CO-LIVING & BTR
About Co-living & BTR
Co-living and BTR are alternate forms of rental housing that have become well established in major urban centres like London, Hong Kong, Singapore etc, and are gathering significant growth momentum in Australia. In Australia, completed BTR developments and pipelines have increased greatly in recent years, meanwhile co-living has also been attracting strong institutional investor interest. In essence, both BTR and co-living are institutionally managed, providing guests with greater security of tenure, larger amenity offering as well as a community focus.
BTR developments typically comprise of varying room typologies, targeting longer term tenants who prefer residing in urban centres. Meanwhile, co-living offers fully furnished private studios with communal spaces and events for dining, leisure and socialising. Co-living is an alternative to traditional residential rental models, with more flexible lease arrangements, no upfront costs of relocation and furnishing for tenants, as well as a hassle-free and more affordable rental option. As such, targeting the younger demographic typically aged 18-35 renters who are seeking high quality and value-for-money accommodation with greater experiential living within urbanised environments.
About Pro-invest’s Flex-living
As one of the largest hospitality investment platforms in Australasia, Pro-invest leverages its vertically integrated business model, well established operational expertise, as well as scale to develop, deliver, manage and operate Flex-living assets. Pro-invest differentiates by offering flexible stay options, alongside our curated hospitality experiences including incorporating integrated technology, procurement, strategic partnerships, among others, enhancing guests’ experiences.
Pro-invest’s Flex-living addresses a key market gap in the residential rental sector, in response to the growing rental demand, housing affordability challenges, and shifting lifestyle preferences, by providing flexible and experience-rich environments for a diverse target market including young professionals and university students. The model blends community, convenience, and comfort, tailored to a mobile and socially connected demographic
NEWS
Sydney, Australia 16 June 2025: Pro-invest Group announces a joint venture with Japanese leading construction and real estate firm Kajima to develop a new generation of ground-up Build-to-Rent (BTR) properties in Australia. The partnership aims to address the nation’s escalating housing crisis, with Australia currently experiencing its most severe housing shortage in decades thanks to population growth and an undersupply of homes.
Dr. Sabine Schaffer, Co-Founder of Pro-invest Group, joins Spencer Levy and Stuart McCann on CBRE’s The Weekly Take podcast to discuss why co-living is gaining traction as a flexible, scalable solution for urban housing.
Our Co-Founder Sabine Schaffer is quoted in this story from Hospitality Investor about how to bridge the gap between hospitality and residential. As we approach the launch of our new flex living brand, it’s clear that flex-living is ready to transform the hospitality investment landscape.
Pro-invest Group, a prominent real estate asset manager and investment firm, is entering the residential market with its new Flexible Living model, developed to capture the extensive potential of Co-living across Australia. The company is set to own and operate approximately 2,000 apartments across ten assets in its first tranche of development; and anticipates scaling it to the size of their current hotel business (circa 6,000 keys).
Learn more about our efforts to redefine residential experiences with our entry into the Co-living sector.
Record low vacancy rates, a cost-of living crunch and demand for more flexible living options from digital nomads and Millennials are driving plans by developers and fund managers to build thousands of micro apartments in big Australia cities.