casa.

Matt Townson, Director of Development and Projects at Casa by Moda, said: “Having opened our first neighbourhood in Glasgow last year, it’s very exciting to be opening the next two in Casa by Moda’s home county of Yorkshire. The success of Casa, Vista Park in Glasgow has shown there is a demand for high quality rental homes which offer more than just bricks and mortar.

“As a business, we’re focused on setting the bar for next generation rental living in the UK, enabling our residents to live securely, happily and healthily, whilst offering a unique rental living experience.”

Sarah Nelson, Director of Operations at Casa by Moda adds: “It’s about creating a sense of community and offering a level of service not typically seen in the private rental market. From initial enquiry to the day residents move in and beyond – we’re there each step of the way.

“At Casa, we provide a market-leading digital service and connect with our communities 24/7 via the MyCasa app, reassuring residents that they have a direct point of contact to the Casa team at all times for anything they need, and likewise helping us connect with them.”